The Greatest Story Ever Told/Trailer transcripts

We fade in on a brown marble background, with review quotes fading in and out: "'THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD' IS A MAGNIFICENT PICTURE! New York World Telegram & Sun, "...STUNNINGLY RENDERED FOR THE SCREEN!" Good Housekeeping, "A MONUMENTAL FILM!" Fort Worth Press, "...IT MAY RUN FOR 40 YEARS!" Look Magazine, "'THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD' COULD BE THE MOST MAJESTIC PRODUCTION THE SCREEN WILL EVER HAVE!" The Miami Herald, "ONE OF THE GREATEST MOTION PICTURES YET MADE!" New York Journal-American, "...PICTORIALLY MAGNIFICENT!" Chicago Sun-Times, and "A CLASSIC...TIMELESS PICTURE!" Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. Finally, we crossfade to people walking toward the river.
:John the Baptist (Charlton Heston): Behold! I send my messenger... who shall prepare the way. Listen to the voice of one crying in the wilderness! One... whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. (Jesus Christ [Max Von Sydow] approaches him) Who are you?
:Jesus: (After pulling down his hood) Baptize me, John.
We then cut to Jesus and his disciples walking
:Jesus: What is your name, my friend?
:James: James. Little James. They call me "Little" because I'm the youngest. What is your name?
:Jesus: Jesus.
:James: Ah. That's a good name. (Jesus turns toward him)
:Jesus: Thank you.
Next scene: an adulterer is sentenced to death
:Jesus: You have judged her rightly. She is guilty of adultery.
:Man 1: The law calls for her to be stoned.
:Jesus: Yes. (He picks up a stone) Let him among you who is without sin cast the first stone. (The man picks up the stone, and the adulterer cowers in fear)
Next scene: Lazarus' tomb is opened
:Jesus: Lazarus. Come forth!
A lightning strike is heard, and the Hallelujah Chorus begins
:Bar Amand (Van Helfin): Do you see?
:Man 2: See?
:Bar Amand: Jesus of Nazareth. I saw it with my own eyes. Lazarus was dead. Now, he's alive!
The cast roll begins: MAX VON SYDOW as Jesus, JOSE FERRER as Herod Antipas, VAN HELFIN as Bar Amand, CHARLTON HESTON as John the Baptist, DAVID McCALLUM as Judas Iscariot, RODDY McDOWALL as Matthew, DOROTHY McGUIRE as Mary, SAL MINEO as Uriah, DONALD PLEASANCE as The Dark Hermit, SIDNEY POITIER as Simon of Cyrene, CLAUDE RAINS as Herod the Great, JOHN WAYNE as The Centurion, SHELLEY WINTERS as Woman of No Name, and ED WYNN as Old Aram. Over the last shots, we see "The GEORGE STEVENS Production THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD." Underneath it, this text wipes in and out: "Screenplay by JAMES LEE BARRETT and GEORGE STEVENS," "Produced and directed by GEORGE STEVENS," "in creative association with CARL SANDBURG," "Music ALFRED NEWMAN," and "Filmed in ULTRA PANAVISION with TECHNICOLOR." It fades out, and "Presented in CINERAMA," "Released by UNITED ARTISTS," and copyright information fade in all at once.
Category:Trailer transcripts