Jul 23, 2012  Metacritic Game Reviews, King of Kings 3: Divine Rebirth for PC, Protect the gods by undergoing a Divine Rebirth and players will be able to use powerful new Divine Skills, which allow them to.

Growing up as a young boy in the early 1970's and attending catholic school you weren't assured of many things but you could always count on your Mom making sure that at Easter and Christmas time you were parked in front of the television watching 'King Of Kings' in two parts on channel 7's '4:30 Movie'! Now in my late 30's I own a copy of this film on video and watch it much in the same manner with my young daughter who is so eager to learn about the life of Jesus Christ. I'm no religious fanatic but I am as good a catholic as I can be and must say that this is one of my all time favorite movies and certainly THE classic among all biblical epics! The photography is gorgeous, the direction tight and often seamless and the musical score will raise goosebumps on the most hardened person. Clocking in at 3 hours the film not only details the life of Christ but also focuses on Roman rule and it's politics as well as the turmoil of Judas and the radicalism of Barabbas among other things.

Directed by Nicholas Rey, the unusual cast does it's best led by Jeffrey Hunter as Christ and including veteran actor Robert Ryan as John The Baptist. Most of the rest of the cast seems to have their dialogue dubbed in but I am not sure that is the case, though that is the way it appears. There are many emotional highlights in the film such as Johns first meeting with Christ at his baptism. No words are spoken between the two but the intercutting camera work of both mens eyes as they stare at each other with that wonderful background music puts a smile on your face before you even realize it. Other scenes of note include the healing of the paralyzed boy who emerges from his bed and walks towards the door which is bathed in bright sunlight. Also powerful is Christ calming the raving mad man by simply holding him in his arms and staring into his eyes. There are many wonderful scenes throughout the epic film and of note is the 'battle' scene between Barabbas and his followers and the Roman army whcih for 1961 comes off quite violently.

There are also some vital scenes that are not in the movie which may leave you with an 'empty' feeling. Scenes that should have been included I feel are Christ calming the raging sea and walking on water and the incident where just before he is arrested an apostle lops off the ear of a roman soldier to whcih Christ picks up the ear and repairs it. This would have made the film even more powerful. Overall this is a wonderful, uplifting movie that is truly a classic of it's genre. And then of course there is Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus Christ. Though his performance is a bit understated, he does fine and gave many of us baby boomers the ultimate 'image' of Christ with his handsome features, long hair and the incredible, piercing blue eyes. For many of us, we were convinced that when we went to heaven, Hunter would be there with a white robe and arms outstretched.

See this wonderful film or better yet, share it with your family and young ones and help pass on a wonderful tradition. A recent screening of 'King of Kings' at New York's Museum of Modern Art (Gramercy Theater) proved the durability of this production. A sizable group of people were prepared to titter or howl at what they thought would be another mindless Biblical epic - instead, they were quickly absorbed and attentive to the film's virtues: its reverence, economy, visual beauty, and especially Jeffrey Hunter's quietly commanding Christ.

Yes, this is still the good film based on the New Testament (with some subtle and searching script additions). Thanks still go to Nicholas Ray for his tactful, expert handling of a timeless story.

'King of Kings' features Jeffrey Hunter's finest performance, as a young, dynamic Jesus of Nazareth, and his interpretation, open and earnest, is the best part of a movie both uneven and flawed.Produced by many of the people responsible for 'Ben Hur', the film utilizes some of the same sets, actors (Frank Thring appears in major roles in both films), and composer (Miklos Rozsa, whose score for 'King of Kings' was one of his finest). The cast was fleshed out by respected actors (Robert Ryan is too old but charismatic as John the Baptist, Siobhan McKenna is a glowing, if also too old Mary, Brigid Bazlen, a deliciously wicked and oversexed Salome, Harry Guardino, an 'over-the-top' Barabbas, a VERY young Rip Torn scores as Judas).

Check this out over the boring 'Greatest Story Ever Told' any day. The entire cast right down to the bit players who portray the beneficiaries of Jesus healing are all effective and extremely moving. The script moves quickly and adeptly between story lines involving a Jewish insurgency against the Romans, King Herod's court, and the story of Jesus Christ.

