The Living Christ Series (1951) User Reviews (6)

Larry Dobkin is John the Baptist

[nellybly · 6/10 · 27 December 2005]

I was given the two disc set for Christmas and as a Baptist had several doctrinal issues with the first part of the first disc (dealing with Christ's birth and youth). It's got a strong Catholic extra-Bible bent. Some of the omissions bothered me too.

But the events of His adulthood, since they stayed close the spoken words (in modern English, no problem, I'm not a "if the KJV was good enough Paul, it's good enough for me.") of Christ Himself, were a real blessing and helped make the Bible real.

The actors were really quite good for a low-budget project. There's a tendency (even in a large budget, or especially) to go over the top with the acting. Most of them were natural and believable. The man who played Christ was really good and didn't go around with his eyes and arms raised to Heaven constantly. I was actually able to lose myself in the story.

Though he's not given credit, nor even mentioned, Lawrence Dobkin was John the Baptist and was excellent.

Even the actors in the smallest roles were, for the most part, very professional. I didn't feel like I was watching "amateur night".

If you're Catholic or don't mind, the entire series should be all right. Any other denomination, you might, like me, prefer the episodes that take place when Christ was an adult.

Quality of the film itself is a whole 'nother story. It has not been restored in any way and the color has gone somewhat sepia. There's lots of scratches and the soundtrack sometimes has sounds and words that are distorted or lost. The films were undoubtedly played a lot and got pretty wore out. Another poster mentioned them being shown at churches and on TV (I don't recall watching it but I may have as a child). Well, at least they have all the episodes.

Racist and Omitting Key Material--illuminati like or almost like that

[marsmitchell79 · 7/10 · 14 May 2017]

Two main problems with this movie out the ones that I've watched so far: 1. The American Caucasian race of the actors; this is a failing of almost every American biblical film of the day and it even happens today more times than not. The problem with that is that potential Christian converts believe a lie and make assertions that the religion is racist! Muslims say that the Christian Jesus is an American Caucasian and most of them are not. Many of them use this lie to mock/blaspheme Jesus and Christianity! Therefore, a Muslim is easily manipulated by using this lie. Jim Jones was able to draw some, because Jesus was always depicted as an American white man and the American white men was racist. His pitch--in turn--was to be multiracial. Even then, no one besides an Uncle Tom or a zealot in favor of another race wants to join a religion where no one looks like them. The bible truth makes Jesus a traditional Jew--which is one of the few races that look close to 50% white and 50% black. Honestly, I don't think this is a coincidence. So, why spread a lie that disperses and keeps people from studying the bible rather than a truth that leaves people without an applicable excuse? Unless you are a racist, what could your excuse be for not following a doctrine deemed by you as true if the human form of the Lord is 50% black and 50% white. 2. It omits key details-- such as parts of the Lord's prayer and Jesus' baptism--seemingly for no reason! It would only have taken an extra 1-2 minutes in both cases to get it right. Other than that, great!

story of christ films

[setistars-1 · 9/10 · 10 December 2003]

Most people do not realize is this is a 12 -30 min episode of jesus.It was shown at local churches through out the country.I remember it at my church,it was shown on sunday evening.This was never meant to play at theaters,just at churches and sometimes television.Even though it was filmed on a low budget,it does carry the message of jesus well.

Some Actors are born for the part

[zoomer48 · 28 June 2003]

I have seen this movie "THE LIVING CHRIST SERIES" also known under other titles and if you know your BIBLE you will appreciate this movie.It's a low budget old movie but it's what people need,"THE TRUTH" THE WORD OF GOD. ROBERT WILSON who played JESUS did a great job THANKS BOB

Good Series

[ellenirishellen-62962 · 8/10 · 9 April 2017]

The series had top actors,not all were great,but George Macready was in a compilation called I Beheld His Glory.George could sometimes be over-the-top,but not in Beheld or the 2 episodes he appeared in in which he was not the star.Lowell Gilmore quite good,he and Macready worked together in 3 costume dramas,2 Sherwood/Robin Hood films,and The Black Arrow.The actors seemed to respect the religious themes of the productions,and the costumes were okay,acting the best as could be expected of low budget of the Church.It really helps when trying to learn a little more about the Life Of Christ that things were taken seriously and not going for sensationalism,like today.

for believers

[Kirpianuscus · 9 May 2020]

Its virtue - maybe to rediscover the word of the Holy Scripture. It is a correct serie ad, episode by episode, you discover it as a film for the believers. Catholic, off course but not only. It is a sort of remember about familiar things defining the faith of the viewer, it has not the purpose to represent an impressive show and, the basic gift, it is more convincing and fair than the great films about The Savior. Not the last, the nostalgia has the precise role in the emotion created by this serie.