The Greatest Story Ever Told

Late in his career, George Stevens banked everything on this 1965 opus about the life of Jesus, shot in Utah in 70-millimeter and originally released in a 260-minute version. By reputation, the results are so dull and so consistently undercut by a succession of star cameos (John Wayne proclaiming Truly this man was the son of God at the foot of the cross is the most cited example) that no one seems to mind the various shorter versions released since them, one of them less than half as long. Among the many stars are Max von Sydow (as Jesus), Dorothy McGuire, Claude Rains, Jose Ferrer, David McCallum, Charlton Heston, Sidney Poitier, and Pat Boone. (JR)

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