King of Kings (Original Magazine Format)

Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus Christ preaches the Sermon on the Mount ITH historical epics, W particularly those of a Biblical nature en- joying peak popularity, it was inevitable that, sooner or later, the film companies Spanish actress Carmen Sevilla plays Mary Magdalene, sinner converted by Christ Rip Torn has a key part as Judas, the man who betrayed Jesus 18 PHOTOPLAY Jeffrey Hunter was chosen to play Christ because of his compelling eyes would pick on the one all-em- bracing subject for a giant spectacular—the life of Christ. Samuel Bronston has now made the epic to end all epics with his King of Kings, produced for M-G-M. This production, (Continued overleaf) After a long search, Siobhan McKenna was cast as the Virgin Mary Viveca Lindfors portrays Claudia, the beautiful wife of Pontius Pilate Brigid Bazlen as the seductive Salome APRIL, 1961 19 The rebel, Barabbas (Harry Guardino) meets with Judas (Rip Torn) at the Sermon on the Mount (Continued from previous page) filmed in No matter how well the actors create Brigid Bazlen, from Chicago. Spain, has cost $8,000,000 — nearly the characters, it is the extras who create Brigid will not use the traditional seven £3,000,000. No expense has been spared the atmosphere which helps to bring the veils, but will dance using pure Oriental- to make it one of the most spectacular film to life. Examples of the authenticity African movements. and realistic pictures ever filmed. of their feelings occurred daily. There were many calls for stunt men The entire back lot of the Sevilla Studios While the scene depicting the sacrilegious during production. But perhaps the most is occupied by the huge Jerusalem sets. entering and looting of the Temple by the hazardous job of all was done by Manolo Every available inch of space has been Roman general Pompey (Conrado San Gonzalez. He jumped more than 50 feet utilised and, towering over all, is the Martin) was being filmed, Pompey and his from the top of the highest tower of the magnificent Temple of Jerusalem. men had to murder the Jewish high priests Temple of Israel, into the courtyard below. The man responsible for these sets is who were blocking the entrance to the It was the longest free fall of his career. George Wakhevitch, the French art director. inner sanctum. It was during this sequence The price paid for the jump—£45. The Working with his team, he has designed that one of the extras was heard to shout date—Friday the 13th ! all the sets, costumes and jewellery. All this out in Spanish: "Look, they're killing Falls like these are only highlights that has been done in close collaboration with our holy men!" so strong was the reality go to make up the whole. No one scene some of the world's most prominent biblical of the scene. can be singled out as better than another. scholars. To keep this atmosphere, and to treat Perhaps the most moving is the Baptism With this authentic background to work the making of this film with as much of Jesus. Crowds of Spanish extras stood on, the producer, Samuel Bronston and reverence as possible, no interviews were about in the water for hours with never a director, Nicholas Ray, have signed one of allowed with Jeffrey Hunter. murmur of complaint. the largest international casts ever But to keep the Press informed, through- The Sermon on the Mount is another assembled for one picture. out the production the company published example. To film this sequence, the director Jeffrey Hunter will portray Christ. its own newspaper in Madrid, which was had to assemble the largest multitude ever Bronston says that he chose him because then circulated all over the world. This used for a single motion picture scene. of his eyes which are exceptionally com- newspaper was called "The Star," after If all this sounds larger than life, it has pelling and blue. the Star of Bethlehem. to be remembered that this is a subject "It is important that the man playing Other leading players in the film are which is in itself larger than life. Christ should have memorable eyes," he Robert Ryan who portrays John the The film has received the blessing of says. Baptist; Carmen Sevilla who plays Mary Pope John XXIII, who told Bronston that One of the notable things during the Magdalene; Frank Thring and Rita Gam King of Kings deserved support from all shooting of this film was the atmosphere. who take the parts of Herod Antipas and sources for the contribution the film would Extras were drawn from the local people, his beautiful but evil wife, Herodias, and make to the spiritual elevation of mankind. who are very devout, and, as Siobhan Hurd Hatfield who is Pontius Pilate. Everything has been done to keep things McKenna who takes the part of the Another main part, that of Salome, on a high spiritual level, and the result is Virgin Mary, said: "It seemed like a daughter of Herodias, and step-daughter one of the most reverent and emotionally great religious experience to them." of Herod Antipas goes to 16-year-old disturbing films ever made. So real that even the extras believed it 20 PHOTOPLAY.

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