Reading up about Raymond Bernard's epic take on Les Misérables,I found out that lead actor Harry Baur had a short (but scene- stealing,larger then life) role in a biblical epic from Julien Duvivier!,which led to me getting ready to behold the man.
The plot:
Getting black market dealers out of the temples, Jesus starts to get follows for his message,whilst the people he threw out of the temple start to fear that they are losing power.Wanting to regain power, Ponce Pilate starts making various deals with the aim to put Jesus on the cross.
View on the film:
Written with a majestic score from Jacques Ibert,writer/director Behold the Man folds out his take on the greatest story ever told on a biblical canvas. Deciding to not take a restrained stand, Duvivier & cinematographer Jules Kruger brilliantly place the audience in the middle of the unfolding miracles,by placing the camera right in the middle of the crowds,where coiled tracking shots keep the viewer on step with Jesus to the cross. For the first ever sound movie about Jesus, Duvivier puts the pages on the screen with an impeccable poetic quality.Showing a sketch to the Film Noir visual themes that would soon be revealed, Duvivier displays a striking auteur eye for the use of shadows and space,which rain down in a holy atmosphere as lingering shadows haunt the Last Supper.
Whilst his dry voice leaves the Holy Man not fully blessed, Robert Le Vigan gives an excellent performance as Jesus,with Vigan giving Jesus a calm belief,which stays firm even as his predicted betrayals become true. Joining Vigan for the opening of the good book, Jean Gabin gives a great, viper-tongue performance as Ponce Pilate,as everyone looks to the cross and beholds the man.
The plot:
Getting black market dealers out of the temples, Jesus starts to get follows for his message,whilst the people he threw out of the temple start to fear that they are losing power.Wanting to regain power, Ponce Pilate starts making various deals with the aim to put Jesus on the cross.
View on the film:
Written with a majestic score from Jacques Ibert,writer/director Behold the Man folds out his take on the greatest story ever told on a biblical canvas. Deciding to not take a restrained stand, Duvivier & cinematographer Jules Kruger brilliantly place the audience in the middle of the unfolding miracles,by placing the camera right in the middle of the crowds,where coiled tracking shots keep the viewer on step with Jesus to the cross. For the first ever sound movie about Jesus, Duvivier puts the pages on the screen with an impeccable poetic quality.Showing a sketch to the Film Noir visual themes that would soon be revealed, Duvivier displays a striking auteur eye for the use of shadows and space,which rain down in a holy atmosphere as lingering shadows haunt the Last Supper.
Whilst his dry voice leaves the Holy Man not fully blessed, Robert Le Vigan gives an excellent performance as Jesus,with Vigan giving Jesus a calm belief,which stays firm even as his predicted betrayals become true. Joining Vigan for the opening of the good book, Jean Gabin gives a great, viper-tongue performance as Ponce Pilate,as everyone looks to the cross and beholds the man.