• Bible Films Blog

    Looking at film interpretations of the stories in the Bible - past, present and future, as well as preparation for a future work on Straub/Huillet's Moses und Aron and a few bits and pieces on biblical studies.


    Name:
    Matt Page

    Location:
    U.K.












    Friday, May 19, 2006

    King of Kings (1961) Scene Guide

    It's actually quite a while since I watched this film in full. Given this film is one of my top ten Jesus films this is perhaps something that needs addressing soon. Anyway, as a result this scene guide may have one or two omissions, although I think primarily it is extra-biblical material that is excluded. Scripture citations follow the normal format. FWIW, I reviewed this film back in March.
    [extra-biblical episode] - based on Josephus
    Bethlehem - (Luke 1:26-38)
    [extra-biblical episode]
    Nativity - (Luke 2:1-7)
    Wise Men - (Matt 2:1-12)
    Death of the Infants - (Matt 2:13-16)
    [extra-biblical episode]
    John the Baptist - (Mark 1:2-8)
    [extra-biblical episode]
    Jesus' Baptism - (Mark 1:9-11)
    Temptations - (Matt 4:1-11)
    Calling of the Four - (Mark 1:16-20)
    John and Herod - (Mark 6:18-20)
    Various Miracles - (Mark 1:32-34)
    Adulterous Woman - (John 8:2-11)
    Deliverance of Madman - (Mark 1:23-28)
    Death of John - (Mark 6:21-28)
    [extra-biblical episode]
    Sermon on the Mount - (Matt 5-7)
      Beatitudes - (Matt 5:2-12)
      Kingdom within you - (Luke 17:20-21)
      Love your neighbour - (Mark 12:28-31)
      Good Shepherd - (John 10:1-15)
      Law & Prophets - (Matt 5:17-20)
      Love Enemies - (Matt 5:43-48)
      Sinners & Taxmen - (Mark 2:16-17)
      Can't serve two masters - (Matt 6:24)
      Consider the lilies - (Matt 6:25-30)
      Weak & heavy laden - (Matt 11:28-30)
      Lord's Prayer - (Matt 6:9-15)
    Calling/Training of 12 - (Mark 6:6-13)
    Interval
    Triumphal entry - (Mark 11:7-11a)
    [extra-biblical episodes]
    Last Supper - (Mark 14:16-25,27-31)
    Gethsemane - (Mark 14:32-42)
    Jesus's Arrest - (Mark 14:43-50)
    Peter Denies Jesus – (Luke 22:54-62)
    Sanhedrin Trial - (Mark 14:53-64)
    Pilate 1st trial - (Luke 23:1-7)
    Before Herod - (Luke 23:8-12)
    Pilate 2nd trial - (Luke 23:13-25)
    Road to the Cross – (Mark 15:20-22)
    Crucifixion – (Mark 15:22-32)
    Two Robbers on the cross - (Luke 23:39-43)
    Jesus's Death - (Mark 15:33-41)
    Appearance to Mary - (John 20:11-17)
    Great Commission - (Matt 28:18-20)

    A Few Notes
    This is one of the few films that actually shows how Jesus involved the disciples in spreading his message. The final scene before the interval is Jesus commissioning the twelve shortly after the Sermon on the Mount. It's an interesting juxtaposition of the two blocks of teaching which Matthew's gospel (the nearest literary parallel) separates by several chapters. In the film, it's as if Jesus is saying "this is the basic information for the masses, and now this is the real meat for my closest followers".

    One of the most notable set design features of the film is the Y-shaped table at the Last Supper. It's an interesting prop which is surprisingly discussed. The initial decision facing the film-makers at this point is whether or not to mirror Leonardo's famous painting, as this is the definitive artistic image of the Last Supper. However, in most cases, where a Leonardo derived composition has been rejected, a more modern arrangement is taken with all the disciples around two or more sides of long tables. It's noticeable for example that Jesus films never show all the disciples eating at separate tables all within the same room, even though John's gospel happily accepts Jesus did not treat all his disciples equally (John 13:23-25). Almost without exception the disciples are pretty much treated equally. However, film-makers are also at pains to visually highlight the other-ness of Jesus, so, as far as I am aware, no film-maker has ever located the Lat Supper on round table as per King Arthur - in fact Jesus is always seated centrally, even though that is only assumption based on traditional Christian Art and the assumptions drawn from our culture.

    Ray's Y shaped table is interesting then as maintains the centrality of Jesus, whilst being strikingly anti-Leonardo. Visually it is like three arrows all pointing to Jesus in the middle.

    Whilst this book is part of the harmonising tradition, it is almost entirely based on the synoptics. Only three references from John feature in the entire 3 hours; The teaching about the good shepherd, the appearance to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, and the woman caught in adultery. Furthermore although this last episode is taken from John, it is excluded in many early texts of John, and included in some early texts of Luke.

