The Living Christ Series-5-FULL ORIGINAL MOVIE-Challenge.of.Faith

The Living Christ Series
by John T. Coyle

Publication date 1951
Usage Public DomainCreative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics Biography, Drama
Publisher Cathedral Films
This 12 chapter series tells the story of the life and death of Jesus Christ
Contact Information www.k-otic.com
Addeddate 2009-12-15 17:16:13
Color color
Director John T. Coyle
Identifier TheLivingChristSeries
Run time 360 min.
Sound sound
Year 1951

The Living Christ Series is a 1951 12-part drama television series about the life of Jesus Christ directed by John T. Coyle.
A television mini-series told the life of Christ in a version of the typical Hollywood serial film. Each episode was thirty minutes long, bringing the total running time of the series to what might have been considered an epic six hours long if the films had been shown consecutively. Filmed in color in 1951, it is notable for being one of the few American film series of that time in which Christ's face was actually shown. Since the early days of sound, American film producers had been afraid that some members of the audience would be alienated if an actor who did not fit the public's image of Christ was chosen to play the role, so virtually all had played it safe by showing Him only from the back or in long shot. Sometimes only Christ's hand would be seen. Foreign film makers, however, had no such doubts, and Christ was actually shown in such films as the French Golgotha (1935), the Mexican El Martir del Calvario (1952), and the 1953 British serial Jesus of Nazareth.

However, The Living Christ Series was not meant to be shown in movie theatres, but more as an instructional, inspirational film in churches or on Sunday-morning television. Far from being a religious epic, the series was clearly shot mostly on soundstages and on a low budget, much like a typical television program of the era shot on film. Directed by John T. Coyle, the series featured mostly unknown actors or actors who appeared mostly in B-films. A notable exception was Lowell Gilmore, who played Pontius Pilate, and whose most famous previous role was as Basil Hallward in MGM's classic 1945 film The Picture of Dorian Gray. Character actor Lawrence Dobkin also appeared in the series, and Will Wright, perhaps most famous for appearing as Ben Weaver on several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, was cast as Herod. Martin Balsam also plays a small role. Screen unknown Robert Wilson, who would go on to practically make a career out of playing the role, portrayed Christ. Noted movie trailer announcer Art Gilmore served as narrator.

The Living Christ Series, like other similar religiously-themed films, was released by Cathedral Films. It has been released on VHS and DVD, both in separate volumes and in a boxed set.

Cast
Art Gilmore - Narrator
Robert Wilson- Jesus
William Henry - Andrew
Tyler McVey - Simon Peter
Robert Bice - Matthew
Lawrence Dobkin -Caiaphas
Michael Whalen - Simon the Zealot
Lowell Gilmore - Pontius Pilate
Eileen Rowe - Mary mother