- Hurd Hatfield, King of Kings, 1960. Titles, directors and actors changed what was Son of Man or The Sword and the Cross in 1952, evolved through John Farrow, King Vidor and, ultimately, Nicholas Ray. Pope John XXIII met producer Samuel Bronston and approved the script. Without knowing that scenarist Philip Yordan saw Jesus as a cowboy… “Christ was a loner. He’s not much different than my usual character. The Western character. It’s the same character. The man alone.” And, indeed, Jeffrey Hunter chosen for Jesus, had made 16 Westerns, including two for the guy who recommended him. John Ford.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 1