Editorial Review

Released at a time when psychic auras, near-death experiences, and Kirlian photography were all the rage among early New Age proponents, Read more

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I must echo the rave reviews.
This achingly insightful film is one of the most thought provoking stories
Astonishing tale
This superb work of film art will bring you to tears though presented almost as a documentary.As a man with no need of earthly "beliefs" and a skeptic of most of such stories, I still have an open mind to any idea.This movie reeks of honesty.No doubt because of excellent performances, especially of Ellen Burstyn who can't be more believable, and Sam Shepard who reflects what happens when people can't see outside their framed beliefs.Powerful drama.
Bootleg DVD copy
For those who are sick of waiting for this great film to become available on DVD, I have found a few bootleg copies on ebay recently.They are transfered from tape and not in WS and no extras, but for those who have worn out their VHS tapes, it's better than nothing! ... Read more

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VHS Movie "Come to the Stable"
Great movie, Great service, Many thanks to all involved. Received in good condition and good time. Many thanks Patricia Ryan

Charming movie that deserves to be on DVD
Come to the Stable is a charming movie that deserves to be on DVD.There is fine acting all around and Hollywood can relearn on how to depict religion in a positive light and tone from movies from the late 1940's.
A simple story about the POWER of faith
No complicated story line: two nuns come to America , from France, to "answer a call".They come with nothing except belief in this "call".They have no plan and no money but...mysterious things begin to happen and 'the call" starts to take shape.
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Editorial Review

Roland Joffé (Read more

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Reviews (197)

My Favorite Movie - Bar None!
Although the story surrounds the Spanish Jesuits building a mission in the South American wilderness, the real action takes place in the heart.
Must see movie
This movie has it all, great screenplay, actors, set, costumes, extras, direction and cinematography. Everything appears to be set in the correct time period. And does a very vivid job portraying of the Eighteenth Centaury in the Amazon Jungle.
Amazing.
This film is as close as it gets to perfection in the genre of historical fiction. DeNiro and Irons turn in two of the best peformances of their careers. The story, by Robert Bolt, is both complex and compelling. Few films engage the viewer on such a deep level and ask them to make a choice between the characters and their convictions. Is it right to take up arms to defend the innocent or is pacificism the only path for followers of Christ? Best film to ever take on this question. The scenery is majestic and the film's score is haunting. This is a sad, beautiful film that will rarely be equaled. ... Read more

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Editorial Review

The second most-watched miniseries (after Read more

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Reviews (85)

Stupendous!!!
This miniseries is by far the best movie I have ever seen--and I've seen thousands! The acting, writing, directing, music, and design are all perfect. It touched meso deeply--because I could relate to many aspects of the story--that I thought about it for days. It never lost its believability and drew me deeper and deeper into its vortex of romantic suspense. Megee's self-sacrifice--placing Ralph's career above her own needs and desires--was so admirable. And her unfliching faithfulness to him despite her lonliness, if not emptiness, was even more divine than the faithfulness Ralph professed to God. She becomes a true heroine but in a different way, an inner way, than we usually think of heroines.
Breathtaking
This miniseries was one of the formative memories of my adolescence--I remember watching it at 14, absorbed in the story and entranced by Meggie and Ralph. I watched it again as a 34th-birthday present to myself, and it was as moving a story as I remembered. Beautiful!

Very Good
This movie was a truly great one. I have read the book and I feel that it was great also. I believe one of the reasons why it doesn't go into detail about Justine and Dane's relationship as much as a few people of liked or that there wasn't anything that showed the relationship between Patsy and Jims is because the movie is so long without it. It's around 10 hours long. I think it showed the closeness between Justine and Dane quite well just some people didn't pay attention! Probably just thinking about something to complain about. I for one think that the actors did a great job and sound not too much like they were American. Give them a break. ... Read more

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Editorial Review

Legendary silent film director Cecil B. DeMille didn't much alter the way he made movies after sound came in, and this 1956 biblical drama is proof of that. While graced with such 1950s niceties as VistaVision and Technicolor, Read more

