the greatest cinematic Christ that never was

I was greatly moved by Le Vigan's Christ.

The best Christ I've seen in cinema except He came across more in flashes instead of in a full and satisfactory portrayal.

Some time later I read in a biography of the actor, that LeVigan took the role immensely to heart. He even had some of his teeth knocked out to have a more ascetic face!!

His performance was unstinted. LeVigan describes (in the book) the passion with which he played the casting out of the money-lenders in the temple.

Practically all swept away as scraps on the cutting room floor!!

A French intellectual quipped when the film came out: 'To Duvivier, the crucifixion is a travelling.'