# King of Kings (1961 film)

King of Kings is a 1961 religious epic film about the life of Jesus Christ.
    Directed by Nicholas Ray. Written by Philip Yordan.

## Jesus

* [breaking 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.
* [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

    Herod: Lucius, order every first born male child put to the sword.
    Lucius: I am a Roman soldier. I do not murder children.
    [Herod is dying after finding out that Jesus is alive]
    Herod Antipas: [to Herod] A king who cannot walk to his own throne is no longer a king, father.
    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"; to the other Roman soldier] Count those in the next house. [the Roman soldier rides away; to Mary] See that the boy is registered before the year is out. [rides away]
    Pontius Pilate: [sarcastically] Judea. A fine wedding present your father gave me.
    Claudia: My dear Pontius, it is said whoever can govern Jerusalem can govern anywhere, even Rome.
    Pontius Pilate: Do you think Tiberius really has me in mind as his successor in Rome?
    Claudia: I wish I knew my father's mind as well as I know my husband's ambition.
    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.
    Pontius Pilate: Who are these prople?
    Lucius: They call themselves Zealots. A man named Barabbas leads them.
    Pontius Pilate: I want him in chains before the year runs out.
    Lucius: Putting him in chains will be easy: getting our hands on him, that's what is difficult.
    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.
    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.
    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: [insulted] 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: [feeling his skin] Is there blood in your veins? Or poison?
    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. [leaves to the cell]
    [Jesus is trying to visit John the Baptist in prison]
    Lucius: 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.
    Lucius: [remembering Jesus as a boy he met] For some reason, I favored Your mother once before. I will give You a moment with the prisoner John. But remember this...break Caesar's law, and you shall find in me the most merciless of men.
    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.
    Mary Magdalene: Will you speak to your son for me?
    Mary: [humbled by the request] Intercede...
    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.
    [Lucius then unshackles John's ankle, who looks at him with appreciation]
    Herod Antipas: Dance for me Salome! Salome, drink a little wine. Taste this, so that I may drain the cup.
    Salome: I'm not thirsty.
    Herod Antipas: Salome, dance for me. I command you to dance!
    Salome: I will not dance.
    Herod Antipas: You cannot refuse me. Salome will now dance for us!
    Salome: I do refuse.
    Herod Antipas: Salome, I beg of you. I'll give you anything you want.
    Salome: [surprised with interest] Anything?
    [Lucius is reporting to Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas in the steam room on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount]
    Pontius Pilate: What did the man say?
    Lucius: [dryly] He spoke of...peace, love, and the brotherhood of man.
    Herod Antipas: [scoffs] Is that all?
    Lucius: That is all. [leaves]
    Herod Antipas: [noticing Pilate looks puzzled] What is the matter?
    Pontius Pilate: The look on Lucius' face.
    Herod Antipas: He had a long journey. He looked tired.
    Pontius Pilate: He looked more than tired to my eyes. [cools off the heat stove with cold water]
    [Meeting in Jerusalem, Pilate and Lucius are concerned that Barabbas may be planning an uprising]
    Pontius Pilate: How many followers has he?
    Lucius: Who? God, Jesus, or Barabbas?
    Pontius Pilate: Barabbas.
    Lucius: How many dissatisfied Jews are there in Jerusalem?
    Pontius Pilate: Have you considered the possibility of the followers of Jesus and Barabbas joining forces?
    Lucius: I have.
    Pontius Pilate: Where would it happen?
    Lucius: Since we are here...here!
    [Jesus is mending a chair for his mother, but has to leave for Jerusalem. But Mary is having a vague premonition of her son's arrest, trial, and death]
    Jesus: [while hiding his last quest from his mother] The chair will have to wait until I return.
    Mary: [vaguely] The chair will never be mended. [Jesus is surprised what she had said. He realizes that she already knew. She puts away the sewing supplies] I am going with you. [leaves with her son]
    Herod Antipas: [annoyed that Jesus did not do any miracles he requested] Take this faker back to Pilate. Tell him Herod was not pleased with His performance.
    Lucius: Pilate offered that mob a choice.
    Barabbas: [incredulous] And they chose me?
    Lucius: Your followers yelled the loudest. Go; look at Him who is dying for you.
    Jesus: [last words] It is finished. Father, into your hands, I commit my soul. [dies]
    [The storm clouds appear]
    Lucius: [along with Claudia; tears in his eyes] He is truly the Christ.
    Mary Magdalene: [after Christ leaves her in the garden] He is risen.
    [Last lines]
    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.
    [10 disciples leave; Peter stands for the moment, then leaves. We see the shadow of Jesus coming nearer toward the ocean, and his shadow falls on the fish nets, that shapes like a cross]

## 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.

## External links

* King of Kings quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* King of Kings at Allmovie