King of Kings may or may not be historically accurate, but makes for great entertainment. That said, the scenes with Jesus are almost all derived from the Gospel. Jeffrey Hunter is an excellent Jesus,emphasizing the gentleness and conveying the inner spiritual strength that the real Jesus must have possessed.Another of the many acting highlights is Brigid Bazlen as a wickedly sexy Salome. I can't fail to mention the Oscar worthy performance of Rip Torn as the spiritually 'torn' Judas.

Fans of the Larry Sanders Show should look for Torn in another overlooked performance in the movie 'Pay Day'. I believe Martin Scorsese said Jesus must have been the equivalent of a rock star in his time and this film affirms that idea. This movie has something for everyone and scores on many different levels. First as historical fiction it's compellingly told,second there's plenty of heroic action involving Barrabas uprising against the Romans, and then the moving display of mysticism involving the scenes with Jeffrey Hunter (Jesus) and the inspiring majestic score of Miklos Roza. Nicholas Ray an unlikely choice for director tackles the subject with aplomb. This movie is so underrated. I think it's one of the best movies about Christ which was well played by Jeffery Hunter.

There was also a great supporting cast that included Sobian McKenna, Robert Ryan and many others. Why this film didn't get any attention at the 1961 Oscars, i'll never know. I would have given this film an Oscar Nomination for Miklos Rosza's music score which is one of his best scores ever. I think also the set designs were pretty good and worth of an Oscar nomination as well. The Cinematography was pretty good even though there was better work at that time. I think this movie beats 1965's 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' which went way too long and just wasn't as interesting as this one. Nicholas Ray did a great job with this one and this film deserved a lot more than it got.

The story of Jesus has been told many times from the very beginning of the movies, but this version, underrated when first released, is one of the best. KING OF KINGS creates and sustains a dignified yet highly entertaining tone that is unique among biblical epics. The screenplay is extremely intelligent and effective, concentrating not just on Jesus, but on the society and personalities that surround him. Pilate, Caiaphas, Mary, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, the apostles, and a sublimely oversexed Salome are all well-drawn characters and well-cast, especially in contrast to the uncomfortable 'superstar cameo' approach George Stevens used in his inferior 'Greatest Story Ever Told'. The political background is well handled, making clear the wish of Judas and others that Jesus foment a revolution to free the Jews from Roman rule. Handsome, myopic Jeffrey Hunter may not be a great actor, but his low-key, measured performance matches the overall design of the film very well. Orson Welles' rapt, mellifluous narration is a plus, as is Roschka's passionate musical score.

Definitely see this letter-boxed to appreciate the gorgeous scenery, photography, and spectacular scenes. Everything fits together as soon as the film opens with Orson Welles' narrating the story of the Son of God. Little Jesus grows up to be the very American and impossibly blue-eyed Jeffrey Hunter (his opening scene with Robert Ryan's Baptist is superb), who goes on to cure the lame, the insane, the blind, rehabilitate Mary Magdelene, and all the usual things. Hunter is very good in the role, which may have been surprising at the time given his previous form in Westerns (and later in Star Trek's pilot episode!).

Other good points - Hurd 'Dorian Gray' Hatfield as Pilate, the dance of the seven veils, the ending, the glorious score. It fits together better than The Greatest Story Ever Told, which got too starry and was spoiled by John Wayne's son of gawd. Here everyone knows their place and the religious context remains unscathed by the whitewash of Hollywood. Superb production values and solid, sincere performances make this a worthwhile epic. Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Ryan, Viveca Lindfors and Hurd Hatfield are excellent under Nicholas Ray's direction. Only a bit slow-moving with flaws but the overall impression is impressive and very reverential. Well worth viewing for the performances alone.

Not one of Rozsa's greatest scores but it has some lovely major themes. Frank Thring is outstanding among the supporting players. Hurd Hatfield is especially convincing as Pontius Pilate.

It's probably his most impressive work after Dorian Gray. Robert Ryan makes a very credible John the Baptist. Jeffrey Hunter is persuasive all the way-and sincere-as Jesus of Nazareth. This movie falls somewhere in between 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' and 'The Gospel According to Saint Matthew' as far as movies about the life of Christ go. It's not as slow and solemn as the first movie, but it doesn't follow the Gospel narrative as closely as Pasolini's film does. Nevertheless it's a very good film.

