The Gospel Road

"Hello, I'm Jesus Christ," would have made a good tagline for this 1973 feature in which Johnny Cash tells and sings the story of Christ. Of course, the Man in Black we see here is a far cry from the pill-popping hell-raiser in 2005's Walk the Line: as co-producer (with wife June), co-writer, and onscreen narrator, this Cash is a plain, unsentimental believer, quoting scripture and interpreting the Greatest Story Ever Told in a decidedly folksy, homespun fashion. The Jesus he depicts (portrayed by Robert Elfstrom, who also directed) is blond, bearded, and smiling, presiding over his hippie-like disciples, spreading love to the faithful, and inspiring fear and hatred among those whom Cash frequently describes as "scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites." There is little dialogue, but the songs (written by Cash, Kris Kristofferson, John Denver, Larry Gatlin, and others) come fast and furious, including a lovely "Follow Me," sung by June Carter Cash as Mary Magdalene. Granted, the approach is occasionally kinda clunky; lines like "Have a good time now, for tomorrow I must die" don't exactly roll trippingly off the tongue. Still, The Gospel Road is innocuous at the very least, and wholesome and inspiring family fare at its best. Presented with a decent transfer, DVD extras include two radio spots and a stills gallery. A strong optional purchase. (S. Graham)