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The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

APPROVED 199 min  -  Biography | Drama | History  -   9 April 1965 (UK)
6.3
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Ratings: 6.3/10 from 4,037 users  
Reviews: 87 user | 18 critic

The life of Jesus Christ.

Writers:

Fulton Oursler (book), Henry Denker (source writings), and 3 more credits »
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Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 1 win See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max von Sydow ...
Michael Anderson Jr. Michael Anderson Jr. ...
Carroll Baker ...
Ina Balin Ina Balin ...
Victor Buono ...
Richard Conte Richard Conte ...
Joanna Dunham Joanna Dunham ...
José Ferrer ...
Van Heflin ...
Charlton Heston ...
Martin Landau ...
Angela Lansbury ...
Pat Boone ...
Janet Margolin Janet Margolin ...
David McCallum ...
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Storyline

George Stevens' epic production. "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?" It is towards this climactic crossroads that the story of Jesus of Nazareth leads, and to which, at the final moment, it again looks back in triumphant retrospect. It is the anguishing crossroads where the eternal questions of faith and doubt become resolved. Star-studded cast includes Max Von Sydow (as Jesus), Dorothy McGuire (as Mary), Robert Loggia (as Joseph), Charlton Heston (as John the Baptist), Michael Anderson, Jr., Robert Blake, Jamie Farr, David McCallum, Roddy McDowall, Ina Balin, Janet Margolin, Sidney Poitier, Carroll Baker, Pat Boone, Van Heflin, Sal Mineo, Shelley Winters, Ed Wynn, John Wayne, Telly Savalas, Angela Lansbury, Paul Stewart, Harold J. Stone, Martin Landau, Joseph Schildkraut, Victor Buono, Jose Ferrer, Claude Rains, Donald Pleasence, Richard Conte and Cyril Delevanti. Written by alfiehitchie  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Faith | Epic | Jesus Christ | John The Baptist | Death  | See more »

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

MGM | Add/edit official sites  »

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(UK) See more »

Also Known As:

George Stevens Presents The Greatest Story Ever Told See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$12,000,000 (Worldwide) (December 1969)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

(edited version)  | USA: (re-issue version)  | USA: (premiere version)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.76 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Being a perfectionist, George Stevens did many takes of John Wayne's single line, "Truly, this man was the son of God." A rumor has long persisted that at one stage Stevens pleaded with Wayne to show more emotion, an overwhelming sense of awe. During the next take, Wayne changed the line to, "Aw, truly this man was the son of God." See more »

Goofs

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Differences from the Bible accounts, and other historical inaccuracies, are not being counted as goofs, especially when they're reliant on sectarian traditions or Renaissance/Baroque art. See more »

Quotes

Narrator: [first lines]
Narrator: In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. I am He. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, was made nothing that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of man. And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness grasped it not. The greatest story ever told...
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Connections

Referenced in The Passion: Films, Faith & Fury (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"Hallelujah Chorus"
(uncredited)
from "The Messiah"
Music by George Frideric Handel See more »