Jeffrey Hunter and Robert Ryan may not bring the iconic dimensions that Max von Sydow and Charlton Heston bring to the roles of Jesus and John the Baptist respectively, but they look good and are never less than believable. Hunter is an outstanding Jesus, emphasizing the human rather than the divine nature of the Saviour; his Jesus is more the gentle redeemer and less the stern judge (unlike Enrique Irazoqui). Siobhan McKenna is perhaps the definitive screen Virgin Mary, and Ron Randall as the Roman officer Lucius provides the average man's perspective on events. Frank Thring as Herod Antipas, Hurd Hatfield as Pontius Pilate, and Rip Torn as Judas all make their characters believable; Brigid Bazlan, as the jailbait Salome, is such a hottie it's a shame she was never in any other movies.

The beautiful Spanish landscape makes an appropriate stand-in for first-century Israel; the widescreen photography and Miklos Rosza score are breathtaking. Orson Welles' narration alone is worth the price of admission. This movie was unfairly tagged as 'I Was a Teenage Jesus,' perhaps because its director, Nicholas Ray, had also directed 'Rebel Without a Cause,' but it's an excellent movie that has stood the test of time. MGM must be credited with bankrolling this expensive project.

True, their objectives were probably mercenary, hoping to cash in on their earlier commercial success, 'Ben Hur.' Still, the big studio can't be faulted for choosing Nicholas Ray to head their massive enterprise. Ray's work's always worth watching, and here he proves he can lead a gigantic spectacle to impressive heights. Miklos Rozsa's 'inspirational' score is notable for its prominent use of voices and thematic motifs. Philip Yordan and his writing colleagues fashion a respectable script. Orson Welles manages to subdue his often florid histrionic tendencies to render outstanding narration.

Further credit to MGM for engaging a more than decent cast of solid professionals, headed by Siobhan McKenna, Hurd Hatfield, Viveca Lindfors, Rip Torn and Robert Ryan. Kudos to the second unit and art direction, and to the fine photography and striking costumes. Jeffery Hunter must be given credit for taking on an impossible role and coming out not too badly. As for the validity of its historicity, that may be an entirely different matter, and each viewer must draw his and her own conclusions on this. With a story as old as the hills, there isn't much room left for many fresh insights, and what gives this interest is the big studio that mounts this ancient tale. In this case, MGM and crew made a pretty good show. This was a movie that everyone if they're not dead or from another planet, had to be moved.

Jeffery's eyes alone was enough to cut right through a person to make them believe!! Sure wish they had movies like this one today. A movie that could keep my attention and interest for that period of time when if I remember right, I think I was probably about 9 or 10 when I first saw it, had to be special! Even as a kid it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, and It also made me interested in what was said in the bible. Today since the world has gone to pot, morally, this movie still I believe would generate much interest.

I believe no one ever since has ever caught the real image of Jesus Christ and even though we don't know what he looked like, I believe that most people who ever watched this movie went away believing that Jeffery Hunter was Jesus Christ! There certainly has been a plethora of films about Jesus over the years, from deMille's silent 'King of Kings' up to the present day TV mini-series.

I feel that this version is clearly the winner. The film is never sensational or vulgar, as are so many biblical 'epics,' but is extremely moving in its dignified manner. The screenplay is intelligent, the photography gorgeous, and the acting, by an unusual cast not known for its stellar draw, is uncommonly good. Nicholas Ray's direction is first-rate, and the soaring Miklos Rozsa score is unforgettable. Jeffrey Hunter was unfairly ridiculed when the film was first released, and I believe gives a highly underrated performance as Christ. Even the minor players are superb, with the late Brigid Bazlen a frighteningly disturbed Salome. Compared to 'King of Kings,' George Stevens' 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' is embarassingly bad.

All in all, a highly worthwhile film experience, told without the glitz and excesses native to so many of those of its ilk. This is one of the classic portrayal's of Jesus Christ and the message of hope He gave to us. Jeffery Hunter did a riveting portrayal (the best I think that has been done)of the person of Christ.

