GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (DVD/1965/WS 2.75/16X9/5.1/1 DISC/MOVIE ONLY VERSI DVD

The Greatest Story Ever Told
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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ Dorothy McGuire as Virgin Mary Robert Loggia as Joseph Claude Rains as King Herod José Ferrer as Herod Antipas Marian Seldes as Herodias Charlton Heston as John the Baptist John Abbott as Aben Rodopho (Rudy) Acosta as Captain of Lancers Philip Coolidge as Chuza Michael Ansara as Herod's commander Donald Pleasence as The Dark Hermit David McCallum as Judas Iscariot Roddy McDowall as Matthew Michael Anderson Jr. as James the Younger David Sheiner as James the Elder Gary Raymond as Peter Burt Brinckerhoff as Andrew John Considine as John Jamie Farr as Thaddaeus David Hedison as Philip Peter Mann as Nathaniel Tom Reese as Thomas Telly Savalas as Pontius Pilate Angela Lansbury as Claudia Johnny Seven as Pilate's aide Paul Stewart as Questor Harold J. Stone as Gen. Varus Mark Lenard as Balthazar Frank Silvera as Caspar Joanna Dunham as Mary Magdalene Janet Margolin as Mary of Bethany Michael Tolan as Lazarus Carroll Baker as Veronica Pat Boone as Young Man at the Tomb Sal Mineo as Uriah Van Heflin as Bar Armand Ed Wynn as Old Aram Shelley Winters as Woman of No Name Chet Stratton as Theophilius Ron Whelan as Annas John Lupton as Speaker of Capernaum Abraham Sofaer as Joseph of Arimathaea Martin Landau as Caiaphas Nehemiah Persoff as Shemiah Joseph Schildkraut as Nicodemus Victor Buono as Sorak Robert Busch as Emissary John Crawford as Alexander John Wayne as The Centurion Sidney Poitier as Simon of Cyrene Richard Conte as Barabbas Frank de Kova as The Tormentor Joseph Sirola as Dumah

Crew David Hall - Art Director George Stevens - Associate Producer Vittorio Nino Novarese - Costume Designer Marjorie Best - Costume Designer George Stevens - Director Harold Kress - Editor Frank O'Neill - Editor Argyle Nelson, Jr. - Editor Alfred Newman - Composer (Music Score) David Hall - Production Designer Norman Rockett - Production Designer William J. Creber - Production Designer Richard Day - Production Designer Fred MacLean - Production Designer Ray Moyer - Production Designer Loyal Griggs - Cinematographer William C. Mellor - Cinematographer David Hall - Set Designer Arnold A. Gillespie - Special Effects Robert R. Hoag - Special Effects J. McMillan Johnson - Special Effects Clarence Slifer - Special Effects George Stevens - Screenwriter James Lee Barrett - Screenwriter Charles Fulton Oursler - Book Author

The Greatest Story Ever Told
(not reviewed)
 

Alfred Newman: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Score (nominated) David Hall: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Fred MacLean: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) J. McMillan Johnson: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Loyal Griggs: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Cinematography (nominated) Norman Rockett: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Ray Moyer: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Richard Day: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Vittorio Nino Novarese: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Costume Design (nominated) William C. Mellor: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Cinematography (nominated) William J. Creber: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Color Art Direction (nominated)

National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: Screen format: 16 x 9 widescreen (2.75:1) English: 5.1 surround, stereo sound French: 5.1 surround French & Spanish subtitles MPAA Rating: G DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 199 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Main Title [:45] 2. "In the Beginning..." [4:02] 3. The Three Kings [2:32] 4. Jesus, Mary & Joseph [4:10] 5. Escape From Bethlehem [:59] 6. John the Baptist [5:09] 7. Jesus' Temptation [1:47] 8. Gathering His Flock [6:48] 9. "Love Thy Neighbor" [:05] 10. "Bring That Baptist to Me" [5:29] 11. The Tax Collector [2:05] 12. "Do Unto Others..." [5:33] 13. John Before Herod [1:24] 14. The Flock Grows [7:01] 15. Cast the First Stone [4:00] 16. "I'm Cured" [1:25] 17. "Blessed are the Meek" [2:51] 18. A Prophet in His Own Home [1:39] 19. Restoring Sight [3:07] 20. The Lord's Prayer [:35] 21. Lazarus Comes Forth [6:26] 22. Jesus in Jerusalem [:51] 23. Cleansing the Temple [2:52] 24. Judas' Betrayal [5:10] 25. The Last Supper [2:38] 26. "Your Will Be Done" [3:54] 27. Jesus' Trial [1:55] 28. Pilate's Sentence [5:57] 29. Carrying the Cross [2:31] 30. Calvary [2:57] 31. "It is Finished" [:52] 32. "He is Risen" [5:42]