Everybody tries hard, but the film only comes alive when it turns into a real dramatization of Biblical texts... and these moments are placed in long intervals during 164 minutes. Otherwise it is an overlong and pedestrian literal reading of passages contained in the gospels. Compare the events concerning Barrabas (Harry Guardino) and his army of rebels fighting the Roman empire, or the scenes played by Lucius (Ron Randell) as a witness of all the drama, to the silly histrionics of the Herod family (better told elsewhere, with someone as beautiful as Rita Hayworth playing Salome, not pale Brigid Brazlen), and it becomes obvious that when the scriptwriters (Philip Yordan and all the many uncredited hands) distanced themselves from the sources, they did a better job. Poor Jeffrey Hunter (as Jesus) and Rip Torn (as Judas) were given the worst wigs available, and they had the leading roles! Don't blind yourself because you are a believer. Avoid.
Review of King of Kings