The intensity and the sheer majestic quality, shows just how much the writers, producer, and everyone involved wanted to portray Jesus the man and Jesus the Son of God with the total commitment of bearing witness to who the Son of God was, and is. I have the original collectors soundtrack from 1961, complete with hardback book, and the newer version on the CD with the added 30 minutes taken directly from the original movie film master.

Heretic ii source port. The soundtrack so greatly enhanced the already magnificent movie. I never tire of watching this classic. I have watched it about 25 times, the sermon on the mount part over 50 times. What a delivery! Jeffery Hunter was a great actor and the only one that could pull off this portrayal of Jesus. 'King of Kings' just came out on DVD tonight and I watched it for the first time since it came out in 1961.

It's a glorious experience! There's not a bad actor in the lot! Jeffrey Hunter is superb and quietly intense! Miklos Rosza's score is quite different (all things considered) from the one for Ben-Hur, even reaching atonal dephts in the temptation in the desert scenes and giddy Renaissance heights in the entry into Jerusalem. Nicholas Ray's direction is a study in gestural choreography, all human interactions being delineated by what the actors do with their hands to each other's body (a thesis could be written on that subject and probably was). This film has rhythm and flows like a river.

Enrique Alarcon's art direction is incredibly tactful, stark and opulent when the need arises, with lots of added touches of pure strangeness (why does Herod keep a dead tree at the centre of his court?). The colours, the cinematography. This film has been miraculously preserved and the transfer to DVD must have been done at the Vatican. The sermon on the mount is one of cinema's textbook scenes, with Jesus doing a walkabout in the crowd and being surrounded by all sides on a hillside in a very democratic way (even though he wears the colours of a Communist). Even the opening sequence of Pompey entering Jerusalem gave me the old chill of 42 years ago (Whatever happened to Conrado San Martin?). Thring, Hatfield and Viveca Lindfors are predictably great. But who knew about Ron Randell's great talent?

Or that Rip Torn could be so un-ironic? A few years earlier than George Stevens mammoth all star film about the life of Jesus was this film by Nicholas Ray. Taking, it's title from the Cecil B. DeMille silent film, this version of King of Kings is in no way a remake of the DeMille epic.

This King of Kings is a moving reverential account of the life of the obscure carpenter from Galilee whose thoughts still move millions today. The voice you hear doing the narration bridging of the various episodes of Jesus's life is the familiar one of Orson Welles. Nicholas Ray shot this film in Spain with the broad central plain serving as Judea in the early years of AD. Unlike Stevens, Nicholas Ray used second line players for the most part, the biggest name in the cast is that of Robert Ryan as John the Baptist. Jesus is played by Jeffrey Hunter and if you were to ask today's movie fans what they most remember about Hunter, they will either say his role in the original Star Trek pilot as Captain Christopher Pike, or his two roles in John Ford films, The Searchers and Sergeant Rutledge.

Some reviewers have remarked about Hunter's blue eyes, personally I think Nicholas Ray might have cast Hunter with those baby blues to mark Jesus as indeed unique among the populace of Judea. In any event it's a sincere portrayal that Hunter gives. He's most effective in the Sermon on the Mount scene.

King of Kings takes a great deal more liberties with the four Gospels than does the Greatest Story Ever Told. It fleshes out the peripheral characters in the Bible giving them more identity than Scripture does.

Barabbas as played by Harry Guardino is a guerrilla leader rather than a bandit and Rip Torn who is Judas is one of his associates who leaves Barabbas after the Sermon on the Mount. Judas's motives for betrayal are explained as an effort to force Jesus's hand. He wants Jesus to use his power of miracles to aid in the freedom fight against Rome. I think most people view Judas as doing what he did because he totally failed to understand the mission and nature of who he was following, What Ray does here is deepen that context. There are a few scenes in their besides this part of the storyline that are not biblically found. After Jesus saves Mary Magdalene, Carmen Sevilla as Mary goes searching for him and visits with Mary his mother who is played by Siobhan McKenna. They talk for a bit, McKenna describes some of the miracles attributed to her son.

