With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, many Americans – who say they believe in the Lord Jesus – seem to forget the instruction to “give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven;” while that lesson was presented as “art” some 50 years ago when “King of Kings” premiered as the top holiday film in 1961, when “love and forgiveness” was viewed as an essential part of Christ’s teachings.
On Christmas Day 1961, America went to see a film about a retelling of the story of Jesus from his birth to his crucifixion and Resurrection. “In those days people didn’t get all crazy when you mentioned the named Jesus in terms of ‘oh don’t talk about religion or God.’ Americans, for the most part, viewed Christmas as God’s birthday,” explained Nicholas Ray who directed the epic film “King of Kings” that’s now been re-released on DVD for this 50th anniversary year. While the film is considered to be the “best portray of Jesus” in cinema history, say many film critics writing about this movie that’s now part of the American Film Institute’s list of “best films of all time.” Meanwhile, there was talk back in the day that John Wayne -- who has just completed filming the now-classic western “The Searchers” directed by John Ford – was being considered for the role of “Jesus” at a time when top Hollywood stars appeared in Biblical epics. For instance, Charlton Heston starred in “Ben-Hur,” and “The Ten Commandments.”
Jesus is the "King of Kings" in 1961 film
Legend has it that director John Ford told his fellow director Nicholas Ray that the role of Jesus was better suited for an up and coming “good looking” Jeffrey Hunter. In turn, Hunter became “the” look of the modern Jesus in America with posters of the “King of Kings” star featured next to other top celebrities of the day in America’s shops.
However, Hunter's youthful matinee idol looks resulted in the film being derided as "I Was a Teenage Jesus.” In turn, Hunter said he suffered from being stereotyped as “the Jesus star.”
Hunter later said “the part of playing Jesus in King of Kings changed me.” Hunter’s last role was “Capt. Christopher Pike” in the original Star Trek pilot episode. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry later said that “Jeff reminded me of Jesus.”
Hunter died on May 27, 1969 -- at the age of 42 -- after suffering a stroke, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs and sustain a skull fracture. His official biography states that he died from a “cerebral hemorrhage.”
King of Kings is a Christmas story
The 1961 film “King of Kings” that celebrates its 50th anniversary this Christmas 2011 is a story about a carpenter named Joseph and his wife Mary, who is about to give birth to the “King of Kings.”
The film also features scenes of Jesus' miracles and his Sermon on the Mount (shot with many thousands of extras), as well as a scene where Jesus visits John the Baptist in his dungeon during his imprisonment by Herod Antipas.
Also, a history of the film states how the director Nicholas Ray staged the scene in such a way that John the Baptist must crawl up an incline inside the dungeon, holding out his hand to reach for Jesus' hand. Ray later said in an interview that he “wanted to make Jesus more human.”
They’re still calling him Jesus
“They used to call him Jesus
Long time ago
They're still calling him Jesus
Don't you know
They crossed the wood and hanged him
A long time ago
They still misunderstand him
Those who don't know
And in the evening his love will lead the blind
In every secret corner there in your mind”
The song, “Jesus,” by Cat Stevens was inspired, in part, by such “art” interpretations of the life of Jesus as “King of Kings,” remarked the artist and singer back in 1974 when the album “Buddha and the Chocolate Box" came out.
Stevens said the title of the album came about when he was traveling “to a gig on a plane with a Buddha in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other.” Stevens said in an interview that he wondered if he were to die in the plane that he would be saved. Stevens also notes how the album leans toward a spiritual message, and notes that: “I asked Jesus to save me when drowning, and Jesus did just that.”
In turn, other artists have cited “King of Kings” as being an influence in their work and even their favorite film of all time.
At the same time, many fans of the film “King of Kings” note that if people today looked up from their busy lives long enough, they too could relate to the message of “give to the poor,” and “forgiveness and love” as “the true meaning of the holiday.”
Image source of Jeffrey Hunter as "Jesus" in the 1961 film “King of Kings.” Photo courtesy Wikipedia
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