If your mom made you watch this on or around every religious holiday as a child, can George Stevens' Biblical behemoth still be the greatest story ever told?? 🤔

52 Weeks, 52 Religious Films I was excited, but a little nervous going into George Stevens’ The Greatest Story Ever Told. I was excited because it was directed by Stevens, who directed A Place in the Sun, a film I absolutely adore. But I was nervous because this is a 3:20 behemoth of a film, structured like the roadshow American epics of the 50’s and 60’s, with an overture and an intermission. And like those epics, it’s an absolute stunning feat in cinematography and costume/set design. It really leans into the fact it’s something to be seen in theaters, the performances from Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston and Jose Ferrer show that. I hate to say this about a film…

good anti-capitalist propaganda watch for you and your grandma during the Easter holidays, so you both can peacefully fall asleep in the armchair for three hours after tea time. Monty Python got really stiff and lame here though, what a pity. in return the british jokers got a big budget for some beautiful shots and Max von Sydows deeply tragic blue eyes. cool beans, you dynamic slug, you!

that jesus fella seems pretty powerful