Jesus himself drops out of biblical dialog in a scene where he asks to visit John the Baptist. The scene is with the Centurion Lucius who was present at the massacre in Bethlehem and later would pronounce His epitaph at the cross. Ron Randell plays Lucius and his Lucius is a world weary professional soldier, sickened by the court of Herod the Great and his successor Herod Antipas.

He hates having to serve these people because Rome is backing them as surrogate leaders. Randell has a key role here, he serves as a prototype for the gentiles who Jesus says his disciples must minister to. Being inveterate star gazer I am, I do like The Greatest Story Ever Told better. But King of Kings is still a fine retelling of that selfsame story.

From the overture to the exit music by Oscar Winner Miklos Rosa(Ben Hur, El Cid, Quo Vadis), through the fabulous costumes and outstanding sets this was an outstanding motion picture. Add on the Orson Welles narration, and the wonderful assembly of international actors, and you have a film that should have been given much higher due in it's original release date. Some of the dialog may have been a bit stilted, but Jeffry Hunter's Jesus put a human look to the Messiah.

His reverence and feeling of responsibility for the role even made him isolate himself from the cast and extras. It is said that when he first walked onto the set for the sermon on the mount, the thousands of extras were awed by his presence.

As much as I like actor Max Von Sydow, his Jesus in the George Stevens extravaganza 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' lacked conviction. The problem with that film was too many actors had cameos in it just to get their names associated with the film. But the actors in this film all took their characters to heart. It will always rate high on my movie collection list. Time can be kind to epics such as this.

Unfairly overlooked (even reviled, in some cases) upon release due to a variety of reasons, it now stacks up as a more than adequate version of the story of Jesus Christ from his birth to his death and his resurrection. An impressive international cast takes on the many key roles of the story. Hunter stars in the virtually unplayable role (especially for 1961 when audiences were mighty particular about how their savior was portrayed on screen!), though he doesn't appear until about thirty minutes in. The film opens with a prologue (narrated with import by Orson Welles) setting the scene for the politics in place during Jesus' life. At the time of his emergence as a prophet, Herod Antipas (Thring) is King of Judea, Pontius Pilate (Hatfield) is the Roman-appointed governor and Caiaphas (Rolfe) is the chief priest. All three of these men are concerned by the murmurings of John the Baptist (Ryan) who speaks of a Messiah and speaks out against Thring's wife Gam. They are also plagued by rebel Jew Barabbas (Guardino) who continuously leads uprisings against the Roman soldiers occupying his homeland.

Hunter enters the fray by drawing the attention of the powers-that-be though his public speeches and miraculous interaction with various afflicted people. Judas (Torn) initially (in this adaptation anyway) works alongside Guardino until finally aligning himself with Hunter. Unfortunately, a plan to make Hunter prove his divinity backfires and Hunter is taken prisoner and eventually meets his fate on the cross.

In addition to this primary story, depictions of the Nativity, the slaying of newborn sons of Bethlehem, various epic battles, the dance of Salome (Bazlen), the near stoning of Mary Magdalene (Sevilla) and other legendary events are shown. Hunter gives an understated, but assured performance. His introduction in the film is a memorable one, focusing on his (infamously baby blue) eyes.

He scarcely gets anything to do besides roam around spouting as much of the New Testament dialogue as can fit into the film's running time, but he does it as admirably as can be expected. There is no room here for very much additional characterization than Jesus as a peacemaker and prophet. Juicier roles are given to Thring (who had just played Pilate in 'Ben-Hur'!), who wears an alternating mask of lust or disgust, depending on the situation and Hatfield, who delights in throwing his weight around. McKenna, as Hunter's mother Mary, beams with joyous solemnity, in some cases refusing to blink at all as she portrays the inner faith and resilient core of her character. Randell plays a Roman soldier who provides identification for some viewers as he simply does his duty, rarely taking part in the political ramifications of the situation, but eventually understanding the revelation of what Hunter is saying. Guardino can't mask his evident New York accent, but does a nice job nonetheless. Torn gives a thoughtful, perceptive performance.

