History Film / TheGreatestStoryEverTold

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read Literature/TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) Creator/MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like Creator/ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], Creator/SidneyPoitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read Literature/TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like Creator/ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], Creator/SidneyPoitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

* RoleAssociation - As said, this film has [[Film/TheTenCommandments Charlton]] [[PlanetOfTheApes Heston, Roddy McDowell]], [[InTheHeatOfTheNight Sidney Poitier]], [[JamesBond Donald Pleasance]] and JohnWayne as well as Pat Boone, [[MurderSheWrote Angela]] [[AngelaLansbury Lansbury]], [[{{Space1999}} Martin Laundau]] and a young [[Film/FlashGordon Max Von Sydow]].

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read Literature/TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like Creator/ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], SidneyPoitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

* HeyItsThatGuy - [[{{Mash}} Corporal Klinger]] as one of the Apostles.

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read Literature/TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], SidneyPoitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

* RoleAssociation - As said, this film has [[TheTenCommandments Charlton]] [[PlanetOfTheApes Heston, Roddy McDowell]], [[InTheHeatOfTheNight Sidney Poitier]], [[JamesBond Donald Pleasance]] and JohnWayne as well as Pat Boone, [[MurderSheWrote Angela]] [[AngelaLansbury Lansbury]], [[{{Space1999}} Martin Laundau]] and a young [[Film/FlashGordon Max Von Sydow]].

** [[BenHur Judah Ben-Hur]] is John The Baptist.

* {{Cameo}} - The fairly common practice at the time of surrounding a fresh new actor as the lead and then surrounding him with more familiar faces, combined with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters lead to a number of these.

** [[InTheHeatOfTheNight They call me MR. TIBBS!!!]], and I'l gladly bear that cross.

* HeyItsThatGuy - [[{{ptitleg61am70o3b3w}} Corporal Klinger]] as one of the Apostles.

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], SidneyPoitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

** And all the other tropes one might find in the New Testament of TheBible.
* HeyItsThatGuy - [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ptitleg61am70o3b3w Corporal Klinger]] as one of the Apostles.

** [[Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice Blofeld]] is also the Devil.

All these attempts at Biblical epicness had their downsides. Some felt that the cameos distracted from the atmosphere of the setting, that going to the wide lands of Utah was trying to be "bigger than Jesus," and that nearly four hours were spent on retelling an all too well-known tale. The film arrived in theatres at the tail end of the era of Biblical period epics such as ''TheTenCommandments'', ''BenHur'' and ''The Robe'' and it was on a quest to be bigger and more epic than anything that came before. Perhaps its grandness cost it some humanity.

** [[OnHerMajestysSecretService Blofeld]] is Pontius Pilate.
** [[YouOnlyLiveTwice Blofeld]] is also the Devil.

* {{Narm}} - John Wayne's rendition of "Truly this man was the Son of God." No one would blame you for adding [[VerbalTic "pilgrim"]], either out loud or subconsciously.

* RoleAssociation - As said, this film has [[TheTenCommandments Charlton]] [[PlanetOfTheApes Heston, Roddy McDowell]], [[InTheHeatOfTheNight Sidney Poitier]], [[JamesBond Donald Pleasance]] and JohnWayne as well as Pat Boone, [[MurderSheWrote Angela Lansbury]], [[{{Space1999}} Martin Laundau]] and a young [[Film/FlashGordon Max Von Sydow]].

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51YFNAGFMDL__SL500__180.jpg

! This work provides examples of:

** [[FlashGordon Ming The Merciless]] is merciful Jesus.

* RoleAssociation - As said, this film has [[TheTenCommandments Charlton]] [[PlanetOfTheApes Heston, Roddy McDowell]], [[InTheHeatOfTheNight Sidney Poitier]], [[JamesBond Donald Pleasance]] and JohnWayne as well as Pat Boone, [[MurderSheWrote Angela Lansbury]], [[{{Space1999}} Martin Laundau]] and a young [[FlashGordon Max Von Sydow]].

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In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], Sidney Poitier, DonaldPleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

* HeyItsThatGuy - Corporal Klinger as one of the Apostles.
** Also, [[{{NCIS}} Ducky]] as Judas.

In 1965, director George Stevens' '''''The Greatest Story Ever Told''''' portrayed the life of Jesus and his miracles from Nativity to Resurrection. For a plot synopsis you might as well just read TheBible. While ''Story'' was not the first of its ilk, this broad epic scope is one of the notable features of this film and was something the creators wanted to play up. The then-unknown (in the U.S.) MaxVonSydow was cast as Jesus, but the rest of the cast and crew was filled with big names, some coming in for short cameos. It had actors like ClaudeRains, CharltonHeston, Roddy [=McDowall=], Sidney Poitier, Donald Pleasence, the oft-commentated-on JohnWayne as the Centurion at the crucifixion and the aforementioned Telly Savalas, who shaved his head for his role as Pontius Pilate in this film and then decided never to grow it back. David Lean (Mr. Epic Sweeping Landscapes) and Jean Negulesco even added exterior shooting in the great open spaces of the US to add a more epic feel than RealLife Israel could offer.

* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth - [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Mary, Lazarus' sister:
-->'''Mary:''' I'm frightened for him [Jesus].

-->'''Mary:''' I'm frightened for him.

* {{Narm}} - John Wayne's rendition of "Truly this man was the Son of God."

* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth - Lampshaded by Mary, Lazarus' sister:

* {{Cameo}}: The fairly common practice at the time of surrounding a fresh new actor as the lead and then surrounding him with more familiar faces, combined with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters lead to a number of these.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Corporal Klinger as one of the Apostles.
* {{Narm}}: John Wayne's rendition of "Truly this man was the Son of God."
* RoleAssociation- As said, this film has [[TheTenCommandments Charlton]] [[PlanetOfTheApes Heston, Roddy McDowell]], [[InTheHeatOfTheNight Sidney Poitier]], [[JamesBond Donald Pleasance]] and JohnWayne as well as Pat Boone, [[MurderSheWrote Angela Lansbury]], [[{{Space1999}} Martin Laundau]] and a young [[FlashGordon Max Von Sydow]].

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the-greatest-story-ever-told-cover-3_3702.jpg