The King of Kings

As a cinematic museum piece, Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings is still worthy of permanent exhibit, and it sparkles in this lavish two-disc set from the Criterion Collection. The film was originally (and briefly) shown in a 155-minute "road-show" version in 1927, before DeMille cut it down to 112 minutes for regular theatrical engagements the following year; both are included here in meticulously restored high-definition digital transfers. Both versions convey the same sincerity and epic-scale approach to the New Testament that DeMille brought to his Old Testament melodrama The Ten Commandments (which he filmed in 1923, and, most memorably, as a dazzling 1956 remake). DeMille's religious fervor drew abundant derision from intellectuals, but The King of Kings remains surprisingly effective as a literal-minded dramatization of the gospels, with all the highlights from the life of Jesus Christ (played with wooden reverence by H.B. Warner) depicted with technical mastery and palatable Sunday-school iconography. As always, DeMille commands the spectacle with a showman's flair, as when Christ casts out the seven deadly sins from Mary Magdalene's soul, or when a post-crucifixion earthquake brings God's wrath down upon the sinners of Palestine. In addition to new scores for both films, this DVD set features rare behind-the-scenes footage of DeMille on the set, an extensive archive of production materials, and a 40-page booklet of well-written essays (including one by DeMille). A silent-era classic of epic proportions, this is definitely recommended. (J. Shannon)