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Movies / On DVD / King of Kings
King of Kings

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King of Kings (1961)

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79 %
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Reviews Counted:14

Fresh:11

Rotten:3

Average Rating:6.2/10

Runtime: 3 hrs 50 mins

Genre: Religious

Synopsis: Nicholas Ray's lavish and beautifully constructed widescreen epic about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. "King of Kings" is built upon a series of narrative parallels and contrasts between Jesus... Nicholas Ray's lavish and beautifully constructed widescreen epic about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. "King of Kings" is built upon a series of narrative parallels and contrasts between Jesus and Barrabas. The film portrays the thief as a rebel leader of the Jewish resistance; unlike Jesus, who preaches a message of peace, Barrabas advocates violence as a means to an end. By building his drama around this religious and philosophical conflict, Ray establishes a tension that defamiliarizes this well-known story. Highlights include the Sermon on the Mount and the scene in which Salome asks King Herod for the head of John the Baptist. [More]

Starring: Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna, Robert Ryan, Hurd Hatfield

Starring: Jeffrey Hunter, Siobhan McKenna, Robert Ryan, Hurd Hatfield, Viveca Lindfors, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, Ron Randell

Director: Nicholas Ray

Director: Nicholas Ray
Producer: Samuel Bronston
Screenwriter: Philip Yordan
Composer: Miklos Rozsa

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 30, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Snap Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
  • Letterbox - 2.35

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Mono 1.0 - English

Additional Release Material:

  • Bonus Footage: Newsreels (2)
  • Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Featurette: THE CAMERA'S WINDOW OF THE WORLD
 
 
 
 

Reviews for King of Kings

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1 - 14 (sorted by date)
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Director Nicholas Ray makes few positive contributions.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
03/19/08
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Jeffrey Hunter is less Saviour of the Christian faith and more anti-hero with many very human doubts and concerns.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/19/08
David Parkinson
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine

An epic of considerable scope, filled with broad vistas, yet there are enough intimate moments to give audience a chance to engage with the characters rather than just admire their pontificating.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
10/22/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Director Nicholas Ray has brooded long and wisely upon the meaning of his meanings, has planted plenty of symbols along the path, yet avoided the banalities of religious calendar art.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
10/22/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is one of the most interesting screen versions of the Gospels.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

No review available.

comment Comment
11/23/05
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
06/18/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Let us say the spirit is hinted but the projection of it is weak.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/09/05
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/28/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A sweeping and at times stirring biblical epic.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
04/28/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Perfect for Easter TV.

comment Comment
11/05/03
John Urbancich
John Urbancich
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

As such, it's a pretty reverent recounting of the New Testament.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This quirky 'Scope biblical spectacular is a lot more thoughtful and interesting than most.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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