Richard H. Campbell on Lang's "The Bible on the Big Screen"

A couple of weeks ago I noted the (then) forthcoming release of Stephen J. Lang's "The Bible on the Big Screen". I'm still waiting for my copy, but I was interested to read a review at Amazon by the one and only Richard H. Campbell. Campbell was one of the two authors who published "The Bible on Film", way back in 1981, so it's particularly interesting to read his comments. Overall he gives the film 4 stars out of a possible five. "Mr. Lang does an excellent job writing about each film. Everything in this book is well-done; great writing; a wonderful fresh read."

He does, however find two major faults with the book. Firstly, there is apparently no mention of others books or websites on the subject, including Campbell's own. Secondly, the book claims to include a "comprehensive filmography with a chronological listing of all biblical movies ever made" whereas it only mentions a total of 90 or so films. (Campbell notes how his 1981 book "lists almost 300 entries"). Of these 90 or so it appears that Lang deals with 36* films of them in greater depth. Campbell lists them as follows:

From The Manger to The Cross
Intolerance
Ten Commandments (1923)
King of Kings (1927)
Green Pastures
Samson and Delilah
David and Bathsheba
Salome
Prodigal
Ten Commandments (1956)
Solomon and Sheba
Story of Ruth
Esther and the King
King of Kings (1961)
David and Goliath
Sodom and Gomorrah
Greatest Story Ever Told
Gospel According To Matthew
The Bible...In the Beginning
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar
Gospel Road
Passover Plot
Jesus of Nazareth*
Il Messia
Jesus
Life of Brian
King David
Last Temptation of Christ
Prince of Egypt
Jonah
Gospel of John
Passion of the Christ
Nativity
One Night With The King

The list contains 4 films that I am yet to see - The Prodigal, Sodom and Gomorrah, The Passover Plot and Jonah. I'm assuming that the latter is the Veggie Tales movie. Campbell also notes how the book discusses only 9 films made since the release of his book, and how it excludes made for TV films (except for Jesus of Nazareth).

Three observations at this point. 1 - The list only contains English Language / and Italian made films. 2 - I'm particularly pleased to see Il Messia make the list. 3 - There are 20 "Jesus films" on the list (including some of the more tangential titles such as Salome, and 15 Old Testament.

You can read Campbell's full review here,
(EDIT:The above was written about Campbell's longer review. It was replaced by a shorter review of the book, which now, in turn, seems to have disappeared).

I hope to publish my own review of the book shortly.

*Jesus of Nazareth is counted in two parts taking the total to 36 films