“King of Kings”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 260, 24 January 1928, Page 9

“King of Kings”

Story of Christ on the Screen WHAT THE CLERGY THINK ON being invited by THE SUN to express their views on the “King of Kings,” the Cecil de Mille version of the life of Christ, which they saw at yesterday’s private screening at the Tivoli Theatre, Auckland clergymen replied to-day.

REV. DR. BUXTON (St. Patrick’s Presbytery): “On the whole I consider It a reverent treatment of the sacred history. The central figure was unsatisfying, but in saying this I do not detract from the merits of the picture. For what human being could satisfy us in presenting the divine personality of Christ? “At a time when the pursuit of material things tends to absorb men’s energies to the exclusion of spiritual things this picture, by means of a popular medium, will make all who see it realise more visibly the life history of the Saviour of Mankind, who, unfortunately in these times, is for many but an historical name.” ALL SHOULD SEE IT THE REV. JASPER CALDER (Anglican City Missioner) : “A very wonderful picture, and I certainly think that everybody should see it. The introductory passages concerning the alleged love affair between Mary and Judas did not worry me very much. I think though It would have been better left out, as it had nothing to do with the King of Kings. A picture like this may deliver its message where the pulpit might fail. All, at any rate, should see it. THE REV. E. DRAKE (Methodist): “To begin with, I do not like to see the life of Our Lord portrayed on the screen and made merchandise. There is a tendency when this is done to materialise certain things that we would prefer to keep spiritual. Not that the picture was not dignified and reverent —it was certainly both. “I did not like the scenes in the beginning dealing with Mary of Magdala. It was certainly unseriptural and there was no reason for it. Mary may not have been a bad! woman at all, but one possessed of demoniac spirits, as they termed it.” REV. G. GORDON BELL (Vicar of Holy Sepulchre): “I went to see the film immediately after reading an article of glowing appreciation by Sir lan Malcolm in the ‘Church Times.’ I was, therefore, predisposed to like it.

“A PATHETIC FIGURE” “I found the picture inexpressibly horrible and revolting. The few passages In it which seemed to catch the true spirit of the Gospel were completely overshadowed by distortion of the Gospel story and by the general utter failure to show the grandeur and dignity of our Blessed Lord’s sacrifice. It is no King of Kings who is portrayed, but rather a pathetic, beaten figure. “I prefer not to criticise the picture in detail. There are many incidents which are too repulsive for comment. One just wants to forget having seen them.” THE REV. L. B. FLETCHER (Congregationalist): “I was tremendously impressed, and I think the picture must do a great deal of good. It does not really matter to any extent that the narrative has been interfered with. All the facts are there.” REV. DR. RANSTON (Methodist Theologicl College): “On the whole it is the finest religious picture I have ever seen. The subject was treated with grept reverence except the introduction where Mary of Magdala Is represented. That is undoubtedly an impertinence and quite out of place. The Scriptural narrative was not followed. The Americans were evidently trying to improve on the Gospel. On the whole though the theme was treated very reverently. THE REV. K. J. McFARLANE (St. George’s Vicarage, Kingsland): “It was a daring adventure to attempt to screen such a thing as the life of Our Lord, which is so sacred to many of us, that the very tnought of seeing Him pictured on the screen seemed almost profane. When the moment came for Him to appear I had a feeling of mingled resentment and curiosity. “But that soon melted with the wonderfully reverent way in which He was introduced. Thereafter all one’s prejudices vanished as one realised the reverence and reserve with which a most difficult and sacred subject was treated. I feel sure that such a film cannot help but make the ‘old, old story’ become a living reality.”