Jesus Christ (H. B. Warner) faces religious and political oppression during his ministry and in the days before his death and resurrection.While this was not the first telling of the Jesus story on film, it was probably the first epic telling, or at least the first really good epic telling. The film is now 90 years old but could still be shown in theaters today and appreciated by audiences, whether they happen to be Christian or not. It is just fine film-making.The film is the second in Cecil DeMille's biblical trilogy, preceded by "The Ten Commandments" (1923) and followed by "The Sign of the Cross" (1932). Perhaps more people should be watching these films than the far more popular Charlton Heston version.

Extraordinary Example of Entertainment and Spectacle, Reverence and Retelling, this is One of the Best Silents and is a Testament to the Power of Film. Hypnotic, it Casts a Christian Spell on the Audience and No Matter What One's Belief, it Impresses with its Imagery and Message that Christ is the Light.The Film Manages to be Restrained and at the Same Time Awe the Viewer with its Powerfully Photographed Scenes of Miracles by the Messiah. It Shows the Christ Almost as Documentary. One gets the Feeling that it was Filmed in 33 A.D.The Movie Foregoes the Birth and the "Lost Years" and Enters the Life of Jesus During His Last Days. It has Been Said that H.B. Warner was too Old for the Part. But if One Contemplates that this is the End for the Superstar, it Could be Considered that the "weight of the world" was on the Shoulders of the Saviour and Being the "Son of Man", it was Beginning to Take its Toll.The Success, both Financially and Artistically of this Silent Film Cannot be Overstated. It Remains a Visual and Spiritual Piece of Work. The Surviving Prints are a Miracle by Themselves. Everything Remains. Pristine Celluloid that Seems Blessed. It Looks and Sounds as Good Today as the Day it was Released. The Bookending Color Sequences and Musical Accompaniment are Here in all their Glory, as is the Complete Film Showcasing a Bathed in Light Jesus in Many Soulful Scenes.Overall, as Religion Envisioned by Hollywood it Doesn't Get Any Better than This. Highly Recommended for Anyone of Any Faith and Atheist too. It's that Good.

Monday July 30, 7pm, The Paramount, Seattle The life of Jesus from the conversion of Mary Magdalene to the crucifixion is revealed in beatific splendor.Directed by Hollywood's master of the spectacle, The King of Kings (1927) featured Cecil B. DeMille's by then standard combination of moralizing melodrama played against dizzying production values, monumental sets, and a cast of thousands. Outwardly expressing disdain for Sunday-school stereotypes, DeMille cast fifty-two-year-old H.B. Warner in the title role, dressed him in flowing robes and bathed him in glowing light, while art directors constructed scenes reproducing the work of 298 old masters. To sanctify Jeannie MacPhereson's anti-Semitic, evangelical Christian with-a-showbiz-twist screenplay, DeMille invited members of the clergy to visit the set, and received the stamp of approval from Will Hayes. Highlights include the spectacular palace of Mary Magdalene, the Calvary tempest and bookending Technicolor scenes.Grauman's Chinese Theatre held the West Coast premiere for their grand opening, charging $22 a seat!

Cecil B. DeMille was a director remembered for a great many things. He was a perfectionist, he was strict, he filled his motion pictures with authenticity and spectacle, he worked on enormous sets, he controlled his cast and crew with meticulous planning and conditions, and he is most certainly remembered along with his masterpieces, such as this glorious piece of craftsmanship from 1927. "The King of Kings", another one of DeMille's biblical epics, this one from the silent era, tells the famous story of Jesus of Nazareth, starting from his emergence into fame throughout the land, to his crucifixion, and ultimately to his resurrection from the dead in what is possibly, even now, eighty-two years later, the most wonderful film adaptation ever.Cecil B. DeMille regarded "The King of Kings" as one of his greatest achievements and I can easily understand why. If I myself created a film as magnificent as this, I would be proud of myself. "The King of Kings" is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest silent film ever made. Even at a length of nearly three hours (which was almost unheard of during the silent era), it rarely slows down and even when it does, it doesn't stay there for long. Again, there is DeMille's long takes, but it is so full of spectacle and wonder and power that one cannot help but keep their eyes locked upon the screen.What I really admired about "The King of Kings" is not only is the fact that it is a fairly accurate telling of the story of Jesus, but that it creates a sense of spectacle and wonder about God and His son. Jesus is not even seen until nearly thirty minutes into the film and uses the previous half-hour to develop his character with word of mouth from the other characters and when we do see him (as he performs one of God's miracles) and we see him emerge, it's as though we were really there, those centuries ago, when he walked the earth because we are absorbed by the majesty and understand what people at the time must have felt standing in his presence. DeMille uses wonderful cinematic tricks and special effects that even today boggle our minds with how they could have been done under so primitive of conditions, and creates a sense of awe about the power of God, the gracefulness of Jesus Christ, and the sorrow that plagued the hearts of his followers when the Romans nailed him onto the cross, subjecting him to several hours of unimaginable torture and suffering.Not only is "The King of Kings" a film full of substance, but it also has a tremendous amount of style, which is a given since it was directed by DeMille. Like with both of his versions of the Ten Commandments (one made in 1923 and the other, more famous one in 1956), DeMille uses life-sized sets of extraordinary detail to give presence to this gone world he's recreating. DeMille was a persnickety director; he paid attention to the smallest, inconceivable details, for it meant a lot to him in the impact of his films. And when we see these temples and palaces and villages and the people in them, it's like we're looking into the past itself.According to Robert Osbourne of Turner Classic Movies, it's estimated that over a billion people have seen Cecil B. DeMille's "The King of Kings" and the fact that it's often regarded as the best film version of the story of Jesus means it will remain in our collective conscience for at least a long while more. Here's one that it will always linger in. Out of all of the films to watch on the Easter holiday, this is the quintessential choice.