DeMilleBuff32 Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 We're getting straight-up sacrilegious on this week's episode of Backseat Filmmaker; Joey Monroy and Connor Quade join forces with me to compare the works of two of cinema's greatest artists. The Easter holiday means many things to many different people. Chocolate rabbits, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and cascarones, those hollow egg shells, filled with confetti, that Mexican kids use to break on each other’s heads. But for me, Easter is a celebration of one of my favorite film genres: The Biblical Epic. In 1927, Hollywood titan Cecil B. DeMille directed The King of Kings, a larger than life, sprawling spectacle which presented a very reverent, if traditional, take on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Decades later, Martin Scorsese offered moviegoers a much more polarizing look at Jesus’ mission in 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ. The film was immediately condemned by religious audiences and caused rioting and protesting across the world. While Jesus has been the basis for many films made in between, and since, today’s episode will examine why DeMille and Scorsese’s versions are the ones to top. Tune in Sunday night to see DeMille's take on TCM.https://bigjohncreations.wordpress.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoldenIsHere Posted April 4, 2015 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Good discussion. As you and your guests allude to, it's interesting that in both DeMille and Scorsese's films, Jesus is depicted with northern European features. I guess we can blame European artists (from da Vinci and earlier) for turning Jesus into a Gentile. And let's not forget Jeffrey Hunter in Nicholas Ray's 1961 movie: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigarjoe Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Good discussion. As you and your guests allude to, it's interesting that in both DeMille and Scorsese's films, Jesus is depicted with northern European features. I guess we can blame European artists (from da Vinci and earlier) for turning Jesus into a Gentile. And let's not forget Jeffery Hunter in Nicholas Ray's 1961 movie: Yepper he probably should look more like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Good discussion. As you and your guests allude to, it's interesting that in both DeMille and Scorsese's films, Jesus is depicted with northern European features. I guess we can blame European artists (from da Vinci and earlier) for turning Jesus into a Gentile. In his classic work, The Quest for the Historical Jesus, Albert Schweitzer writes about the tendency to turn Jesus into a personage of one's own sort, rather than depict him as the Jew that he was. This habit not only applies to Northern Europeans, but to African Christians and others as well. I'm sorry in its compulsive holiday programming today, TCM has not seen fit to show some films that might have some connection to the goddess for which the holiday is named: Eostre. There are probably no films specifically about her, but perhaps the not entirely relevant Wicker Man might have been appropriate, or any film that celebrates the arrival of Spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikisoo Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Decades later, Martin Scorsese offered moviegoers a much more polarizing look at Jesus’ mission in 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ. The film was immediately condemned by religious audiences and caused rioting and protesting across the world. Well, I really enjoyed the LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, I thought it was an unusual "take" on a Biblical story. But I really disliked the actor who portrayed Jesus. I imagined him to be much more charismatic and attractive....after all....people listened to him. I have heard the new cable TV shows about the Bible depict Jesus as Middle Eastern. I'm not a Christian, but I do find a blonde blue eyed Jesus ridiculous. And BTW, Tiny Tim did have a strong classy singing voice, when not in comedic falsetto mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM108 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Decades later, Martin Scorsese offered moviegoers a much more polarizing look at Jesus’ mission in 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ. The film was immediately condemned by religious audiences and caused rioting and protesting across the world. Well, I really enjoyed the LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, I thought it was an unusual "take" on a Biblical story. But I really disliked the actor who portrayed Jesus. I imagined him to be much more charismatic and attractive....after all....people listened to him. I have heard the new cable TV shows about the Bible depict Jesus as Middle Eastern. I'm not a Christian, but I do find a blonde blue eyed Jesus ridiculous. The chances are that if the real Jesus ever existed, he would've looked something like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 The chances are that if the real Jesus ever existed, he would've looked something like this: Probably a bit more light skinned. There is considerable DNA evidence in today's Jewish community. Despite the influences of the Diaspora, there is strong DNA linkage among contemporary Jews to the Fertile Crescent. Andy, I think what you might be doing is what Schweitzer said people have always done: depicting Jesus in the way you want him to look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeMilleBuff32 Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Like he's from India? Jesus probably didn't look like Jeffrey Hunter, but people forget that even then, there was a mixture of different ethnic groups and cultures during that time, thanks to, in no small part, the Roman Empire. I'm sure he looked Middle Eastern, but that's not the same as looking South Asian. The chances are that if the real Jesus ever existed, he would've looked something like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 My choice for best Jesus is Zeffirelli's 'Jesus of Nazareth'. Best-looking Jesus, best movie about Jesus. For me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I'm a sucker for Max von Sydow in anything and thought he made a very interesting Jesus in The Greatest Story Ever Told. A Swedish Jesus - but he made it work! Not the best Jesus movie, but my favourite performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr6666 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 My choice for best Jesus is Zeffirelli's 'Jesus of Nazareth'. Best-looking Jesus, best movie about Jesus. For me. maybe someone who's good at posting pics can post ALL the images of the filmatic Jesus & we can have one of our infamous 'polls' to pick our favorite.