King of Kings (1961 film)

Feed My sheep, for My sheep are in all the nations. Go you into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature who hungers. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

King of Kings is a 1961 religious epic film about the life of Jesus Christ.

Directed by Nicholas Ray. Written by Philip Yordan.

The Power - The Passion - The Greatness - The Glory (taglines)

Jesus

[braking bread during the Last Supper] Blessed you are you, oh Master, Our King of the Universe that gives us the bread, fruit of the Earth. Take, eat, therefore this is my body that will be given by you, do this in my memory. [pours wine] Blessed you are you, oh Master, Our King of the Universe that gives us the wine, fruit of the Vineyard. Take, drink, therefore this is my blood that will be spilled by many for the pardon of sins.

It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my soul.

[on the cross] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

John the Baptist

Behold, the sign of the pagan. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall he send hosts to destroy the idol worshippers. The day is coming when the sword shall descend upon her legions. Her mighty kings and princes shall grow feeble. Her stolen treasures made worthless. Her cities shall crumble into dusts. We shall raise our voice and be heard.

[to Lucius, who is about to arrest him] Take me. But, you cannot stop Him who comes after me.

Narrator

Caesar could find no Jew to press Rome's laws on this fallen land. So, Caesar named one Herod the Great, an Arab of the Bedouin tribe as the new false and maleficent King of the Jews.

From the dusts at Herod's feet, rebellions of Jews rose up. And Herod, in reply, planted evil seeds from which forests of Roman crosses grew high on Jerusalem's hills.

Trapped in this darkness, the Jews survived, by one promise: God would send a Messiah to deliver them forth.

Herod the Great, crushed by his many murders, self-crucified, fell dead. And Herod Antipas took murder for his crown.

For Jesus saw his own disciples doubt him. Awed by his miracles, faithful to him; yet, still they wondered why the Messiah could not raise up miraculous armies to strike Judea free. Could simple love and brotherhood be weapons against Rome?

Other

Herod Antipas: [observing John the Baptist from a distance] One more Messiah on the way. Do these Jews never tire of inventing deliverers?

Pontius Pilate: There are no such things as miracles. Only fools who believe in them.

Barabbas: We need more fighters and fewer prophets.

Barabbas: Judas dreams. And all dreamers are fools.

Dialogue

Herodias: I heard that name John the Baptist. I hear he speaks evil things of me wherever he goes.

Salome: His heart should be ripped from his body!

Herod Antipas: [amused by Salome's reply] Your daughter, Herodias, grows more like her mother day by day.

[Herodias grins approvingly]

Salome: Do I not please you?

Herod Antipas: My stepdaughter pleases me very much, Salome.

Salome: Go away you vile man!

John the Baptist: Daughter of adultery! There is but one that can save you. Go seek him out! Kneel at his feet and ask forgiveness for the sins of your mother.

Salome: Would you like me to come and visit you in your new cave?

John the Baptist: You are the seed of evil-doers. The child of corruption. Leave this house of darkness. Find your way into the light while there is yet time.

Salome: [to John the Baptist] Yes, we do live in a very wicked world. [sarcastically] You frighten me, you angry man!

Herod Antipas: Salome, come back!

Salome: This beast amuses me. Make him dance! On a bed of hot coals.

Herodias: It were better to cut his vicious tongue from its roots.

John the Baptist: Woman, is not your cup of abominations full enough?

Herodias: How dare to say that to my face? Get down on your knees and beg my forgiveness!

John the Baptist: You, woman? Who has given herself the captains of Assyria? To the young men of Egypt? Who has deserted her first husband's bed, to live in incestuous lust with his brother?

Salome: Is there blood in your veins? Or, poison?

Herod: Lucius, order every first born male child put to the sword.

Lucius: I am a Roman soldier. I do not murder children.

Camel Driver: [Spotting the 12-year-old Jesus, while refreshing himself in a well in Nazareth] Your son?

Mary: Yes.

Camel Driver: And, does He like being a carpenter?

Mary: Yes, He does.

Camel Driver: There's a big world outside this garden. Do you want Him to see it?

Mary: He will see it soon enough.

Camel Driver: Let me take Him with me. I'll pay you well. I can use a lad like that to help me with my caravan.

Mary: No. Someday, He will leave me, but someone else will call Him.

Camel Driver: And who will that be?

Mary: My son will know Him when He comes.

Lucius: [Arriving at Jesus' home in Nazareth on horseback with another Roman soldier] Have no fear. We're simply checking the census against the tax rolls. [Reading from a scroll] Now, you are... Joseph. And you live here with your wife Mary.

Joseph: That is so.

Lucius: [Pointing to Jesus] Who's this boy?

Mary: My son, Jesus.

Lucius: [Looking at the scroll again] I have no record of His birth. When was He born?

Mary: Twelve years ago.

Lucius: Where?

Mary: In Bethlehem.

[Jesus walks away]

Lucius: [Realizing Jesus must have survived the killing of the young boys in Bethlehem which he commanded on Herod's orders 12 years before, and after a long, tense pause] Bethlehem?

[Mary slowly nods "yes"]

Lucius: [to the other Roman soldier, who then rides away] Count those in the next house. [to Mary] See that the boy is registered before the year is out.

Pontius Pilate: [Interrogating John the Baptist after Lucius arrested him] Tell me, what is your occupation?

John the Baptist: I do the bidding of the Lord my God.

Pontius Pilate: Judging from your appearance, your God seems to be a rather unprofitable master to serve.

John the Baptist: I do not seek my reward in the world you live in.

Pontius Pilate: Nevertheless, you will find one here.

Lucius: [Jesus is trying to visit John the Baptist in prison] The prisoner John is not allowed visitors. If You wish to send him a message, leave it with the guard.

Jesus: I would see John.

Lucius: Why?

Jesus: I come to free John.

Lucius: [sarcastically] And just how do you propose to break him free from his cell?

Jesus: I come to free him within his cell.

Lucius: Freedom? Behind stone walls?

Jesus: You are free to come and go as you please, and yet you are still a prisoner because you place no faith in anything but your sword.

John the Baptist: You treated me well. I should like to ask just one more kindness.

Lucius: Ask.

John the Baptist: Before I leave this world, I would send a message to Jesus.

Lucius: What is the message?

John the Baptist: Ask of Him, in these words, "Was it Your coming that was foretold, or are we to expect another?"

Lucius: You doubt Him?

John the Baptist: No. I do not doubt Him. But I would like to hear it from His own lips.

Mary: I am alone now, share my table.

Mary Magdalene: I am a woman of sin.

Mary: You will share my table.

Mary Magdalene: I have done much evil.

Mary: Child, God knows evil exists as well as good. Just as there is light and darkness. Evil exists that we may be the better for it.

Narrator: And when the tomb was found empty, some days passed, and Christ was seen at Emmaus, and in Jerusalem, and those who saw Him knew He was the Lord God. And then a final time He came among His disciples by the shore of Galilee...

Jesus: [offscreen] Do you know and love Me? Feed My sheep, for My sheep are in all the nations. Go you into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature who hungers. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Taglines

The Power - The Passion - The Greatness - The Glory
The most exciting human drama the screen has ever told. A story of the Christ, His life, His deeds, the inspiration of His spoken words.
Of good and evil, of love and hate, of peace and war.
A Story of The Christ. The Glory of His Spoken Words.