Movie follows the story of Jesus Christ (H.B. Warner) starting with Mary Magdelene (Jacqueline Logan) and ending with his resurrection.
While not exactly accurate (Magdalene was Judas' lover?) to the Bible this is actually an excellent movie. It's very reverent to the story and doesn't preach to the audience like other Biblical movies did. Some of the shots of Jesus were stunning--he (literally) GLOWS. It's all done with lighting but it looks realistic. And since it's directed by Cecil B. DeMille it's a spectacle--this movie is BIG! The sets are colossal, there's a cast of hundreds and a big huge Crucifiction sequence that is quite impressive. There's also some nice special effects--surprising in a movie that's over 70 years old. Also, it's well-cast. The standouts are Warner as Jesus; Logan making a very impressive Magdelene and Joseph Schildkraut playing a very young and handsome Judas. Also his father Rudolph Schildkraut plays Caiaphas. And the Resurrection sequence at the end is in two-color Technicolor.
This is a much better than the 1961 remake. That one was badly cast (Jeffrey Hunter was way too young for the role), too long (almost 3 hours) and dragged. This one is barely 2 hours and moves very quickly.
A very impressive silent film--well worth catching.
While not exactly accurate (Magdalene was Judas' lover?) to the Bible this is actually an excellent movie. It's very reverent to the story and doesn't preach to the audience like other Biblical movies did. Some of the shots of Jesus were stunning--he (literally) GLOWS. It's all done with lighting but it looks realistic. And since it's directed by Cecil B. DeMille it's a spectacle--this movie is BIG! The sets are colossal, there's a cast of hundreds and a big huge Crucifiction sequence that is quite impressive. There's also some nice special effects--surprising in a movie that's over 70 years old. Also, it's well-cast. The standouts are Warner as Jesus; Logan making a very impressive Magdelene and Joseph Schildkraut playing a very young and handsome Judas. Also his father Rudolph Schildkraut plays Caiaphas. And the Resurrection sequence at the end is in two-color Technicolor.
This is a much better than the 1961 remake. That one was badly cast (Jeffrey Hunter was way too young for the role), too long (almost 3 hours) and dragged. This one is barely 2 hours and moves very quickly.
A very impressive silent film--well worth catching.