“KING OF KINGS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 293, 2 March 1928, Page 14

“KING OF KINGS”

TO BE SHOWN MARCH 15 It is definitely announced that the much-discussed Cecil de Mille film, “The King of Kings,” will commence its season at Everybody’s Theatre on Thursday, March 15. While it is inevitable that any production whose theme is the most sacred figure of all history, Jesus of Nazareth, should become the centre of vigorous controversy, it is stated that both the Church and the Press in many places have had good words to say for it, not only because of the appealing theme, but also because of the very high degree of technical perfection attained in its production. The intensely dramatic cleansing of the temple, Christ and the little children, Judas and his 30 pieces of silver, the craft and wickedness of Caiaphas, Pilate at the judgment of Christ, are portrayed with acknowledged skill. The tv|.ie has been described as lofty throughout and the 1 treatment reverent. A critic writing in the “Christian World” has said of the picture:—“lf anyone had told me that the Crucifixion could be enacted on the screen I without any offence to devout feel- 1 ing or fastidious taste, 1 should have i dismissed the suggestion as wildly impossible. Now I have seen it and all I can say about it is that I can say nothing about it. The Broadway crowd was silent, softened, spellbound. I walked out with my friend and we had nothing to say. It was a long time