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Reviews (234)

Hollywood 'wow' with a religious twist
The first reviewer, Mr. Burgraff, said it best: It's DeMille,
Ma favourite
Unlike man's law, nearly 3,000 years ago, Moses was handed God's law -- the Ten Commandments. They are the expressions of the mind of God for his creations;they are the charter and guide of humanity, for there can be no humanity without the law. The Ten Commandments are as modern today as when they were first handed to Moses on Sinai since the struggle between the forces represented by Moses and those represented by Pharaoh is still being waged today. This movie questions whether man should be ruled by God's laws or whether man is to be ruled by the whims of man, Rameses. Is man the property of the State or is man a free soul under God? DeMille believed the message of The Ten Commandments had important personal, social, cultural, and political implications. But what is the real story behind The Ten Commandments? There are different, and sometimes contradictory, biblical accounts of Moses on the Mount. The historical context of these laws are: adultery, perjury, murder, theft, graven images, Sabbath laws, and coveting. What did they mean then? And do they mean anything today? Over the years, many laws, beliefs, and civilizations had rose and fell, but from ancient times to modern times, the definitions, the laws, and morality of the Ten Commandments have never changed. Which leads to my question. What would life be like if Moses never received these ten laws? Deville's final film as a director won the Oscar for best picture, best effects, best art direction, best cinematography, best costume design, best editing, and best sound. It is my favourite movie of all time.

Katherine Orrison's DVD Commentary on the silent Ten Commandments
I wanted to just put this in for those who might be interested.In the DVD commentary on the silent Ten Commandments by Katherine Orrison, she says that the poem on which the female character (in the present day section)has written her "Goodbye" suicide note is probably important but she hasn't time to look it up. I did.It was relatively easy with a quick computer search. The poem that the note is written on is Helas by Oscar Wilde.She was quite correct that it had direct meaning for what was happening in the film at that moment. At this moment of greatest dispair and just before her return to religious belief, this is the poem used.
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Reviews (7)

Sodom and Gommorrah
The movie was astounding, well put together and of awesome quality. I would treasure it for years to come

Entertaining Hollywood Version Of The Famous Biblical Story
Even for those people not familiar with the stories contained in the Old Testament, when the names Sodom and Gomorrah are mentioned a vivid image will always spring to mind of a world full of vice, sexual depravity, and wickedness. The twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah embodied all these human failings and were a natural for the Hollywood film makers to latch on to as subject material once the "sword and sandal", movie craze gripped Hollywood in the late 1950's and early 60's. In fact this story was a natural for filmmakers of this period and contains everything that an epic movie lover like myself could ask for; lavish sets, court intrigue, well staged sword fights, unbridled passion and romance, all wrapped up in beautiful colour photography using actual locations to really enhance the unfolding story. By 1960's epic standards "Sodom and Gomorrah",is a relatively big budget international production that expands on the original story contained in the Bible but amazingly tends to tone down the sex and sin side of it while still being highly entertaining. I only viewed this film for the first time over Easter and I was surprised at how for the most part it avoided many of the more immoral elements of the story. Another production of 3 years later "The Bible: In The Beginning", directed by John Huston is much more explicit in showing the depravity and vice of the twin cities, which makes it an interesting companion piece to this lavish production.
But did it fill in the extra blanks?
This is a very good telling of the story of these 2 cities. However, I'm inclined to ask that maybe it was too long of a movie? This is not a very long story at all in the scriptures, and alot of it was filler of Lot's faith and life. It also shows Lot's side of where he backslid, and hopes to repent, and start anew with God. I'm just wondering if maybe it was a little bit too long? ... Read more

