#266: DE MILLE, Cecil B.: The King Of Kings (1927)

DE MILLE, Cecil B. (United States)
The King Of Kings [1927]
Spine #266
DVD


The King of Kings is the Greatest Story Ever Told as only Cecil B. DeMille could tell it. In 1927, working with one of the biggest budgets in Hollywood history, DeMille spun the life and Passion of Christ into a silent-era blockbuster. Featuring text drawn directly from the Bible, a cast of thousands, and the great showman's singular cinematic bag of tricks, The King of Kings is at once spectacular and deeply reverent — part Gospel, part Technicolor epic. The Criterion Collection is proud to present this beloved film in a two-disc edition featuring both the 112-minute general-release version and the rarely seen 155-minute cut that premiered at the grand opening of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

1927
155 minutes

1928
112 minutes
Black & White/Color
Silent
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2004
Director/Writers


Story and continuity by Jeanie Macpherson.
Cecil B. De Mille was 46 when he directed The King of Kings.

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-eight page booklet featuring essays by Peter Matthews, Robert S. Birchard, Grace Kingsley and DeMille.

Commentary

None.

1927:

Score

By composer Donald Sosin.

Photos, advertisements

And telegrams from the film’s premiere.

Original press book

And illustrated program.

1928:

Score

By composer-organist Timothy J. Tikker, plus the original score by legendary composer Hugo Riesenfeld.

Rare behind-the-scenes

Footage of DeMille on the set.

Costume and scene sketches

Production and behind-the-scenes stills gallery, and a portrait gallery by set photographer W.M. Mortensen.

Trailers

From the film’s Broadway run in New York.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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