Ryan is very strong, overcoming a cave man wig to provide some of the most passionate acting in the movie. Some extraordinary (albeit sometimes over the top) costumes are laid upon Lindfors and Gam as the wives of Hatfield and Thring, but they manage to perform admirably out from under them. Lindfors is saddled with some very 1960's hair (in fact, Carol Lynley wore a similar 'do to the Hollywood premiere!) and Gam has a combination bird cage/trash can contraption on her head in her key scene. Bazlen (who could pass for Liz Taylor's younger sister here) is a vixenish tart. Odd that her career went virtually nowhere after this. It's startling to watch a gorgeously produced film like this and find out that it was nominated for no awards of any kind. It's reverent while staying interesting, opulent while tending to avoid vulgarity, ambitious without overreaching itself and even suspenseful when everyone knows the outcome!

The Spanish scenery is splendid. The art direction is stunning (the floor of Herod's throne room alone should have warranted an Oscar nod) and, in a now lost tradition, the same man designed the sets and the clothes, ensuring that they be of the same vision (even if some of it is a touch silly.) Blanketing the film is a wondrous Miklos Rozsa score (he was Oscar-nominated this same year for 'El Cid' which, at least, explains his omission for this film.) There are surprisingly few missteps. A couple of awkward over-dubs for extras and supporting parts, some corny staging of crowd scenes and a downright awful, cheesy voice-over of Satan in which he sounds like Phil Hartman doing a more quiet Charlton Heston impression!

These few nitpicks are far out-weighed by the many positive attributes of the film. The fact that it was shortened by about forty-five minutes prior to release is only evident occasionally and mostly unobtrusively (note the scene in which a broken jug is suddenly visible on Hunter's head along with the crown of thorns before quickly falling off.) It's difficult to believe that the fairly literate script was written by the same man who gave the world 'Johnny Guitar'! Sadly, the beautiful and exceedingly versatile Hunter would be dead within less than a decade following a series of freak accidents and injuries. For me and, I suspect, a lot of other Boomers who were pious as kids and tipped off by nuns about the 4:30 Movie on Good Friday, this one is beyond criticism. When it's time for us to go, many of us will be seeing Hunter's face, baby blues and all, in the midst of the white light.

But personal soft spots aside, it's a pretty good Jesus picture. Hunter may speak with the unctious blandness of a TV game show host, but he's earnest and vigorous and has a certain charisma you could take as Godhood.

The music is sublime. Ray's direction has a lot of the REBEL WITHOUT quirks. Note the weird angles during Salome's dance. The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best sequence. Those oddly lit and artsily angled close-ups of Jesus are intriguing. Then He comes over the hill with His arms outstretched and it's pure glory. Sweet as a jelly bean, redolent of Easter lilies.

I can only recall seeing Jeffrey Hunter in one other movie, a western in which he played a bad guy. I could not come to terms with Christ without a beard, wearing a black hat and doing a good impersonation of Liberty Valence. So I am not surprised that playing this role more or less ended his career. At the same time I cannot understand criticism of him in this role. Some may have found him a bit too pretty and decidedly western looking with his auburn hair and blazing blue eyes but this is pretty much in keeping with western Christian iconography and what the audience would have expected.

There probably would have been a riot in the cinema if Christ had been portrayed as the Neanderthal-like creature that 'scientists' have recreated in recent times (it also reminds me a lot of Rod Marsh, the former Aussie cricketer). I think that Hunter is really very good as Jesus. Physically attractive, certainly, but also charismatic and nicely understated. I guess that it must be in praise of him that I could say that I can believe that this was what Christ was like or (if it is not sacrilegious)what I might hope he was like.

I also liked the performance of Ron Randall as Lucius and Frank Thring jnr as Herod-both Aussies by the way. I wonder if Herod's second name is the source of 'antipasto'? (only joking). I like the movie, and like 'its a wonderful Life' and 'the Robe' and 'song of Bernadette', it has an evangelical effect that makes me swear off adult web sites, at least for a while. Unfortunately the effect does not endure, at least to date. But I've just watched 'King of Kings' again today (Good Friday)on channel seven Sydney and maybe this time its permanent. I do agree with other user comments that the story from the last supper onwards to the end is rather rushed, given the length of some of the other scenes.