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Five Stars Just Aren't Enough!
There aren't many films from any era that come close to being "perfect" (though that's not really the right word) in just about every way--probably you could count them on your fingers and have some left over.
The Way (we might like to wish)We Were
Friendly Persuasion (1956) is my favorite 1950s movie. It always reminds me of Fiddler on the Roof (1971) as both films have analogous existentialist values; questions of faith, meaning and test of personal resolve. Tevye the Milkman must face the challenge to his sense of self and traditional way of doing things, by the increasingly independent ways his three daughters go about selecting a husband. Jess Birdwell (Gary Cooper) and his family must face the challenge to their pacifist Quaker values by the personal demands of the American Civil War.
"I Will Not Harm Thee"~Can Family, Faith And Passivism Endure In Time Of War?
`Friendly Persuasion released in '56 is a life affirming tale of faith, family and passivism against the heartbreaking backdrop of the bloody American Civil War. Directed by William Wyler the film focuses on a small Quaker community in the South, more specially on one particular family in that community, the Birdwell's.
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Editorial Review

Behaving as if it hadn't already been immortalized in Judges, chapters 13-16, Cecil B. DeMille immortalized history's most famous haircut all over again in this 1949 classic of the Epic Saga genre. Victor Mature is a trifle bovine as Samson--which perhaps isn't so inappropriate--but Hedy Lamarr's Delilah is a magnet on fire. Impossibly perfect and sexy, she sashays through the movie in a whole wardrobe of revealing halter tops, bending the men like blades of grass. These days it's hard to enjoy a DeMille film without condescension: from Samson's fight with a lion that might well be stuffed, to the famous collapsing-temple scene, we are constantly aware of how far movies have come, and the Philistines parade around in costumes that won an Oscar but can only remind the modern viewer of Klingon cocktail parties. But in so many other ways this is very classy filmmaking. DeMille takes considerable liberties with the biblical story to come up with a sort of Read more

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Reviews (24)

MOVIE SYNOPSIS
This dazzling biblical epic, based on the Old Testament story of the legendary strongman and the treacherous woman who betrayed him, became an instant classic in the "only by DeMille" tradition. Victor Mature stars as Samson, a proud and strong slave who gallantly fights for the love of a beautiful Philistine (Angela Lansbury). In a spectacular sequence, the rippling Samson fights a lion with his bare hands in order to gain the woman's hand in marriage as her sister, Delilah (Heddy Lamar), jealously looks on. On the evening of their wedding feast a battle erupts between Samson and jealous Philistines, tragically killing the young bride. Shattered, Samson declares vengeance on the Philistines as Delilah vows to avenge her sister's death. Samson becomes a legendary fighter of superhuman strength, unbeatable by even the greatest Philistine warriors. Only one thing can stop him--the love of a beautiful woman. DeMille creates a sumptuous oasis of Hollywood glamour in which Delilah and Samson swoon in this romantic epic that recalls the finery and splendid overblown production values of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's legendary CLEOPATRA. DeMille's passion for disaster is vividly employed in the stone-shattering climax. The film also features eye-popping costume creations from legendary designer Edith Head.
Still waiting for this movie on DVD with closed caption
I have enjoyed this classic movie.It's really silly to have 2-hour movie on 2 VHS tapes which take up too much space in my video cabinet.I deducted 1 star for this reason.
Samson & Delilah (1950) DVD , DVDDVD????? WHEN?
I saw the the movie when it played in the theater.
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Reviews (63)

Condensed version?
This is rather a question.
Wonderful!!!
A truly wonderfully made film, mostly accurate to scripture and brilliantly acted. Joseph's brothers are the stars here in their own right but Paul Mecurio is in fine form as well.

