| H.B. Warner, Dorothy Cumming, Ernest
Torrence, Joseph Schildkraut, James Neill, Joseph Striker .
With this silent-era spectacle, Cecil B. DeMille cemented his reputation
as the master of the biblical epic. DeMille tells the story of Christ's
life and Passion with great attention to historical accuracy, along
the way paying homage to the religious illustrations of Da Vinci
and Doré, and, in a modern flourish, restaging Christ's resurrection
in luminous Technicolor. In time for Christmas, Criterion will present
fully restored editions of both versions of this glorious spectacle
in a heavenly two-disc set: the original 155-minute silent version
from 1927 - never before available on home video - and the 1931
release, re-cut by DeMille to 112 minutes. The DVD edition will
also include new Dolby Digital 5.1 scores by composers Donald Sosin
(1927 version) and Timothy J. Tikker (1931 version); the original
score for the 1931 release by Hugo Riesenfeld; behind-the-scenes
footage from the making of the film; cast portraits, production
and costume sketches, a stills gallery of production photos and
promotional material; the original illustrated program and press
book featuring photographs from the film's gala premiere; and more. |