Home Entertainment : What’s Good, Bad Among Religious Epics

Beware of most religious epics.

Many retailers will be showcasing them because Easter weekend is the biggest weekend of the year for these movies, but most aren’t worth renting. Some of the worst Hollywood movies ever made were religious epics.

The peak years for these movies were the ‘50s and ‘60s. Back then fans liked these solemn, big-budget extravaganzas because they were so lavish--complete with fancy sets and lots of massive crowd scenes. By today’s standards, though, most of these movies look pretty cheesy--particularly some of the special effects.

Among the many bad ones:

* “The Silver Chalice” (Warner): Starring Paul Newman, in his film debut, and Jack Palance, it’s the tale of the Greek who designed the cup that was vital in the Last Supper. Poorly acted and horribly written, this 1954 stinker was a source of embarrassment to Newman in the early years of his career. So bad that some retailers stock it in the comedy section.

* “The Story of Ruth” (CBS-Fox): In this 1960 drama, a priestess (Elana Eden) turns her back on her gods to worship God. Slow, wretchedly acted and barely watchable.

* “The Ten Commandments” (Paramount): Hokey, maudlin and filled with overwrought acting, it’s director Cecil B. DeMille’s story of Moses (Charlton Heston). The parting of the Red Sea, considered a special-effects marvel back in 1956, looks shoddy now. Yul Brynner and Anne Baxter head the all-star cast.

* “King David” (Paramount): This 1985 story of David, who became king of Israel, stars Richard Gere and was directed by Bruce Beresford, who also directed “Driving Miss Daisy.” Lame acting and awful script.

* “The Prodigal” (MGM/UA): In this expensive, unintentionally funny, 1955 drama, Edmund Purdom plays a man who succumbs to greed and a temptress (Lana Turner). Nearly as bad as “The Silver Chalice.”

* “The Bible . . . In the Beginning” (CBS-Fox, 1966): Lots of stars, including George C. Scott, Peter O’Toole and Richard Harris. Clumsy retelling of stories from the book of Genesis. Directed by John Huston, who also plays Noah.

* “Herod the Great” (Sinister Cinema, 1960): Hollywood didn’t corner the market on bad epics. This dubbed Italian movie stars Edmund Purdom as the evil Judean ruler.

* “Moses” (CBS-Fox, 1975): Burt Lancaster stars as Moses in this atrociously written and acted movie, which was edited to 140 minutes from a 360-minute British TV series. One of the worst movies Lancaster ever made.

Among the few good ones:

* “Jesus of Nazareth” (LIVE, 1977): A long (371 minutes) TV miniseries, starring Robert Powell, it’s absorbing, intelligent and arguably the best religious epic ever made. The all-star cast includes Laurence Olivier and James Mason.

* “Barabbas” (Columbia TriStar, 1962): A criminal, played by Anthony Quinn, suffers a life of misery after being pardoned instead of Christ. Too long and talky, but still head-and-shoulders above most of the movies in this genre.

* “King of Kings” (MGM/UA, 1961): The story of Christ suffers from excesses of grandeur and pomposity, but still unusually high-quality for this genre. Excellent performance by Jeffrey Hunter in the title role.

* “Ben-Hur” (MGM/UA, 1959): Starring Charlton Heston as the Jew who fights the Roman Empire, it’s slow and stilted in spots, but on the whole, a classy entertainment. The chariot race is one the most spectacular sequences ever filmed. Winner of 11 Oscars.

If you’re in an irreverent mood, they don’t come more irreverent than director Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ” (MCA/Universal, 1988). It shows Christ (Willem Dafoe) as a very average guy, tormented by doubts in the year before he’s chosen to spread the word of God. Drags at times, but very provocative--and definitely not for the religiously conservative.

It’s not religious, but the most enjoyable movie about the Easter holiday is still MGM/UA’s “Easter Parade.” This delightful 1948 musical, featuring a score by Irving Berlin, details the trials of a dancer (Fred Astaire) who replaces his partner (Ann Miller) with talented newcomer (Judy Garland).

Special Interests: As more and more gays become open about their sexual orientation, more and more people have to learn how to cope with their prejudices against them. In the informative one-hour “Homophobia in the Workplace,” Brian McNaught, an expert on gay-related social issues, talks about the roots and evils of homophobia and, more importantly, what we can do about it. From Motivational Media at $40. Information: (213) 876-3700.

Cat lovers will have a better understanding of their pets after watching the fascinating, partly scientific “Cats: Caressing the Tiger.” This one-hour National Geographic documentary offers footage of lots of cuddly cats as well as explanations of some of their remarkable physical attributes. From Columbia TriStar at $20.

Before you take a tour of the Napa Valley wine country, you might check out the 35-minute tape “The Wine Country.” It’s not only an invaluable guide to the wineries but also features helpful suggestions about the restaurants and bars in the area. From Vine’s Eye at $20. Information: (408) 622-9441.

What’s New on Video: “The Shawshank Redemption” (Columbia TriStar): A brilliant, kindly banker (Tim Robbins) is jailed in the ‘40s for a murder he didn’t commit. During his years in Shawshank prison, he becomes friends with a savvy lifer (Morgan Freeman) and tangles with a corrupt warden and guards. Part brutal prison drama and part feel-good buddy movie, it gets a bit far-fetched toward the end, but overall is an absorbing, uplifting tale, buoyed by an exceptional performance by Robbins and a truly great one by Freeman.

“Imaginary Crimes” (Warner): In the early ‘60s a hard-drinking widower (Harvey Keitel) is trying to make a living as a con artist. It’s not easy, though, because his other role--the loving father of two daughters (Fairuza Balk and Elisabeth Moss)--keeps getting in the way. Keitel, showing another dimension, and Balk turn in fine performances in this sentimental family drama, which isn’t great but, most of the time, is fairly entertaining.

“DROP Squad” (MCA/Universal): Blacks who are either out of touch with the black community or ripping it off get raked over the coals. They’re targeted by the angry blacks of the DROP Squad who kidnap and deprogram these wayward souls. Clever, often riveting movie with a message unsettling to many blacks. Eriq LaSalle of TV’s “ER” is featured as an executive badly in need of deprogramming.