This is essentially a filmed stage play detailing the life of Jesus. Its not bad, and it is better than many other filmed stage plays, but it suffers from it being little more than actors walk through the scenes quoting excerpts from the bible. Most of the actors give earnest and good performances, though by simply quoting scripture they have very little to work with the up shot of which is that some give performances that would better on stage rather than on film. I would have loved to see the actor playing Jesus do so in movie that was more than just an exercise in quotation since he brings something to the role lacking in many other screen Jesus'. More Sunday school material than entertainment this is the type of thing you might run across as filler at 3am on religious oriented cable stations. 4 out of 10, mostly because its good enough to make you wish it had been more than it is.
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Christmas-Reviewer3 April 2017BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST
This film is meant for people like me. I don't know that much about "The Bible". I found this more like watching an educational film you would see in grade school. It held my attention. I think if this film was made today they would change a few things. Many scenes are just one master shot and it stalls the film. Other than that I have no complaints. By the time the film ended I wanted to know more.
Children will be bored watching this. Adults might be at times. If you don't think of the film as a "film" and think about as a "Teaching tool" then you will enjoy this -
Rainey-Dawn21 November 2022There are much better versions of The Pilgrimage Play on screen. This one lacks the emotional depths that the modern versions brings. This film feels like a play on screen instead of a movie, it's not grand.
I will say this film is for Christians only - I can't see others watching this and enjoying it as purely cinema.
Nelson Leigh does play Jesus well, he's the only one that seems to take the film seriously and to heart. The other actors in this film seem more like zombies and just saying the line rather than acting them out.
I don't recommend this film - watch a more modern version of this story if you want to see a film on the adult life of Jesus.
4/10. -
orchid6413 May 2007This movie appears on one of the discs included on 50 Historic Classics which is a collection of largely unremarkable movies for a low price with a few gems studded throughout. Unfortunately, this is not one of the gems. It is essentially a group of actors standing around uttering well-known bible verses with conviction. It's not that the acting is bad but there is simply nothing to it beyond a basic retelling of Jesus's story with all the "highlights" intact.
If one sees this movie as a vehicle for educating children or others who are interested in Jesus's story about parts of the bible, then it succeeds but as a movie or entertainment, it fails. -
Sylviastel22 January 2014The Hollywood Bowl presents a holiday production about Jesus Christ in his final days. The film was on my Holiday Family Classics with Santa Claus on the DVD box. Anyway the quality is not high perhaps because of age and it is in color too. The cast is largely unknown to me. I don't recognize any of their names. Still this film is better suited for Easter and Passover than Christmas. While the color is better than black and white for today's audiences, black and white would have been better suited to help preserve the film quality. Although I am surprised that the Hollywood Bowl would produce a biblical production but I shouldn't be. We never get many close-ups of the cast on screen to see them become the roles.
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chasmilt7778 January 2006I really lucked out getting this movie in a recent DVD box set entitled : " Historic Classics" - 50 Movie Pack at Best Buy. I can not tell you how impressed I was seeing Nelson Leigh play Jesus.
This movie was made in 1949, and even though it was low budget with a no-name cast, it was a remarkable version of the greatest story ever told. I highly recommend "The Pilgrimage Play" to all Christians of every denomination. Once you get into this picture, you will most likely be glued to the end.
The story takes place in a prison where Peter tells two other prisoners the story of Jesus. This movie is very fast paced and so enjoyable to watch. Hats off to all the people responsible for making this grand picture. This DVD will be a hidden gem in my movie collection. -
mark.waltz27 November 2015Something tells me that this is the movie shown to my catechism class many years ago. Even if I am wrong, that is of no consequence because the fact of the matter is that I do remember something along the same lines. What I do recall is a rather dowdy color biography of a man whom today is a friend to many, a fairy tale to everybody else. Controversy separates the masses, even within Christianity itself. The parables and words of who to some is savior, to others simply another Hebrew prophet, are forgotten so political arguments take over what was Jesus's simple message: Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Told in flashback by one of the apostles as he faces execution by Nero's orders. A simple and slow structure takes the viewer through the highlights of Jesus's last days. It is mostly faithful to the scriptures, showing a brief appearance by John the Baptist and the days following his own execution. Jesus comes to terms with his own pending fate.
I could repeat some of the great words that Jesus spoke, but in the course of the film, it is more important to experience it as it happens. I have seen several Christian made films with main stream stars with mixed results, and while this is not perfect in a technological standpoint manages to make its point. It is interesting that this film was directed by the same man who was behind many of the "Blondie" movies.
The acting is decent, if not perfect, and the actor playing Jesus is certainly commanding. I don't recommend this more than either "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and the mini-series "Jesus of Nazerath", but this is a good overview of Jesus's life for children who might not otherwise be able to get through a 3+ hour film.
In conclusion, I can only judge this one on its own merits and for how it touched me. This is the Jesus of whom I was educated, the one who simply told what it would take to see the Kingdom of God. Simply, it is knowing that the Lord is God and accepting it by faith not sight. Simple words beautifully spoken yet so forgotten today so Christian words translate the words of Jesus into hate which was not a part of his eternal words. -
Kirpianuscus12 November 2022A film for Sunday school. It is the easy conclusion, not completely unfair but not the must honest.
Because it is a film of its time, not remarkable - it is filmed on stage - , not having a big budget or offering premises of blockbuster. It is the story of saint Apostle Peter about the Lord, in prison, behind his execution on cross. And, maybe surprising, it works more than well.
Sure, many critics are right about this film. But , in nice way, it is just a decent reflection of the life and work and sacrifice of Christ. A good point - the intervention of Nicodemus in Savior trial. Modest, off course, but real interesting for the manner to propose the story so familiar for you.
In short, just a good job with meritory sparkles.