I Beheld His Glory is a TV Movie produced by Cathedral Films and was generally released over 70 years ago on April 5th, 1953 as a episode of Family Theatre. The 55 minute film reportedly cost $100,000 to produce. It fell into public domain status and continues to inspire viewers to this day. The film depicts the events of the resurrection as told by Cornelius a Roman Centurion, (actor George McCready) who will share the Gospel.
The episode was directed by John T. Coyle (1890 - 1970). Coyle also directed several other productions for Cathedral Films including the feature film Day of Triumph (1954), The Living Christ Series (or serial), and The Life of Paul Series (1949).
Jesus is portrayed by Robert Wilson (1919-1996) [real name Robert Holton] as son of a Texas minister who portrayed Christ for the majority of his film career.
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| Snippet of the Rev. James K. Friedrich, from Radio Annual 1953. CLICK HERE for full page from the Media History Digital Library. |
Cathedral Films was the ministry of The Rev. James K. Friedrich a prolific Christian film and educational media producer. Friedrich was also the first Protestant minister to produce a feature length Christian Film The Great Commandment (1939).
As a stand alone film, "I Beheld His Glory" was released to the educational and home film market that same year. Newspaper listings reveal that the film was popular at church screenings around Easter Sunday.
EXTRA LINKS:
Chronicling America "I Beheld His Glory" Search: 1953-1963. - A selection of newspapers from 1953-1963 that list this film as part of church screening schedules:
