The Great Commandment (1939)
1939 · Feature film · 80 min · dir. Irving Pichel
- Drama
Synopsis
The Great Commandment is a 1939 American Christian film directed by Irving Pichel, which portrays the conversion to Christianity of a young Zealot, Joel, and the Roman soldier Longinus through the teachings of Jesus in his Parable of the Good Samaritan. It was co-produced by Rev. James K. Friedrich and released by Cathedral Films in 1939. Its theatrical release was in 1941 by Twentieth Century Fox.
Synopsis from Wikipedia
Details
- Director
- Irving Pichel
- Writer
- Dana Burnet
- Cinematography
- Charles P. Boyle
- Studio
- Cathedral Films
- Released
- 1939-10-02
- Running time
- 80 minutes
Cast & crew
Irving Pichel Director
John Beal
Albert Dekker
Maurice Moscovitch
Marjorie Cooley
Ian Wolfe
Lloyd Corrigan- Warren McCollum
Olaf Hytten
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★ · Great Commandment · terracesider · 2006-01-27
The basic plot is a love story set against a background of Zealots resisting the Romans in biblical times. Not very promising you might think and, indeed initially, whilst the characters are being introduced I thought it was all going to be a very predictable yawn-fest; but then the story line was developed in unexpected directions. An intelligent script, a solid cast and well-paced direction all make for an above average production. One of these gems that can be discovered on archive.org from time to time.
★★★★ · Once blind now see · Pavws · 2006-04-17
It is rare to find a film about Christianity that delves into the lives of the people of the time in such a prosaic manner. Usually great events transpire worthy of epic poetry and odes under the direction of Cecil B. DeMill. But the novelty is it tries to percieve and convey what the situation and solution to that situation by simple, regular people just trying to get on with their every day lives. How they may have felt when this reknown wandering Rabbi, whose followers claim as Christ the King of Israel, would come through their towns and villages preaching love and mercy and not revolt…
★★★ · I Hef No Son! · Spuzz · 2013-04-20
Imagine the Jazz Singer, put it to biblical times, and you've got the Great Commandment. A scholar has the hots for a local girl in town, but his Dad chooses his other son to marry her! The scholar son is a bit miffed about this. Also, the Romans are closing in, jailing anyone who don't pay their taxes. The other son wants to fight them! But Scholar Son hears about this carpenter from Nazareth and wants to check him out. Dad doesn't agree with this at all, and hence the eye widening, disowning part of it. Not a bad movie, amusing in some spots (the leading lady in this has got the part all…
★ · Thy shalt not · jimelena · 2006-11-13
Thy shalt not make movies if you don't have enough money for the project. Evidently the Holy Land is somewhere on lot 14 and wardrobe is short on costumes. There are no Thy shalts' in this movie.