    In "Reading the Gospels in the Dark", Richard Walsh devotes a chapter to this film comparing it to the Gospel of Luke. It's an interesting comparison, although I am not entirely convinced as the major point of comparison appears to its function. From the point of view of form, the centrality of the Sermon of the Mount is difficult to ascribe to any of the canonical gospels. The book's cover is based on an image of actor Jeffrey Hunter though.

    Lastly, It is noticeable that Jesus spends so little time on screen. Peter Chattaway has done some serious analysis on this, which is reproduced in the second half of this post at the Arts and Faith discussion forum.

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    12 Comments:

    • At 5:15 am, May 22, 2006, Blogger crystal said…

      Hi Matt. Nice post :-) There's another book similar to the one you mention (Reading the Gospels in the Dark) ... Finding God in the Dark: Taking the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to the Movies

       
    • At 5:24 pm, May 22, 2006, Blogger Matt Page said…

      Wow never heard of that until now. There are lots of Faith and Film books, but this one sounds disticntly different. Do you own it? If so, what's it like?

      Matt

       
    • At 8:06 pm, May 22, 2006, Blogger crystal said…

      No, I haven't bought it yet. But I came across it while looking at a Jesuit retreat listing. It apparently has all kinds of movies, not just those specifically religious, like Lost in Translation, Big Fish, Bowling for Columbine, Harry Potter,etc. Here's waht a blurb says ...

      * Divided into four parts corresponding with the Four Weeks of the Spiritual Exercises:Part One: Discovering God’s love;Part Two: Channeling energies into a personal relationship with Christ; Part Three: Accompanying Christ’s love in the face of suffering and death; Part Four: Celebrating the triumph of God’s love and working together to transform the world through acts of love
      * Includes a concise, helpful explanation of what the Spiritual Exercises are, and how to make them.


      BTW, nice Da Vinci Code review!

       
    • At 9:45 am, May 23, 2006, Blogger Matt Page said…

      Thanks for the extra info. Crystal. There's a bit more on the publisher's website.

      It's interesting that Bowling for Columbine is included as I've heard most of the others talked about in relation to examining our faiths, but not this one in this way. I'd be keen to know what they say. Is it just we should be politically active, or do they find another level of meaning?

      Matt

       
    • At 6:50 am, April 09, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      I'm thinking K of K was filmed here near Palm Desert, Ca, in a place called Joshua Tree. Some locals remember that. Sure looks like "home" in the screening. Sad to note so many have passed away, especially the gifted young lady who played Solome. Frank Thring was one of the world's best actors. He bought alot of screen time while the cameras churned just taking his time walking from throne a few slow steps. In Laser Dics days, I had the ability of copying this movie to videotape, pausing most Roman battle scenes and the Barabbas theme, and winding up with a purely Biblical account of high value. -bill.

       
    • At 9:52 am, April 10, 2007, Blogger Matt Page said…

      Thanks Bill.

      Your edit sounds interesting. Out of interest how long was it? (IIRC Jesus is on screen less than 50% of the time)

      Matt

       
    • At 6:10 pm, October 24, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      Matt,
      In my edition of "King of kings"
      from 1961 I only got the Peter's
      denial and Trial before Pilate.
      You write about Sanhedrin Trial,
      but I don't have that scene.
      What is this anyway?

       
    • At 9:32 am, November 09, 2007, Blogger Matt Page said…

      Hmmm,

      You may have spotted an error. This film was one of the first to hold the Romans almost solely responsible. And Both Tatum and Stern >et al. both omit this.

      So in all probability it's an error. I'll have to check and amend the post if it's so.

      Thanks for your sharp vision!

      Matt

       
    • At 7:30 am, December 15, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      Well it's like this. Jesus is
      praying.When he rises his head
      Judas Iscariot is coming and he's
      betraying him.We can see no
      "the Son of Man is betrayed into
      the hands of sinful men".After that
      there are three denials of Peter
      and Jesus is brought out from the
      Sanhedrian and he's watching into
      the eyes of Peter. After this he's
      brought before Pilate.

       
    • At 7:47 am, December 15, 2007, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      Also I have another comment:
      The Elevation of the cross from
      King of kings 1961 is rework
      from 1959 version of Ben-Hur.
      Why is that ?

       
    • At 2:26 am, October 28, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said…

      I loved this movie sooooooooo much when I was young. When I was 6 years old [9 years ago] I would always watch this movie. But one day my brothers hid it from me and I never Saw it again.

       
    • At 5:45 pm, November 05, 2008, Blogger Matt Page said…

      Well at the age of 15 there's still plenty of time. I didn't see it until I was about 25. Well worth digging out if you have time.

      Matt

       

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