Once upon a time… It’s Easter time when a handful of ‘religious’ or ‘Roman’ movies are restocked in movie theaters in generous lengths considered ideal for those dates. Cinemas are full to watch ‘Ben-Hur’ or ‘The Ten Commandments’ on the big screen again. Secure ticket office. Platforms today replace almost ritual repetitions, but the spirit is the same. And the Phenomena theater in Barcelona reflects ‘Quo Vadis’, reminiscent of the not-so-distant times. We feature 10 fixed values for these dates.
1. ‘Quo valleys’ (1951)
It’s the same length as blockbusters set in Ancient Rome, 171 minutes, and has everything you need for Easter movies: Christian martyrs, Roman generals who converted to Christianity for love, Peter Ustinov It’s like Nero burning Rome and a mighty Christian fighting a bull in a Roman coliseum.
Showing at the Phenomena Experience on Saturday 8.
2. “Holy Robe” (1953)
In the cinematographic splendor of Holy Week, this luxurious peplum cannot be missing, it is also first Cinemascope production: giant screen against the competition of television. Richard Burton is a Roman nobleman punished by the emperor and sent to Palestine just as Pontius Pilate crucified Jesus Christ.
Rent at Prime Video.
3. “The Ten Commandments” (1956)
Cecil B. De Mille He directed a silent version of 145 minutes in 1923. Thirty years later, it has been massively remastered: 220 minutes of footage, out-of-this-world colors, visual apology in the sequence of the Red Sea opening to engulf Egyptian soldiers. Charlton Heston, the biblical actor, played an excellent, angry Moses.
Rent on Apple TV, Rakuten TV and Prime Video.
4. Benhur (1959)
Neither the silent version nor the latest film by Timur Bekmambetov outshines William Wyler’s 1959 film. Charlton Heston c.as Judah Ben-Hur and Stephen Boyd as his friend and ultimate rival Messala. It’s impossibly biblical, but also somewhat ominous, with its famous chariot-racing glory moment.
Available on HBO Max and Movistar Plus+.
5. “Spartacus” (1960)
stanley kubrick He came from independent cinema and was hired by the film’s producer and chief commentator, Kirk Douglas, to add intensity and personal style to this magnificent film about a Thracian slave and gladiator who rebelled against the power of Rome. Scenes to remember: gladiator school, Laurence Olivier flirting with Tony Curtis in the bathroom, the final crucifixion.
It can be seen in the movie.
6. ‘Barabbas’ (1961)
An extraordinary film produced by Dino de Laurentiis in Italy and directed by Richard Fleischer. Anthony Quinn The most battered character in sacred history, the real loser, was pardoned by Pontius Pilate instead of Jesus. Less megalomaniac than other productions of the time. Vittorio Gassman, Silvana Mangano, Jack Palance and Katy Jurado round out the eclectic cast.
Rent on Apple TV.
7. “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965)
Another blockbuster film, spanning over three hours, was meticulously presented as a “biopic” from the birth of Jesus to his death on the cross. Another stellar cast Like Juan Bautista, Heston could not be missing. With a reclusive wink, Max von Sydow, the hero of many of Ingmar Bergman’s films on religious metaphysics, was chosen to incarnate Jesus Christ.
Present in the Movie.
8.’ The Bible… At the Beginning’ (1966)
It is the most ambitious of the religious films Hollywood allowed itself in the 50s and 60s. John Houston He took charge of an impossible project to synthesize the first 22 episodes of Genesis and give them a natural patina. Huston himself features as Noah, Richard Harris and Franco as Nero Cain, and Abel and Peter O’Toole as the three sinister angels.
Rent on Prime Video and Google Play.
9. “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973)
This hippie vision de la historia sacra is an adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s successful rock opera with several versions on the Spanish stage, one of which is Camilo Sesto as Jesus in 1975. The gospels are treated with all the freedoms in the world in a context that turns Christ into someone outside of the Woodstock festival.
It can be seen in the movie.
10. “Brian’s Life” (1979)
This monty python they could not miss the opportunity to laugh at the scriptures and the suffering of Jesus Christ. The answer was this atrocity, written by the group to the plenary session led by Terry Jones, which centered on a person born in a manger in Bethlehem on the day Jesus was born. Jewish Popular Front, suicide squad, false beards…
Available on Netflix and Film.