Remember the Biblical Account- without the kids
This movie was very well done- one of the best by this company.Just remember the story and don't watch it with your kids because they were very accurate about what happened with Potiphar's wife and Joseph's garment being left behind as well as the fact that she had been continually tempting him prior to this encounter.Also, they kept to the historical feautures in that the women wore fine linen that is fairly see-through.The only scene I remember being unhappy with was the baker beating Joseph in the prison (Not Biblical) and it isn't 3 days till they are brought out, though it may be that long till the events are otherwise fulfilled.There were a few other minor changes like that but none damaged the historical perspective. Also, I wish they had included Judah's offer of protection to Benjamin and his, therefore, being the one to offer himself in Benjamin's place.They show one offer but I assumed that was the other brother who made the initial offer and was refused since it was right when they got back to their father, just as the Bible portrays it. ... Read more

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Reviews (10)

Sizzling drama
A religious parable aboard a small boat containing penal colony escapees. Ian Hunter is the Christ-like Cambreau who has a mysterious effect on everyone; Joan Crawford is Julie, the fallen woman; Clark Gable is Andre, the tough guy who falls in love with her; Paul Lukas is Hessler, the Devil figure; and Peter Lorre is Cochon, the scuzzball who also desires Crawford (he's also referred to as M'sieu Pig, an apt name). Hunter tries to keep everyone on the straight and narrow, and when Hunter defends Crawford for bringing Lorre aboard ship (her motives are good), Gable knocks him overboard. But his mysterious pull works like magic on Gabe, and he dives in and saves him. Crawford and Gable become lovers and return to the colony. The opening scenes are powerful, thanks to the tight script, and Gable and Crawford just about set the screen on fire. Banned at first in parts of the country because of some of their antics (later tamed down), the movie offer up a lot of excitement and a fine cast.

NO MORE DAMN SHOP GIRLS!
"Strange Cargo" was one of Joan's "forgettable" movies that MGM force-fed her before she switches to Warners. But what a beautiful feeding it was.
HE MOVES IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS...
When I first saw this film, I knew nothing about it,and, consequently, had no real expectations. The kind offilm it turned out to be, however, I would never in a million years have guessed. This is definitely an unsung gem of a film and one that deserves broader recognition.
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Editorial Review

Originally made for TV in 1977, this in-depth (six hours plus) version of Jesus' life is so thorough that the first hour is devoted solely to the story of his birth. The film doesn't skimp on some of the other landmark events of this famous story either. Director Franco Zeffirelli gives more than 12 minutes screen time each to the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.Passages of the Bible are quoted verbatim, the locations have a Palestine-like authenticity, and, aside from some of the principals (Robert Powell as Jesus, Olivia Hussey as Mary, and Stacy Keach as Barabbas), many of the non-Roman characters are actually played by Semitic-looking actors. Zeffirelli diligently provides the sociopolitical background that gave rise to Jesus' following and the crisis in belief it caused for the people of Israel (and one or two Romans). While not graphic by today's standards, some of the scenes--baby boys being ripped from their mothers' arms and slaughtered, nails being driven into Jesus' hands--may disturb young and/or sensitive children. Read more

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Reviews (284)

