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DramaHistory

King of Kings

- Of good and evil, of love and hate, of peace and war.

Who is Jesus, and why does he impact all he meets? He is respected and reviled, emulated and accused, beloved, betrayed, and finally crucified. Yet that terrible fate would not be the end of the story.

Release Date : 1961-10-11

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Samuel Bronston ProductionsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Son of ManThe Sword and the CrossMan from Nazareth

Cast

Jeffrey Hunter

Character Name : Jesus

Original Name : Jeffrey Hunter

Gender : Male

Siobhán McKenna

Character Name : Mary

Original Name : Siobhán McKenna

Gender : Female

Hurd Hatfield

Character Name : Pontius Pilate

Original Name : Hurd Hatfield

Gender : Male

Ron Randell

Character Name : Lucius

Original Name : Ron Randell

Gender : Male

Viveca Lindfors

Character Name : Claudia

Original Name : Viveca Lindfors

Gender : Female

Rita Gam

Character Name : Herodias

Original Name : Rita Gam

Gender : Female

Carmen Sevilla

Character Name : Mary Magdalene

Original Name : Carmen Sevilla

Gender : Female

Brigid Bazlen

Character Name : Salome

Original Name : Brigid Bazlen

Gender : Female

Harry Guardino

Character Name : Barabbas

Original Name : Harry Guardino

Gender : Male

Rip Torn

Character Name : Judas

Original Name : Rip Torn

Gender : Male

Frank Thring

Character Name : Herod Antipas

Original Name : Frank Thring

Gender : Male

Guy Rolfe

Character Name : Caiaphas

Original Name : Guy Rolfe

Gender : Male

Royal Dano

Character Name : Peter

Original Name : Royal Dano

Gender : Male

Robert Ryan

Character Name : John the Baptist

Original Name : Robert Ryan

Gender : Male

Edric Connor

Character Name : Balthazar

Original Name : Edric Connor

Gender : Male

Maurice Marsac

Character Name : Nicodemus

Original Name : Maurice Marsac

Gender : Male

Grégoire Aslan

Character Name : Herod

Original Name : Grégoire Aslan

Gender : Male

George Coulouris

Character Name : Camel Driver

Original Name : George Coulouris

Gender : Male

Conrado San Martín

Character Name : General Pompey

Original Name : Conrado San Martín

Gender : Male

Gérard Tichy

Character Name : Joseph

Original Name : Gérard Tichy

Gender : Male

Antonio Mayans

Character Name : Young John

Original Name : Antonio Mayans

Gender : Male

Luis Prendes

Character Name : Good Thief / Roman Soldier

Original Name : Luis Prendes

Gender : Male

David Davies

Character Name : Burly Man

Original Name : David Davies

Gender : Male

José Nieto

Character Name : Caspar

Original Name : José Nieto

Gender : Male

Rubén Rojo

Character Name : Matthew

Original Name : Rubén Rojo

Gender : Male

Fernando Sancho

Character Name : Mad man

Original Name : Fernando Sancho

Gender : Male

Michael Wager

Character Name : Thomas

Original Name : Michael Wager

Gender : Male

Félix de Pomés

Character Name : Joseph of Arimathea

Original Name : Félix de Pomés

Gender : Male

Adriano Rimoldi

Character Name : Melchior

Original Name : Adriano Rimoldi

Gender : Male

Barry Keegan

Character Name : Bad Thief

Original Name : Barry Keegan

Gender : Male

Rafael Luis Calvo

Character Name : Simon of Cyrene

Original Name : Rafael Luis Calvo

Gender : Male

Tino Barrero

Character Name : Andrew

Original Name : Tino Barrero

Gender : Male

Paco Morán

Character Name : Blind Man

Original Name : Paco Morán

Gender : Male

Orson Welles

Character Name : Narrator (Voice)

Original Name : Orson Welles

Gender : Male

Ray Milland

Character Name : Satan (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Milland

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The best of the Christ story epics. King Of Kings is a good film, and certainly one that is better than its reputation suggests. It's for sure better than the poorly put together The Robe from 1953 and the gargantuan excess that would be The Greatest Story Ever Told four years post this MGM piece. Produced by legendary Samuel Bronston and directed with assurance and imagination by Nicholas Ray, the film tells of the 33 years of Jesus Christ's life. From his birth in Bethlehem to his Crucifixion, to the Resurrection and finally the Ascension. A familiar story that is nicely spread to a movie under three hours long, takes in the Apostles selection, John The Baptist, 40 days in the desert, the miracles (though we are short changed here), Sermom on the Mount, Judas' betrayal and of course The Last Supper. The film contains a narration by Orson Welles, which was written by Ray Bradbury. It's a wise move for it helps the narrative immensely, while lets face it here, Orson had a great voice, perfectly biblical and it lends a touch of class to the material. Of the cast, Jeffrey Hunter has the glory role of Christ. A relative unknown (this helps I feel), Hunter is effective with his steely blue eyes, while Robert Ryan is first rate as the doomed John The Baptist. Also turning in good performances are Harry Guardino (Barabbas), Viveca Lindfors (Claudia), Royal Dano (Peter) and Rip Torn (Judas). Though not hurting the movie, Hurd Hatfield as Pontius Pilate is a touch too animated, while Frank Thring as Herod Antipas takes the woe is me mantra a step too far. Naturally with a budget of $8 million the film has considerable scope. Thousands of extras are a given of course, all captured among the Spanish locations in 70mm Technicolor (Cinematography by Manuel Berenguer, Milton R. Krasner & Franz Planer). While the sets (almost 400 used) are very pleasing on the eye and Miklós Rózsa provides a suitably effective score. The writing from Philip Yordan is lean, there's no heavy filler and for a film of this type it's a pleasant surprise to see such restraint. Ultimately it's just real good story telling given a good technical work out. The appearance of Judas for the first time still sends a shiver down the old spine and the Crucifixtion instills a sadness that is hard to shake off once the credits have rolled. Job done really. 8/10