Comments on: The Greatest Story Ever Miscast

By: Eugene Finerman

Eugene Finerman — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:15:21 +0000

Mary Ann:

Let’s finish casting “Beach Blanket Bible”. We’ll have Harvey Lembeck as Herod Antipas and Leslie Gore as Salome. (”It’s My Party And You’ll Die If I Want To.”)

However I can’t decide who should play Pontius Pilate: Bob Cummings or Paul Lynde?

Peggles:

Shatner and Basehart were indeed in “The Andersonville Trials”. It was a reunion for them. They had played two of “The Brothers Karamazov”: Shatner was Alexei and Basehart was Ivan. That would correspond to Hoss and Adam on “Bonanza”. (So Albert Salmi would be Hop Sing.)

By: Peggles

Peggles — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:27:00 +0000

I’d forgotten that Shatner and Basehart had co-starred in TBK. And to think that they ended up on a starship and a submarine!

By: Peggles

Peggles — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:51:43 +0000

Happy Happy to everyone. William Shatner actually was a very good actor in his early career. The Andersonville Trial (from the golden age of TV) was superb. I believe Shatner played the prosecutor of Wirtz, played by the also excellent Richard Basehart. Too bad Shatner didn’t stay kosher in his later years - way too much ham!

By: Mary Ann Jung

Mary Ann Jung — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:45:32 +0000

Ok, the gloves are off-you’ve gone and dissed my man Jeffrey who made me think lofty religious thoughts when I was 8 and didn’t realize Jesus should have had brown eyes. Jesus could’ve been a Frogman in the Sea of Galilee-who knows. Shatner?!!! When he was the Grand Master for Mardi Gras when I was in college, my friends and I inundated him in silly string as a sign of our contempt when his float went by. Alhthough we Are fans of old Star Trek. Happy ChristmaKwaanzakkuh!

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:40:11 +0000

Dean and Mineo, so I’ve heard. No one’s around to confirm or deny, unfortunately, but I think you’re safe about Backus.

By: Eugene Finerman

Eugene Finerman — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 17:43:52 +0000

“Revel Without a Pause”?

I know that Ray had an affair with Natalie Wood. (Fortunately, he didn’t direct “Miracle on 34th Street”.) Who else? I hope not Sal Mineo or Jim Backus.

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:12:40 +0000

The most incongruous thing about this movie is really the director, Nick Ray. One wonders if he nailed as many cast members in this movie as he did in, say, “Rebel Without a Cause”. I don’t know anything about Ray’s religious beliefs but you would have to classify his love life as pagan.

By: Eugene Finerman

Eugene Finerman — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:27:46 +0000

Nimoy’s ancestors did see the original production–and they evidently were not impressed.

The road show–starting in St. Paul–got much better reviews and a far bigger audience.

In “King of Kings” Peter was played by character actor Royal Dano, who usually portrayed half-demented prospectors. Of course, that could have described St. Peter.

By: Bob Kincaid

Bob Kincaid — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:11:51 +0000

And Nimoy as Peter, perhaps?