Feb. 15, 1965 - Opening tonight at the Warner Cinerama Theatre in New York City is George Stevens’ production of “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” a retelling of the account of Jesus Christ. The film features Max von Sydow’s debut acting performance in an American film as well as the final film performance of Claude Rains.
Also in the cast are José Ferrer, Charlton Heston, Dorothy McGuire, Telly Savalas, Martin Landau, David McCallum, Donald Pleasence, Sidney Poitier, and Roddy McDowall.
Smaller credited roles (some appearing for just a few seconds) are played by Carroll Baker, Robert Blake, Pat Boone, Richard Conte, Van Heflin, Angela Lansbury, Sal Mineo, John Wayne, and Shelley Winters.
Mrs. Lady Bird Johnson was among dignitaries from the political, diplomatic, and motion-picture worlds who attended the premiere tonight.
Mrs. Johnson, who arrived from Washington in the early afternoon, visited the Lehman art collection before dinner. She was accompanied to the premiere by Adlai E. Stevenson, the U.S. delegate to the U.N.
Secret Service agents were called into action briefly when an “overzealous guest” ran up the aisle toward where Mrs. Johnson was sitting. A spokesman for the theater said the guest was halted by agents and the police before he reached Mrs. Johnson and was not arrested.
“The Greatest Story Ever Told” originated as a half-hour radio series in 1947, inspired by the four canonical Gospels. The series was later adapted into a 1949 novel by Fulton Oursler. In 1954, Twentieth Century Fox acquired the film rights to Oursler’s novel, but development stalled for several years.
In November 1958, Stevens became involved with the project, which he agreed to write and direct. However, in September 1961, Fox withdrew from the project because of uncertainty concerning its presumptive cost and its thematic similarities to “King of Kings” (1961), another religious film about Jesus.
A few months later, Stevens moved the project to United Artists. He decided to film the project in the Southwestern United States rather than the Middle East, and principal photography began on October 29, 1962. Filming fell behind schedule due to Stevens’ laborious shooting techniques. David Lean and Jean Negulesco were brought in to film some sequences. The film wrapped on August 1, 1963.
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