Customer Reviews

From the Manger to the Cross [VHS]

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Hey,

I got through all of five minutes of The Passion of the Christ. When I say the split screne & subtitles - that was it for me. This movie (silent) alternated between text and screen. Unlike movies of today, ample time was given to read the ENTIRE text. Great work. Simple, accurate and moving.

Canadian-born Sidney Olcott began directing for BIOGRAPH STUDIOS in 1907. After leaving that outfit, he received $10 per movie from KALEM COMPANY. Like his pioneering BEN HUR (1907) before it, FROM THE MANGER TO THE GRAVE broke new ground: it was the first five-reeler in motion picture history.

Biblical events not shown here are missing only because of time constraints. In a single hour however, Olcott and crew still depict a good deal of the Christ story, and quite well, in fact! "Manger to Cross" was shot on location in Palestine (another first) at a cost of $35K, and earned over $1 million in ticket sales-- percentage-wise a huge success by any standards.

Olcott was paid $150 a week for his services here. In 1915, after failing to secure a salary increase and despite many profitable movies, he joined fellow-Canadian Mary Pickford at FAMOUS PLAYERS (later PARAMOUNT). Sidney Olcott's Hollywood career ended with the silent era itself (1927). He died at age 76, in 1949. The majority of Olcott's photoplays are now either forgotten or lost.

CAST--
The director cameos as a cured blind man. Also appearing: Robert Henderson-Bland - Jesus, the man; Percy Dyer - Boy Christ; Gene Gauntier - Virgin Mary; Alice Hollister - Mary Magdalene; Samuel Morgan - Pilate; James D. Ainsley - John the Baptist; Robert G. Vignola - Judas; George Kellog - Herod; J.P. McGowan - Andrew; Helen Lindroth - Martha; Sidney Baber - Lazarus; Montague Sidney - Joseph; Jack J. Clark - John


Related item:
This is available on a DVD two-fer, along with the French-made
LIFE AND PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST (1903).

The one positive thing about this movie is it does use the King James Version Bible. One of the most disturbing things it does not show the Resurrection (without this, what hope does mankind have?). John the Baptist is shown in only two scences. The Baptism of Jesus is omitted (which Hollywood usually does not depict correctly in the first palce, i.e. full immersion). The order of miracles are not correct. Even at the turn of the century Hollywood had set the pace for it's on going deception.