King of Kings
Monday, April 10 at 3:00 pm.
English with Spanish subtitles, 165 min.
Director: Nicholas Ray
The film emerged as one of the most disciplined Biblical epics ever made. Jeffrey Hunter is cast as Jesus Christ, delivering a wholly credible performance in this most taxing of roles. Siobhan McKenna is a radiant, if somewhat over-aged Mary; Hurd Hatfield offers a properly preening Pontius Pilate; Rip Torn portrays Judas more for the tragedy than the treachery; Robert Ryan is one of the best John the Baptists you're ever likely to see; and Harry Guardino convincingly interprets Barabbas as a firebrand political extremist. The best aspect of the film is its handling of the days after the Resurrection. 



Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Monday, April 10 at 7:30 pm.
English with Spanish subtitles, 107 minutes.
Director: Norman Jewison
The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Broadway collaboration gets the Hollywood treatment from director Norman Jewison with a format inspiration from Shakespeare's Henry V. In this version, a traveling acting troupe performs the rock opera in the Israeli desert, with Texan rocker Ted Neeley as Jesus and Carl Anderson as Judas. Webber, Andre Prevín and Herb Spencer shared an Oscar nomination for Best Score Adaptation.



Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal 1989)
Wednesday, April 12 at 5pm
English with Spanish subtitles.
Director: Denys Arcand
English with Spanish subtitles, 120 minutes.
In response to dwindling attendance at the annual Passion Play put on by a Montreal church, some actors are hired to stage a more radical interpretation of Christ's teachings. The new version is an instant success, but also incurs the wrath of church hierarchy. This film won 12 Genies (Canadian Academy Awards), including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. It also won the Jury Prize in Cannes in 1989. Denys Arcand directs.



The Robe
Tuesday, April 11 at 3pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 133 min.
Director: Henry Koster
Historically important as the first CinemaScope feature film, 20th Century-Fox's The Robe is fine dramatic entertainment in its own right. Based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, the film stars Richard Burton as the wastrelly Roman tribune who is assigned by a weary Pontius Pilate to supervise the crucifixion of Christ. Gradually, the mystical influence of the holy garment transforms Burton from a roistering cynic into a True Believer-at the cost of his own life, which he willingly gives up in the service of his Lord. Also starring in The Robe are Jean Simmons, Victor Mature as his Christian-convert slave Demetrius (an excellent performance), Michael Rennie as the disciple Peter, and Jay Robinson as the raving Emperor Caligula. 




Demetrius and the Gladiators
Tuesday, April 11 at 5:30 pm
English with Spanish subtitles, 101 min.
Director: Delmer Daves
Demetrius and the Gladiators was the sequel to The Robe, and though they were released several months apart, the films were shot at the same time. Based on characters originally conceived by Lloyd C. Douglas, the film stars Victor Mature as the title character, an ex-slave who embraced Christianity after being present at the Crucifixion. Thrown in jail for defending an elderly merchant from a sadistic Roman legionnaire, Demetrius is forced to attend gladiator school and fight in the arena for the amusement of the mad, debauched emperor Caligula (Jay Robinson, likewise repeating his performance in The Robe). The well-proportioned Demetrius attracts the attention of Messalina (Susan Hayward), the nymphomaniac wife of Caligula's would-be successor Claudius (Barry Jones). Briefly losing faith in Christ, Demetrius is saved from himself by the apostle Peter (Michael Rennie). 




Barabbas
Tuesday, April 11 at 7:30 pm.
English with Spanish subtitles, 137 min. 
Director: Richard Fleischer
This 1962 Biblical epic was adapted by Christopher Fry from the novel by Pär Lagerkvist. Anthony Quinn stars as Barabbas, the thief who was pardoned in place of Jesus. For the rest of his life, the guilt-ridden criminal tries to justify his existence and to determine his place in the scheme of things. Along the way he encounters the self-righteous pomposity of Pontius Pilate (Arthur Kennedy), the stoning of Sara (Katy Jurado), the gladiatorial sadism of Torvald (Jack Palance), and the burning of Rome.