FILM OF CHRIST

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 15 (Supplement)

FILM OF CHRIST

WOMAN PREACHER’S PROPOSAL CHARLES CHAPLIN SUGGESTED A new film of the life of Christ, with Chaplin in the main part was the sensational suggestion made by Dr. Maude Royden in an interview on the influence and uses of the cinema. Dr. Royden. world-famous preacher, is a Doctor of Divinity. Companion of Honour, and considered hv many as the most important woman speaker in England to-day. She regards the cinema as one of the most important contacts with world affairs in modern life, and Is herself a constant visitor to it. “What I want to see.” said Dr. Royden, “is a really first-class film of the life of Christ. I’ve seen two pictures, ‘T.N.R.T.’ and ‘The King of Kings,’ but they were not good enough. T think the trouble is that, film producers are even over anxious to be reverent. They seem to think that, this reverence demands an actor who is colourless and rather ‘soft’ looking. Someone with practically no character at all.

> “Thp actor who portrays Christ on 1 the screen must he a genius. Nothing less will do. ITe must hp a strong. . forceful personality, and there is only ; one man to do it. and that is Charlie . Chaplin.” she said. “He is the one ’ undoubted genius of the screen. No Saggy Trousers “Never mind about his comedy aspect. Charlie Chaplin with no baggy trousers and no funny little walk would he a different person. The association as a funny figure would be broken. I am sure he could bring Jesus Christ alive on the screen as no olher man of our time. “One olher thing I would like.” she said, “and that is for the film to he a Silent one throughout. T think lliat is the best medium for a film of this nature. And. of course, no additions to the Rihle story, it is quite dramatir enough without introducing any iove theme into it ! There must he no love story between Christ and Mary Magdalene, or any nonsense of that sort.”