Movie Cosmos - The Greatest Story Ever Told

Description:

From his birth in Bethlehem to his death and eventual resurrection, the life of Jesus Christ is given the all-star treatment in this epic retelling. Major aspects of Christ's life are touched upon, including the execution of all the newborn males in Egypt by King Herod; Christ's baptism by John the Baptist; and the betrayal by Judas after the Last Supper that eventually leads to Christ's crucifixion and miraculous return.

Top Cast >

Max von Sydow

As Jesus

Michael Anderson Jr.

As James the Younger

Carroll Baker

As Veronica

Ina Balin

As Martha of Bethany

Victor Buono

As Sorak

Richard Conte

As Barabbas

Joanna Dunham

As Mary Magdalene

José Ferrer

As Herod Antipas

Van Heflin

As Bar Amand

Charlton Heston

As John the Baptist

Martin Landau

As Caiaphas

Angela Lansbury

As Claudia

Pat Boone

As Angel at the Tomb

Janet Margolin

As Mary of Bethany

David McCallum

As Judas Iskarioth

Roddy McDowall

As Matthew

Dorothy McGuire

As The Virgin Mary

Sal Mineo

As Uriah

Nehemiah Persoff

As Shemiah

Donald Pleasence

As The Dark Hermit - Satan

Sidney Poitier

As Simon of Cyrene

Claude Rains

As King Herod

Gary Raymond

As Simon Peter

Telly Savalas

As Pontius Pilate

Joseph Schildkraut

As Nicodemus

Paul Stewart

As Questor

John Wayne

As Centurion at crucifixion

Shelley Winters

As Woman who is healed

Ed Wynn

As Old Aram

John Abbott

As Aben

Rodolfo Acosta

As Captain of lancers

Michael Ansara

As Herod's commander

Robert Blake

As Simon the Zealot

Burt Brinckerhoff

As Andrew

Robert Busch

As Emissary

John Considine

As John

Philip Coolidge

As Chuza

John Crawford

As Alexander

Frank De Kova

As The tormentor

Cyril Delevanti

As Melchior

Jamie Farr

As Thaddaeus

David Hedison

As Philip

Russell Johnson

As Scribe

Mark Lenard

As Balthazar

Robert Loggia

As Joseph

John Lupton

As Speaker of Capernaum

Peter Mann

As Nathanael

Tom Reese

As Thomas

Marian Seldes

As Herodias

David Sheiner

As James the Elder

Frank Silvera

As Caspar

Joseph Sirola

As Dumah

Abraham Sofaer

As Joseph of Arimathaea

Harold J. Stone

As Gen. Varus

Chet Stratton

As Theophilus

Michael Tolan

As Lazarus

Ron Whelan

As Annas

Jay C. Flippen

As Drunken Soldier - Herod Antipas' Court

Celia Lovsky

As Woman Behind Railings

Joseph V. Perry

As Archelaus

Marc Cavell

As Bad Thief on Cross

Johnny Seven

As Pilate's Aide

Dal Jenkins

As Philip

Top Crew >

George Stevens

Director, Screenplay, Producer

James Lee Barrett

Screenplay

Alfred Newman

Original Music Composer

Loyal Griggs

Director of Photography

William C. Mellor

Director of Photography

Harold F. Kress

Editor

Argyle Nelson Jr.

Editor

J. Frank O'Neill

Editor

Lynn Stalmaster

Casting

Vittorio Nino Novarese

Costume Design

Henry Wills

Stunts Coordinator, Stunt Coordinator

George Stevens Jr.

Producer

William J. Creber

Production Design

Richard Day

Art Direction

David S. Hall

Art Direction

Paul Baxley

Second Unit Director, Stunt Coordinator

Carol Daniels

Stunts

John Epper

Stunts

Jerry Gatlin

Stunts

Bob Folkerson

Stunts

Johnny Hagner

Stunts

Victor Paul

Stunts

Loren Janes

Stunts

Neil Summers

Stunts

Bob Terhune

Stunt Double

Norm Taylor

Stunts

Fulton Oursler

Novel

Charlie Picerni

Stunts

David Lean

Second Unit Director

Jean Negulesco

Second Unit Director

Albert Simpson

Matte Painter

Clarence Slifer

Special Effects

Charles E. Wallace

Sound Recordist

Johnny Borgese

Special Effects

Reviews:

John Chard (7/10)

Repent!

Sue me, but I like it plenty, all 3 hours plus of ass numbing is not a problem to me. It has been called a cumbersome bore, amongst other things, but some of the technical craft is amazing. The story itself is enthralling, building to the shattering Crucifixion parts of the tale, while for every pointless star cameo shoehorned into the production, there's also a Savalas, a Baker and a Heston. Then of course there's Sydow, giving a beautifully intense turn as Jesus, a magnetic portrayal that holds the attention throughout.

Ironically director George Stevens struggled with his own ills during production, a cross to bear as it were, but just as Jesus had Sidney Poitier to share the burden, so to did Stevens, who had David Lean to help carry the load. Now that's a deity if ever there was one. It's a gorgeous film, grand and epic, sensitive and astute. Flaws? Plenty for sure, yet it harks back to a time of blunderbuss epic film making, when story telling meant something, when a musical score rattled the ears and the heart, and when cinematography soothed the eyes as if cool lemon slices had been placed upon the optical nerves.

Yeah, I'm a fan. If you are not then I forgive you, for you know not what you do. 7/10

2015-12-05

CinemaSerf (6/10)

Max von Sydow is Jesus in George Steven's take on the "King of Kings" story and aside from a suitably effective contribution from José Ferrer as Herod Antipas, gives the only decent performance in this epically long, plodding, depiction of the life of Christ. Clearly money was spent - the photography is epic, as is Alfred Newman's score and a first-rate cast of Hollywood A-listers ought to have delivered better. Sadly, it is hampered by a static script - producing some seriously stultifying dialogue; authentic but murky lighting and a paucity of action that makes the film drag. Aside from a good, if brief, performance from Claude Rains as Herod the Great at the start, the acting is at best disjointed - too many people trying to impose themselves at the expense of any considered approach to the narrative. It may well be the greatest story ever written, but this is certainly not the best telling of it...

2024-09-05