Greece, in the 1920's, is occupied by the Turks. The country is in turmoil with entire villages uprooted. The site of the movie is a Greek village that conducts a passion play each year. The leading citizens of the town, under the auspices of the Patriarch, choose those that will play the parts in the Passion. A stuttering shepherd is chosen to play Jesus. The town butcher (who wanted to be Jesus) is chosen as Judas. The town prostitute is chosen as Mary Magdalene. The rest of the disciples are also chosen. As the movie unfolds, the Passion Play becomes a reality. A group of villagers, uprooted by the war and impoverished, arrive at the village led by their priest. The wealthier citizens of the town want nothing with these people and manipulate a massacre. In the context of the 1920's each of the characters plays out their biblical role in actuality. - IMDB
review:
I saw HE WHO MUST DIE in Edinburgh, Scotland (1957). No film relating to Jesus Christ, before or since, has had such an emotional/spiritual impact on me. Its imaginative plot (preparations made in a small Greek village for a Passion Play during the Turkish occupation of Greece) has some affinity to biblical events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. Powerful in presentation, it never gets excessively sentimental or superficial as do typical "Hollywood" religious productions, nor as sadistically brutal as Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. I've not seen a film about Jesus, or related to Jesus, that I like, not one ... except HE WHO MUST DIE. Brilliantly conceived and executed, it is one of the finest films ever made!
Director:
Jules Dassin
Writers:
Ben Barzman, Jules Dassin
Jean Servais ...
Photis
Carl Möhner Carl Möhner ...
Lukas
Grégoire Aslan Grégoire Aslan ...
Agha
Gert Fröbe Gert Fröbe ...
Patriarcheas (as Gert Froebe)
Teddy Bilis Teddy Bilis ...
Hadjinikolis
René Lefèvre René Lefèvre ...
Yannakos
Lucien Raimbourg Lucien Raimbourg ...
Kostandis
Melina Mercouri Melina Mercouri ...
Katerina / Mary Magdalene
Roger Hanin Roger Hanin ...
Panagiotaros
Pierre Vaneck Pierre Vaneck ...
Manolios / Jesus Christ
Dimos Starenios Dimos Starenios ...
Ladas
Nicole Berger Nicole Berger ...
Mariori
Maurice Ronet Maurice Ronet ...
Michelis
Fernand Ledoux Fernand Ledoux ...
Grigoris
Anna Armaou Anna Armaou
Runtime:
USA: 122 min
Sound Mix:
Mono
Color:
Black and White
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