The Washington herald., 1913-05-24
Pictorial Reproduction
Of the SaViour's Life

The vivid realism of motion pictures
which has already been employed in
schools, on the lecture platform. by So
cial reformers, and has been pressed
into service by surgeons and sanitarians,
has now been turned toward the Bible.
The story of the Saviour. which has
been the theme of writer's, preachers
and artists for 1000 years, has now been
told by the camera. The Kalem Com
pany. of New York, took counsel Of
concluded that the scenes which artists
have put on canvas and which the
peasants Of Oberammergau have por-
trayed with living actors, might be rev.
erently and scceptably recorded by the
motion picture camera That the Ka-
lem Company have measurably well sue
ceeded in their undertaking Is indicated
by the opinions of distinguished prelates
and editors of religious publications
which are printed below.
To portray the scenes Of the Saviour
life with the power and impressive dig
nifty they merited was a difficult task
With great care was selected a COM
pany Of some forty talented actors and
actresses-each one was chosen with par
ticular regard for his or her sympathy
with the sacred roles to be portrayed.
The company then tourneyed to the
Holy Land under the guidance Of sew
eral distinguished Bible scholars and
archaeologists. whose duty it was to
fix definitely the exact spots where the
scenes and episodes of the Saviours life
took place.
In Jerusalem and the vicinity there
are many natives with an astonishing
knowledge OF Biblical lore, and the
Franciscan monks, who are strongly es-
tabIished in the Holy Land, were. Of
course, able to supply much valuable
information Every one was ready to
help make the pictures as authentic as
possible.
ing the settings for the various scenes
the wonderful paintings of Tissot proved
Of great value, but other authorities
were freely consulted 1t was observed
by members of the company that in
dress and manners the present-day ma
tives of the Holy Land differ very little
from those of the Saviour's age. and
this fact made it somewhat easier than
it might otherwise have been to obtain
the necessary local color for some OF
the pictures.
The expressions from distinguished
clergymen and influential editors of re-
lisious UNCONVENTIONAL papers are inter-
esting:
The pictures are marvels of photo
graphic quality. They are a wonderful
delineation of the New Testament story
of the Man of Galilee. They are spIen- |
did examples of historic reality. The
settings are dignifed, the action grace
full. The devotion. both to the letter |
and the spirit of the one supreme life |
lived on this earth passes before you |
without a suggestion of the outside |
world. - DIR. ]. K. Dixon.
From the Manager to the Cross IL |
wonderful film of moving pictures. 1t |
is probably the most expensive and |
carefully planned film in the world.
1T seems more like a solemn church |
service than moving picture. The su-
dience sat in absolute silence.
The pictures are wonderfully good. |
depicts the customs and scenes of the !
Holy Land. and visualize many things |
that had seemed unreaL."-The Balti-
more Evening Sun.
Il feel that am rendering a service .
to good cause in expressing the .
pleasure and satisfaction afforded me
in witnessing the drama. entitled From .
the Manager to the cross $50
Il yielded myself unreservedly to the
influence of the occasion and came
away from the representation with the
feeling that the transactions in our
Lords life had been brought nearer TO
me rather than pushed farther away
- DIR Charles H. Parkhurst.
"a living tableau drama entitled
From the Manger to the Cross: A HUI
man History of Jesus of Nazareth was
presented to a representative audience
The subject is one that requires care
full handling, and those who viewed the
pictures were loud in praise of the
dignity with which they are surround
ed,"-The Baltimore American.