The True Vine.
One of the great works of the cinema - by far my favorite rendering of The Life on film - what I like most is the script's fidelity to Scripture and the magnificent and inspiring exposition of the Parables.This part of the film - the comprehensive depiction of Christ's Mission in spirit and meaning - through the context of the text of the Gospels - is to be found nowhere else in the genre - and assuages reception of the inevitably more interpretative scenes.Undoubtedly, in comparison with the recent effort of Mel Gibson, et al., the representation of the Passion looks somewhat tame. However, the comprehensive quality of the narrative here provides more than enough ballast to keep the viewer rapt.Continuing the comparison, it does take some time in the early frames get over the British accents.After all, the film was made in English for English speaking audiences.However, inspired acting up and down the line puts that one to bed fast.After few minutes of the genius of Peter Ustinov (in one of his finest moments) as Herod, stomping, ranting, raving mad in his political calculations - you forget the petty flaws.Needless to say, Robert Powell's career/performance as Jesus is vastly superior to any other on celluloid, and one of the supreme gestures in the history of media.Awesome.And Olivia Hussey's brilliant rendering of the Virgin Mary is, in my opinion, distinctly more affecting and profound than her celebrated rendering of Juliet, which, for whatever reasons, has played continuously to Amercan high school audiences for the past thirty years. In retrospect, and mostly due to what we see here, the modest and retiring Ms Hussey must be regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her era.This masterpiece, seen again and again, only gets more powerful, imparts more insight with each viewing.Having first viewed "Jesus of Nazareth" in it's premiere as one of the earliest T.V. mini-series back in the 1970's, I bear witness to the truth of the assertion that this film is one of the few that loses nothing to time and, characteristic of true classics, seems rather to gain.
A Crucial Study
I was only 12 when I saw this the first time, and my father had to actully push me to watch it. Well, now I know more about the cross that parents are forced to carry for the sake of their children. As in his "Romeo and Juliet," "Taming of the Shrew," "Hamlet," and "Tea With Mussolini," Director Franco Zeffirelli's work is nothing short of phenomenal. In my opinion, one's study of the Bible is not complete until he or she has seen this movie. As in his other movies, Director Franco Zeffirelli gives us fascinating scenery and great background music. He also has actors who become the characters they are suppose to. (Some previous reviewers pointed out that as Jesus, Robert Powell never even blinks!) Interestingly, the movie starts a little before even the Gospels. (Mary and Joseph haven't made the formal arrangements yet.) The arguably best thing about this movie is that not only does it harmoniously combine the 4 Gospels, it actually adds a lot of educated speculation and turns briefly mentioned characters from the Gospels into fully 3d human beings. As Christians of today, we have hindsight, so we can easily fall into the trap of simply labeling characters weak, bad, etc. What this movie does is it removes hindsight and helps us understand the characters in the Bible more. Jesus was in fact bringing changes to established order, and naturally, despite his wonderful deeds, people could have divided feelings about him. Isaac Asimov said that the Jewish authorities had been taught that their religion placed emphasis on a strict adherence to the letter of the law, while Jesus' view was that it was alright to deviate from the written law if it meant doing a greater good. We often think of Caiaphas as the man who handed Jesus over to the Romans. But even the Anglican Bishop Richard Holloway said that Jesus called himself the son of God, and as the high priest, Caiaphas had to react to that. (We also tend to forget that Caiaphas had a job to keep order. And if he let things get out of hand, the Romans would take matters into their hands no matter how bloody things had to get.) We often just see Judas as the one who betrayed Christ. Well, was this out of malice? The Gospels say he hung himself afterwards. Certainly he wasn't happy about what he had done. As the movie suggests, he could very well have been tricked by Jesus' enemies into doing so: "If he really is the Messiah, God will not abandon him. And if he isn't, you will have saved Israel from another false prophet." Judas may very well have thought that he was bringing Jesus to a meeting where he could explain himself before the religious authorities. (King Richard III actually eliminated some of his enemies by putting them under the impression that they were just coming to a meeting and of course when they arrived, they were imprisoned and executed.) All in all, this is a phenomenal movie that not only harmoniously combines the 4 Gospels, but it also offers a lot of educated speculation that helps things make more sense. It also helps us to understand people we may have only seen through limited vision. Whether you are Roman Catholic, Anglo Catholic, Methodist, or any other Christian, this movie is an essential study.

JESUS OF NAZARETH
Hi there,
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Editorial Review

It isn't difficult to imagine why this 1988 retelling of theCrucifixion story was picketed vociferously upon release--this Jesusbears little resemblance to the classical Christ, who was not, uponcareful review of the Gospels, ever reported to have had sex withBarbara Hershey. Heavily informed by Gnostic reinterpretations of thePassion, Read more

