From the Manger to the Cross (1912)
A life of Jesus told across five reels, from the Nativity and the flight into Egypt through the ministry, miracles, and Crucifixion, with intertitles taken from scripture. The Kalem company shot it on location in Egypt and Palestine.
One of the first feature-length films made by an American company and an early case of a production traveling abroad to shoot, From the Manger to the Cross was selected for the National Film Registry in 1998.
Background
From the Manger to the Cross was directed by Sidney Olcott for the Kalem company and released in 1912. Kalem shot the film on location in Egypt and Palestine, which was unusual for an American production of the period. Robert Henderson-Bland and Gene Gauntier appear in leading roles, and Olcott himself appears in the cast. The film runs about seventy minutes across five reels, making it one of the earliest American feature-length productions. It was selected for the National Film Registry.
What to watch for
The film follows the life of Jesus from the Nativity and the flight into Egypt through the ministry to the Crucifixion, with intertitles taken from scripture. Watch the location photography, which shows real landscapes in place of studio backdrops. The staging of the ministry and its miracles follows the Gospel narrative closely. Attention to the sweep of the story and the transitions between episodes shows how early features organized longer narratives. Viewers should note the film’s religious subject and reverent tone, which set it apart from the shorter comedies and dramas that dominated American screens at the time.
