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The King of Kings

Play trailer Poster for The King of Kings 1927 1h 52m Holiday Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
After driving the sin out of Mary Magdalene (Jacqueline Logan) and raising Lazarus (Kenneth Thomson) from the dead, Jesus (H.B. Warner) enters into Jerusalem, where Judas (Joseph Schildkraut) conspires to have him turned over to the authorities. After the Last Supper, Jesus goes to Gethsemane, where he is taken prisoner, and thereafter tried under Pontius Pilate (Victor Varconi) and crucified. He is buried and, as foretold in scripture, resurrected three days later.
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The King of Kings

Critics Reviews

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Charles Morgan New York Times Feb 27, 2013
2/5
As a work of art it is a complete failure, because it is anaemic and because it shows us a Christ who, though obviously a virtuous and mild man, is completely lacking in the fire and spiritual vigor that go to the making of the great leaders of mankind. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Tremendous is The King of Kings -- tremendous in its lesson, in the daring of its picturization for a commercial theatre and tremendous in its biggest scene, the Crucifixion of Christ. Go to Full Review Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Dec 7, 2004
A
In a genre that deserves the best artists can offer but is plagued by mediocrity, DeMille's flawed but powerful film remains one of Hollywood's most remarkable achievements. Go to Full Review Ellie Lucas trans|cendental cinema Jun 2, 2025
3/4
One of the essential silent-era epics, a thrilling example of old Hollywood's extravagant excesses. Go to Full Review H. D. (Hilda Doolittle) Close Up Oct 29, 2021
This King of Kings is beautiful. I am astonished at the acumen of the producer, of the director. The actor himself is some genius of rare order, H.B. Warner, quiet, tense, intense. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dec 24, 2007
C
The recounting of the Gospels according to De Mille seems awkward, tedious and hokey. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Teddy B @RT90521672 Apr 27, 2025 Gorgeous but slightly overblown in the same regard. The cinematography is beautiful, being some of the closest to echoing a moving painting. The performances are solid with H.B Warner's being by far the best of the film. There is, however, a certain repetitiveness that plagues films based on the Passion, which this fill unfortunately succumbs to... See more Isaiah Y @zayman2 Apr 11, 2023 One of the best movies about the life of Jesus by one of the best directors, Cecil B. DeMille See more michael d @RT16138633 Dec 11, 2021 This is one part of Cecil B DeMille's biblical trilogy also including The Ten Commandments and The Sign of the Cross. It is a silent epic film, that received rave reviews. It was largely said to be DeMille's finest motion picture. It is a sincere and reverent visualization of the last three years in the life of Christ, produced on a scale of tasteful magnificence and finely acted. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader Feb 1, 2019 The best inspiring epic movie ever made! See more Oct 15, 2018 Touching and gorgeous. See more Mar 18, 2016 One of the early great Biblical Epics that is not only a major production of the 1920's but this film's premier was the grand opening of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The story is entirely original just scenes directly sourced out of the bible, the significance lies in the visual spectacle that Cecile B DeMille often delivered. Thankfully due to DVD audiences can now access the 155 minute which is includes an opening & closing scene that is shot on early two tone technicolor. It's entertaining & melodramatic but definitely a little static in comparison to productions yet to come ie Passion of the Christ 2004 etc. An interesting film to watch & eye to the glory days of Biblical Epics on screen. See more Read all reviews
The King of Kings

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Cast & Crew

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Cecil B. DeMille

Director

H.B. Warner

Jesus, the Christ

Jacqueline Logan

Mary Magdalene

Ernest Torrence

Peter

Joseph Schildkraut

Judas Iscariot

Victor Varconi

Pontius Pilate

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The King of Kings

The King of Kings (1927) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After driving the sin out of Mary Magdalene (Jacqueline Logan) and raising Lazarus (Kenneth Thomson) from the dead, Jesus (H.B. Warner) enters into Jerusalem, where Judas (Joseph Schildkraut) conspires to have him turned over to the authorities. After the Last Supper, Jesus goes to Gethsemane, where he is taken prisoner, and thereafter tried under Pontius Pilate (Victor Varconi) and crucified. He is buried and, as foretold in scripture, resurrected three days later.
Director
Cecil B. DeMille
Producer
Cecil B. DeMille
Distributor
Pathé Exchange Inc.
Production Co
DeMille Pictures Corporation
Genre
Holiday, Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 19, 1927, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 15, 2020
Runtime
1h 52m
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