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredCDobbs Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily Dean Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 My choice for best Jesus is Zeffirelli's 'Jesus of Nazareth'. Best-looking Jesus, best movie about Jesus. For me. The best movie about Jesus is Monty Python's "The Life of Brian"....sorry I just for once would like to see that shown on Easter Sunday, you know a Western Day with "Blazing Saddles" and a movie day with nothing but Robin Hoods and "Men in Tights". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Well, seein' as how Fred didn't seem to finish any thought he might have had by posting a picture of Woody in this thread, then allow me.... “If Jesus came back and saw what was being done in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.” ― Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikisoo Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 The chances are that if the real Jesus ever existed, he would've looked something like this: Maybe Jesus already came back and left in disgust due to negative grooviness- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 And then there are those who think they are Jesus: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamradio Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Well, seein' as how Fred didn't seem to finish any thought he might have had by posting a picture of Woody in this thread, then allow me.... “If Jesus came back and saw what was being done in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.” ― Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters How many used his name in vain when Woody married Soon-Yi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 How many used his name in vain when Woody married Soon-Yi? Just one. O Mama Mia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 First of all, my wife's family(and all the others in the neighborhood she grew up in) usually filled those eggs with FLOUR! only for the "sissy whettoes"( gringoes) would confetti be used! Second, There are more guys to put in the fray than Scorcese and DeMille. There's STEVENS to also consider. AND Mel Gibson! also, ZEFFIRELLI and RAY! And, I agree with Blue about Robert Powell being the best "film Jesus". PLUS Zeffirelli's presentation of Jerusalem crucifixion was based more on historical accuracy. It WAS more than likely, that Jesus, living in a geographical area with scant amounts of wood, probably DID only carry a crossbar on his shoulders( which, in the day's vernacular, would have simply been referred to as a "cross"), which, when considering it was also about the size and weight of a railroad tie would have been quite an ordeal anyway. And other historical articles I've read about crucifixion claim the nails were driven through the wrists, due to the bones in the hand not being strong or connected well enough to prevent the nail to split the skin of the hand and having the whole arm from that point just drop off the cross and dangle!( ewww!) So, perhaps THAT'S where the discussion should lie.-----On WHOM was the better "movie Jesus"! As far as ART, .....I recall in art class that one obstacle for potential artists to overcome was injecting too much of themselves in portraiture. Also it is probably WHY, when an Italian artis attempted to paint an image of Jesus, he looked Italian! Notice, when El Grco attempted it, Jesus looked Spanish. GERMAN artists had him looking TEUTONIC! Him being Jewish brings up possibilities of Him resembling MEL BROOKS!, or maybe GEORGIE JESSELL! Maybe even JONAH HILL! At any rate, there have been several actors who played Jesus on film. I don't know ALL of them, but the ones off the top of my head are: H B WARNER JEFFERY HUNTER MAX VON SYDOW ROBERT POWELL CHRIS SARANDON WILLEM DAFOE JIM CAVIEZEL There WAS a "Jesus film" long time ago starring LEE J. COBB, but HE wasn't Jesus in the film. I don't reall the actor who was, nor the name of the movie! Sepiatone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 ...There WAS a "Jesus film" long time ago starring LEE J. COBB, but HE wasn't Jesus in the film. I don't reall the actor who was, nor the name of the movie! Sepiatone Oh yeah, I think I remember Cobb in that one, Sepia. Played a real big jerk in it, as I recall. Kind of a racist, in fact. Wasn't it called "Twelve Angry Apostles"??? (...sorry...couldn't resist) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Frosty died for our sins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Frosty died for our sins frosty.JPG That's Frosty? Looks more like Cuddles the Comfort Doll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Frosty died for our sins frosty.JPG Yeah Bogie, but wasn't that follow-up song they wrote about him great TOO?! YOU know... "Frosty the Puddle"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arturo Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 First of all, my wife's family(and all the others in the neighborhood she grew up in) usually filled those eggs with FLOUR! only for the "sissy whettoes"( gringoes) would confetti be used! Second, There are more guys to put in the fray than Scorcese and DeMille. There's STEVENS to also consider. AND Mel Gibson! also, ZEFFIRELLI and RAY! And, I agree with Blue about Robert Powell being the best "film Jesus". PLUS Zeffirelli's presentation of Jerusalem crucifixion was based more on historical accuracy. It WAS more than likely, that Jesus, living in a geographical area with scant amounts of wood, probably DID only carry a crossbar on his shoulders( which, in the day's vernacular, would have simply been referred to as a "cross"), which, when considering it was also about the size and weight of a railroad tie would have been quite an ordeal anyway. And other historical articles I've read about crucifixion claim the nails were driven through the wrists, due to the bones in the hand not being strong or connected well enough to prevent the nail to split the skin of the hand and having the whole arm from that point just drop off the cross and dangle!( ewww!) So, perhaps THAT'S where the discussion should lie.-----On WHOM was the better "movie Jesus"! As far as ART, .....I recall in art class that one obstacle for potential artists to overcome was injecting too much of themselves in portraiture. Also it is probably WHY, when an Italian artis attempted to paint an image of Jesus, he looked Italian! Notice, when El Grco attempted it, Jesus looked Spanish. GERMAN artists had him looking TEUTONIC! Him being Jewish brings up possibilities of Him resembling MEL BROOKS!, or maybe GEORGIE JESSELL! Maybe even JONAH HILL! At any rate, there have been several actors who played Jesus on film. I don't know ALL of them, but the ones off the top of my head are: H B WARNER JEFFERY HUNTER MAX VON SYDOW ROBERT POWELL CHRIS SARANDON WILLEM DAFOE JIM CAVIEZEL There WAS a "Jesus film" long time ago starring LEE J. COBB, but HE wasn't Jesus in the film. I don't reall the actor who was, nor the name of the movie! Sepiatone I assume the word you want to use is guero, right? (my phone doesn't allow me to ise the diesesis....two dots overthe U, so that the pronunciation is like your "whetto", instead of closer to ghetto without. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts