''Golgotha'' is a 1935 French film about the death of

Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

, released in English-speaking countries as ''Behold the Man''. The film was directed by Julien Duvivier, and stars

Harry Baur Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 1943) was a French actor. Initially a stage actor, Baur appeared in about 80 films between 1909 and 1942. He gave an acclaimed performance as the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in the biopic ''Beethoven's Gr ...

as Herod,

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

as Pontius Pilate, and

Robert Le Vigan Robert Le Vigan (born Robert Coquillaud, January 7, 1900 – October 12, 1972), was a French actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1931 and 1943 almost exclusively in small or supporting roles. He was, according to film academic ...

plays Jesus of Nazareth. In 1935, the film opened in France, and in 1937 in United States and played throughout Europe. However, the

British Board of Film Censors The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organization, non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national clas ...

"would not allow British eyes to see it."Brian Hession, ''Is It Box Office?'', article on religious films, ''

Picturegoer ''Picturegoer'' was a fan magazine published in the United Kingdom between 1911 and 23 April 1960. Background The magazine was started in 1911 under the name ''The Pictures'' and in 1914 it merged with ''Picturegoer''. Following the merge it was ...

'' (June 8, 1946) p.9 Le Vigan's performance marks the first direct portrayal of Christ in a

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

. For the most part, Jesus is shown from a respectful distance as was also the case in '' Ben-Hur'', ''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'', or ''

The Robe ''The Robe'' is a 1942 historical novel about the Crucifixion of Jesus, written by Lloyd C. Douglas. The book was one of the best-selling titles of the 1940s. It entered the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list in October 1942, four weeks later ...

'', but there are also a few closer shots and even close-ups. The

National Board of Review The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminat ...

named the film the sixth best foreign film of 1937. The score for the movie was composed by French composer

Jacques Ibert Jacques François Antoine Marie Ibert (15 August 1890 – 5 February 1962) was a French composer of classical music. Having studied music from an early age, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won its top prize, the Prix de Rome at his firs ...

Cast

... Herod Antipas *

... Pontius Pilate *

... Jesus Christ *

Charles Granval Charles Granval (born Charles Louis Gribouval; December 21, 1882 – July 28, 1943) was a French stage and film actor.Macdonald p.244 He was Jean-Pierre Granval's father. Selected filmography * '' Golgotha'' (1935) * ''La belle équipe'' (1936) ...

... Caiaphas * ... Annas (as Andre Bacque) * ... Peter (as Hubert Prelier) *

Lucas Gridoux Lucas Gridoux (16 April 1896 – 22 April 1952) was a Romanian-born French stage and film actor.Lanzoni p. 99 Biography He was born in 1896 in Herța, at the time in Dorohoi County, Kingdom of Romania. After emigrating to France, Gridoux began h ...

... Judas * Edmond Van Daële ... Gerson (as Van Daele) *

Edwige Feuillère Edwige Feuillère (born Edwige Louise Caroline Cunatti; October 29, 1907 – November 13, 1998) was a French stage and film actress. Biography She was born Edwige Louise Caroline Cunatti to an Italian architect father and an Alsace-born mo ...

... Claudia Procula *... Mary * ... Joseph of Arimathea (as Chabrier) * Georges Saillard ... Un Sanhédrite (as Saillard) * ... Le scribe *

Victor Vina Victor Vina (1885–1961) was a French film actor.Goble p.331 He was born Victor Emanuel Jules Vinatieri in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France and died in Paris. Selected filmography * '' The Portrait'' (1923) * '' Faces of Children'' (1925) * '' C ...

... Un Sanhédrite * ... Un Sanhédrite (as Viguier)

References

External links

* 1935 films 1930s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Julien Duvivier Film portrayals of Jesus' death and resurrection Films scored by Jacques Ibert French adventure drama films 1930s adventure drama films Cultural depictions of Pontius Pilate 1935 drama films Films originally rejected by the British Board of Film Classification 1930s French films {{1930s-France-film-stub