The Greatest Story Ever Told

Biblical drama based on the Gospels. The film concentrates on the most familiar episodes of the biblical story, including the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, Herod’s decree of the execution of all male children in Judea, and the Holy family’s escape into Egypt. It continues as Christ encounters John the Baptist searches for the Twelve Apostles, and raises Lazarus, while John the Baptist is executed., Filmmaker George Stevens chose Monument Valley, Utah for his exterior sequences in The Greatest Story Ever Told, this ($20 million) adaptation of Fulton Oursler’s best-selling book. The “Greatest Story” is, of course, the life of Jesus Christ, played herein by Max Von Sydow. The large supporting cast includes Dorothy McGuire as Mary, Claude Rains as Herod the Great, Jose Ferrer as Herod Antipas, Charlton Heston as John the Baptist, Donald Pleasence as Satan (identified only as “The Dark Hermit”), David McCallum as Judas Iscariot, Sidney Poitier as Simon of Cyrene, Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate and Martin Landau as Caiaphas. Even Robert Blake as Simon the Zealot, Jamie Farr as Thaddaeus, and motorcyle-flick veteran Richard Bakalyan as Dismas, the repentant thief, are well-suited to their roles. Originally roadshown at 260 minutes, Greatest Story Ever Told was later available in a 195-minute version., Epic retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, from his birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion to the Resurrection., The film concentrates on the most familiar episodes of the biblical story, including the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, Herod’s decree of the execution of all male children in Judea, and the Holy family’s escape into Egypt. It continues as Christ encounters John the Baptist searches for the Twelve Apostles, and raises Lazarus, while John the Baptist is executed.