I recently saw this film for the first time in a long time. I had seen CBS's miniseries 'Jesus' last year and was moved (see my review of that film). I must say that I was completely blown away by Jeffrey Hunter's performance. While he does not come off as warm as Jeremy Sisto in 'Jesus', I am told that his portrayal is more accurate (in how the bible paints Jesus).

Furthermore, Jeffrey Hunter brings an element of mystery to the role of Jesus, and I am not surprised that there are accounts of extras being moved by seeing him in his costume. Some critics have denounced the director for casting an 'pretty-boy' as Jesus. Do they think that the son of God was not attractive? When God created his son, he produced his most perfect creation. It is not possible to be too attractive to play Jesus. Jesus was probably better looking than any man that has ever existed, or will ever exist. Just because Jesus dressed in poor garments does not change his divine origin.

Therefore, contrary to detracting from his performance, Hunter's stunning looks give him an otherwordly quality. His blue eyes are intense and penetrating-his voice soft and melodious-his mannerisms lordly.

This is a man who people could believe was Jesus! All of the supporting cast provided good performances. I particularly liked how Pontius Pilate, Judes, Herod, and Barrabas were presented, although I think that there were too many scenes of Barrabas and too few of Jesus. Also the Virgin Mary did not interact with Jesus enough, and Mary Magdalene kept darting in and out of scenes, and you would have to know a little bit about the bible to figure out her significance. Also, why were Jesus' miracles read off a list or eluded to instead of shown? I like the way that Jesus' miracles were shown in the miniseries 'Jesus'.

I do not think any great special effects were employed for those scenes, yet there were very powerful. Of all the scenes in the film, I like the Sermon on the Mount, the meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist in prison (there are only two lines in that scene, but the silent communication between them is truly extraordinary), and the trial before Pontius Pilate (Jesus shows great dignity and courage in refusing to play into Pilate's hands).I appreciate the director's desire to exercise tact in the crucifiction (spelling?) scene, but I agree with the person posting on this site who said that the crucifiction did not look painful the way that it was presented. It is important for the audience to grasp how much Jesus endured for humanity, and that is not shown as effectively as it could be.

However, I found myself cringing as Jesus was flogged, so this part of the film is not without power. All in all, a great film! Watching the film in the early 60's left me with a visual of what Christ looked like and it is always Jeffrey Hunter, even today.

Hunter was perfect for the role and his powerful voice while giving the beatitudes in the hills was great. Having studied the Bible and believing in it, just seeing this film always touches my heart. The time-line of the birth of Christ to the death on the cross and finally with the resurrection of Christ is truly the whole Glorious Story of just what God gave to the world. This film, released by MGM, came right off the heels of BenHur. Although 'Hur' is by far the best bible-era epic ever made, 'Kings' resembles it in many ways. The opening credits, the artwork, at least one of the cast members (Frank Thring - 'Pilate' in 'Hur', and 'Herod' here).and that tremendous score by the great composer Miklos Rozsa.

Although the film is not quite as historically acurate as 'Greatest Story', after you put it all together, it's just a more moving experience. Jeffrey Hunter is not the actor Max Von Sydow is, but portrays Christ in more of a heroic way, rather than a philosophical one. (To many of us, Christ is our greatest hero.) 'Greatest Story' is a nice, subdued film, but 'Kings' will fire you up! So far this is my favorite movie about Jesus,and Jeffery Hunter (even with his blue eyes) is absolutely the best Jesus character I have yet to see!This is the ONLY film of this type that actually made me 'FEEL' anything!I think Jeffery Hunter does an absolutely amazing job of portraying the love and compassion that I imagine Jesus would, plus I love his voice! So unlike the heartless gore-fest 'The Passion' where I found myself only numb,and totally detached from the Jesus character, possibly because he has no character in THAT film.I have watched King Of Kings many times,and I still love it,and I still get emotional and warm feelings with each viewing.

Now if Mel Gibson had developed the Jesus character more in his film which I feel James Caviezel could have done a great job with,also WOW,now that would have been 10 times the movie it is,and would have had that much more effect on non-Christians too! So to me this King Of Kings will remain the standard by which I will judge all future biblical films about Jesus.