THE GREAT COMMANDMENT (1939) John Beal, Maurice Moscovitch & Marjorie Cooley | Drama, Romance | B&W

The Great Commandment is a 1939 American Christian film directed by Irving Pichel, which portrays the conversion to Christianity of a young Zealot, Joel, and the Roman soldier Longinus through the teachings of Jesus in his Parable of the Good Samaritan. It was co-produced by Rev. James K. Friedrich and released by Cathedral Films in 1939. Its theatrical release was in 1941 by Twentieth Century Fox.

SYNOPSIS
n Jerusalem young Zealot Joel wants to fight the Roman conquerors and hopes that Jesus will be their Jewish king. But Jesus is crucified, and Joel becomes an early Christian, learning to live by the divine command, ‚Love thy neighbor.'

The film takes place in 30 A.D. Judea in a fictional village near Jerusalem. The protagonist is Joel, the elder son of the village rabbi Lamech. Lamech wants Joel to follow in his footsteps as a scribe and rabbi, but Joel is secretly a zealot leader, believing that more must be done to help his nation than studying the Scriptures. He is also secretly in love with Tamar, the daughter of the carpet merchant Jemuel, and he overhears his father and Jemuel arranging a marriage between Tamar and one of Lamech's sons. Unfortunately for Joel it turns out to be his younger brother Zadok, an impetuous zealot, whom Joel has to protect from his own recklessness. A crisis is brought about by the arrival of a troop of soldiers led by a centurion, Longinus, who issues the demand for a special tax to be collected by a tax collector traveling with them. Zadok and other zealots organize the release of prisoners taken by the soldiers, which moves Longinus to plan a massacre of the men of the village. Zadok wants to attack the Romans right away, but Joel feels that a larger resistance is needed through someone reputed to be the coming Messiah of the Jewish people, Jesus Christ. Joel runs afoul of his father in declaring his love for Tamar, whom his father wants wedded to Zadok, and in revealing that he is a zealot leader.

With the sword of the zealots entrusted to him, Joel goes out to find Jesus in order to enlist His leadership of their cause. [Jesus is not presented directly in this film, but only as a reflection in water, as the glow of light on His listeners, and by way of the voice of Irving Pichel, the director.] Joel meets Jesus' disciples, Andrew and Judas Iscariot, who have two different ideas about Jesus' mission. Judas, like the zealots, thinks that Jesus should be a military and political leader who would lead his people against the Romans. Joel confronts Jesus with the sword of the zealots, and Jesus declines his invitation with the words of Matthew 26:52 "all who take up the sword will perish by the sword."

Longinus sends word for his soldiers to meet him at the inn, and he has the soldiers arrest Joel and take him to prison in Jerusalem. In prison Joel misses the Passion of Jesus. Tamar is allowed to visit him. They are met by Longinus, who tells Joel that he had him arrested for his own protection from the village mob. He tells him of another wonder: he was a witness of Jesus' crucifixion, and he was the soldier who thrust the spear in His side to make sure He was dead. Longinus throws down the spear, and he, Joel, and Tamar return to the village to witness their Christian faith.

CAST & CREW
John Beal as Joel
Irving Pichel providing the voice of Jesus
Maurice Moscovitch as Rabbi Lamech, Joel's father
Albert Dekker as Longinus
Marjorie Cooley as Tamar
Warren McCollum as Zadok, Joel's brother
Lloyd Corrigan as Jemuel
Olaf Hytten as Nathan
Ian Wolfe as tax collector
Anthony Marlowe as wedding singer
Lester Scharff as first zealot
Marc Lobell as Judas Iscariot
Harold Minjir as Andrew
Earl Gunn as wounded man
Albert Spehr as second zealot
George Rosener as a merchant
John Merton as Roman officer under Longinus
Perry Ivins as first elder
D'Arcy Corrigan as the blind man
Max Davidson as the old man
Stanley Price as second elder
Belle Mitchell as Jemuel's wife

Directed by Irving Pichel
Written by Dana Burnet
Produced by John T. Coyle
Cinematography Charles P. Boyle, A.S.C.
Edited by Ralph Dixon
Distributed by Cathedral Films, Inc.
Release dates 1939 (by Cathedral Films), June 13, 1941 (by 20th Century Fox)
Running time 78 min
Country United States
Language English