Jesus of Nazareth (1912) (Silent) / Son of Man (1914) (Silent)

Films about the Messiah go back to the earliest days of the movies. These two pictures feature elaborate staging, faithful costuming, and heartfelt performances that bring to life the power and passion of the Son of God.

Jesus Of Nazareth (1912, BW): Considered by many the most important religious film of the silent era, Jesus of Nazareth was the biggest success of the short-lived but groundbreaking New York-based Kalem Studios. While shooting unrelated one-reelers on location in Palestine, "Kalem Girl" Gene Gauntier was inspired to make a movie on the life of Christ. (Gauntier was given this nickname by the press because she both wrote and starred in Kalem's films. In Jesus of Nazareth, she plays the Virgin Mary.) Ironically, director Sidney Olcott cast poet Robert Henderson-Bland as Jesus because of his pleasant speaking voice. During the stressful production in the Holy Land, the actor came to believe that he had actually become Christ, leading to a moving performance that would be commended by critics the world over. (Henderson-Bland later became one of the greatest military heroes of World War I.) Jesus of Nazareth made such an impact on audiences that it ran in theaters until the late 1930's, making Kalem's executives millionaires. A 1938 screening was praised by Queen Mary herself. The film was also shown under the name From the Manger to the Cross. Directed by Sidney Olcott.

Son Of Man (1914, Color): The rarest of the religious films made during the silent years, Son of Man is a Pathe remake of their earlier La Vie et la Passion de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ (1903). Despite the credits' claim that it was "photographed in Judea", the film was primarily shot in the studio. In 1928, a print was sent to a convent in France, where nuns hand-painted over 200,000 frames in color. This painstaking embellishment makes Son of Man a truly unique viewing experience.

• silent