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Reviews (249)

the last temptation of Christ within you
I've never read the novel this movie is based on, but I've seen the movie a couple of times. I honestly don't understand why so many Christians are upset about it. Here in Sweden, some fundamentalist group always cry "Provocation" and "Conspiracy" whenever the movie is re-run on television, especially if it's close to Easter. I don't see the movie as anti-Christ or anti-Christian. Rather, I see it as a allegory of man's spiritual seekership. The "Jesus" of the movie is a symbol for each of us. Jesus is called by God. He has doubts. He even refuses. On the cross, he feels abandoned, perhaps betrayed, by God: "Why hast thou forsaken me?". The Devil sees his chance and tempts him. But, finally, Jesus sees through the temptations, "returns" to the cross, and dies victoriously, as the true Son of God: "It is accomplished".
"Tempted In Every Way, Just As We Are"
St Paul described Jesus as being "one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4v15). "The Last Temptation of Christ", a film based on the book by Nikos Kazanantzakis, is an exploration of such verses of the Bible, I think. It shows a Jesus who is tempted in pretty much every way imaginable, in the mind and in reality, who is vulnerable, who learns as he goes, and yet still doesn't sin, still preaches love and God's kingdom with confidence, and still fulfils his purpose. For me, it's one of the most interesting interpretations of Jesus life, around, and is definitely one of my favorites.
A masterpiece
This film from Martin Scorsese surpasses all other cinematic re-tellings of Christ's life. To discuss this movie, however, one can't avoid the question of the controversy that to this day surrounds it. Fundamentalist Christians deemed the film blasphemous before they even saw it, due to its portrayal of Jesus as equally God and man. This idea, though, is firmly placed within the Bible and creates a three-dimensional character out of Jesus (as opposed to the two-dimensional Jesus in The Passion of the Christ). Here, Jesus is wholly divine and wholly man, confused and all-knowing. He is the ultimate paradox. Jesus's conquering of temptation and his triumph is inspiring. While Scorsese worked under a very limited budget (and it is obvious in many instances), the film is still a masterpiece, thanks in no small part to Peter Gabriel's mesmerizing score. This is one of Scorsese's absolute best and one of the best films of the 1980s. ... Read more

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Editorial Review

This irresistible Oscar winner from writer-director Leo McCarey (Read more

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Crosby Classic
If you were raised Catholic in the 20th century, you know that among the clergy, you had your staid, old-school, well, OLD-COUNTRY types, who struck bemusement--if not out and out fear--in the hearts of children and adults in the parish. Then you had your spirited, fun-loving priests (and nuns), who weren't above playing a few innings of baseball or running a sack race.
Performances overcome schmaltz
"Going My Way" is a multiple Oscar winner from 1944, including best picture, actor, supporting actor, director, screenplay, original story, and song.It's also the kind of movie that's been lampooned multiple times over the years, for good reason; its naivete is matched only by its charm.The hokey story involves a young priest who must gently take over a parish from the old priest who built the church building 45 years earlier, and his struggles to quietly do things in a new, progressive way that makes the old fella uncomfortable.He also has to turn a street gang into a choir, guide a female 18-year-old runaway onto the straight and narrow, and cope with a mortgage that's about to swallow the parish whole.And naturally, all of this is accomplished without anyone ever coming dangerously close to losing their temper.
Bing Crosbyhelps aCatholic church and the older priest.
Paramount Pictures.Bing Crosby plays "Father O'Malley who has been sent to the Church of Saint Dominic to assist with the older priest Father Fitzgibbon (dearly played by 5 foot 3, born in Ireland, actor Barry Fitzgerald) who has been there for 45 years.Young Father O'Malley is in charge of straightening out Saint Dominic since it is in the worse way without hurting the feelings of the old priest.However, with the Bishop's understanding, Father Fitzgibbon is to stay there as the Pastor.Father Timothy O'Dowd (Frank McHugh) of the nearby Saint Frances, drops by to offer support to his St. Louis childhood friend.O'Malley is able to take care of the church mortgage, get the boys interested in baseball and begin a boys chior with Carl Switzer ("Alfalfa" of Little Rascals/Our Gang) and O'Malley plays golf too.Won Academy Award for Best Picture, Both Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald won their own Academy Award and the new song "Swinging On A Star" also was a winner."Silent Night" and