Jeffrey Hunter in King of Kings (1961)

King of Kings 1961 lobby card set image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Producer Samuel Bronston and MGM delivered the big-screen spectacular King of Kings to movie theaters in 1961. Jeffrey Hunter plays the Messiah, with Siobhan McKenna as Mary and Hurd Hatfield as Pontius Pilate.

The King of Kings 1927 Silent Version

Based on a story by Jeanie Macpherson, The King of Kings was first released as a silent film by producer/director Cecil B. DeMille in 1927. Budgeted at a then staggering $2.5 million, The King of Kings, starring H.B. Warner as Jesus and Dorothy Cumming as Mary, was a true Silent Age extravaganza. Particularly impressive were the film’s special effects, which included the epic earthquake sequence following Christ’s crucifixion that both dazzled and terrified moviegoers of the era.

When The King of Kings headlined the grand opening of world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 18, 1927, thousands of people lined Hollywood Boulevard, hoping to catch a glimpse of the film’s stars and other celebrities as they arrived on the red carpet. The atmosphere became so intense that a riot broke out, with overeager fans jostling for better position in order to see their Tinseltown movie idols.  

Nicholas Ray Directs 1961’s King of Kings

Philip Yordan wrote the 1961 screenplay for Samuel Bronston Productions. Nicholas Ray (Flying Leathernecks, Rebel Without a Cause, 55 Days at Peking) directed. Miklos Rozsa created the reverential music score and Manuel Berenguer, Milton R. Krasner and Franz Planer served as cinematographers.

Jeffrey Hunter (Jesus) and Siobhan McKenna (Mary) head the large cast. Other players include Hurd Hatfield (Pontius Pilate), Ron Randell (Lucius), Viveca Lindfors (Claudia), Rita Gam (Herodias), Carmen Sevilla (Mary Magdalene), Brigid Bazlen (Salome), Harry Guardino (Barabbas), Rip Torn (Judas), Frank Thring (Herod Antipas), Guy Rolfe (Caiaphas), Royal Dano (Peter), Robert Ryan (John the Baptist), Edric Connor (Balthazar), Maurice Marsac (Nicodemus), Conrado San Martin (General Pompey) and Gerard Tichy (Joseph).  

An uncredited Orson Welles provides the movie’s narration, which was written by an equally uncredited Ray Bradbury.

King of Kings Filmed in Spain

Budgeted at $6 million, King of Kings was filmed from April to October 1960, with an additional shoot taking place in June 1961. More than 396 sets were constructed, along with the creation of thousands of period costumes and the use of over 7,000 extras positioned on a hillside for the mammoth Sermon on the Mount scene.

In keeping with other Samuel Bronston historical epics, King of Kings was shot in Spain in order to save on production costs. Studio work was completed at Estudios Chamartin and Sevilla Films in Madrid.

King of Kings: The Story of Christ

King of Kings opens in grand fashion, with Pompey leading his Roman legions east where they enter Jerusalem and search for treasure in the Holy Temple. Named to govern the newly-conquered territory of Judea is Herod the Great, who brutally puts down a Jewish rebellion. But the Jews are not without hope, as they eagerly await the arrival of their messiah.

Joseph and Mary make the journey to Bethlehem in order to be counted and taxed by the Romans. After being turned away at the crowded inn, Joseph and Mary are given lodging in a stable, where Mary gives birth to a son. Herod, upon hearing that a new Jewish king was born in Bethlehem, orders that all newborn males in the area be put to the sword. Warned of Herod’s murderous decree in a dream, Joseph takes his family to Egypt, avoiding the Roman executioners.

Thirty-two years have passed, and Pontius Pilate is now the governor of Judea where Jewish rebels, led by Barabbas, continue their guerrilla campaign against the Romans. Meanwhile, Jesus is spreading his gospel throughout the territory, gathering his apostles, working miracles, returning from his ordeal in the wilderness and delivering his Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus is later brought before Pontius Pilate, where he is condemned to death. Following his crucifixion, Jesus rises from the dead, telling his disciples at Galilee, “I am with you always, even until the end of the world.”

King of Kings Opens in New York City

King of Kings premiered at New York City’s Loew’s State Theater on October 11, 1961.

“Mr. Hunter wears his makeup nobly and performs with simplicity and taste, which is more than can be said for some others. Hurd Hatfield plays Pilate haughtily, Robert Ryan makes a shaggy John the Baptist and Ron Randell is a curt centurion. Harry Guardino’s Barabbas is a howling barbarian and Frank Thring as Herod Antipas is a grimacing and gaudy grotesque,” reported Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (10/12/61).

“Christianity, which has survived the Turkish onslaught and the Communist conspiracy, may even survive this picture; but individual Christians who try to sit through it may find themselves longing for extreme unction,” panned Time magazine (10/27/61).

Film Analysis: King of Kings and the New Testament 

For those who like their religious movie epics, King of Kings will certainly fit the bill. The New Testament comes alive on the silver screen, with blue-eyed Jeffrey Hunter delivering a fine, reverential performance as Jesus Christ.

An interesting sidelight in the film is the character of Barabbas, played with gusto by Harry Guardino, who leads his Jewish rebels against the might of Rome. While Jesus speaks at a temple in Jerusalem, Barabbas and his followers break out their secreted weapons. Climbing a tower with a sword strapped to his back, Barabbas proclaims, “Long live Judea!”

One of the picture’s more grisly elements involves John the Baptist. At his palace Herod Antipas promises the temptress Salome anything if she will only dance for him. To his horror Salome asks that the head of John the Baptist be brought to her on a silver platter. A reluctant Herod grants her wish, sending his executioners down into the bowels of the prison where they behead the unfortunate John.

The crucifixion scene is supernaturally eerie and well-staged. As the sky darkens, the dying Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” A fierce wind later picks up, heralding the arrival of a storm and the subsequent conversion of Lucius, the Roman centurion, who declares in awe, “He’s truly the Christ.”

King of Kings is not on par with either Ben-Hur (1959) or The Robe (1953), but it’s certainly worth a view. That’s especially true during the Christmas and Easter holiday seasons when the movie routinely shows up on cable outlets like Turner Classic Movies.  

King of Kings Box Office, Notes, Movie Memorabilia, DVD

• King of Kings grossed $6.520 million at the American box office, claiming the #9 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1961.
• At a whopping 168 minutes, King of Kings was shown at theaters with an intermission.
• One Golden Globe nomination: Best Music Score.
• Auction results for original 1961 King of Kings movie material, courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, Texas: one sheet poster style A ($13), one sheet poster style B ($15), six sheet poster ($107.55), ten different Italian photobustas ($71.70), set of eight lobby cards ($21).