50 years ago
The Tablet • 3 June 1967

Pier Paolo Pasolini is a dedicated Marxist but so steeped in the traditions of the Church – and so impressed by the message of this gospel – that he has made what is certainly the best film on a scriptural subject and arguably the best religious film ever. [The Gospel According to St Matthew] was shot in Southern Italy, with all the players but one non-professionals – the director, indeed, used his own mother as the older Mary – and on an extremely small scale … The Christ, played by a young Spanish student (Enrique Irazoqui), is no gentle Jesus but a young reformer with far too little time to carry out his mission.

100 years ago
The Tablet • 2 June 1917

The German Emperor has once more addressed his troops on the battlefield – but in terms that are strangely unfamiliar. We miss the old arrogance: the loud rattlings of the sabre are heard no more, and there is not even an allusion to his “destructive sword”.

The German Michael is seen no longer standing “in shining armour” pointing the way to victory, but is represented as bearing patiently a burden almost too grievous to be borne. “Our people and army stick firmly together. How long this war is to last yet God only knows. We must hold out as long as it does last.” Language of this sort from the All-Highest War Lord can only have been regarded as depressing, and discouraging … The one crumb of comfort which the harassed Emperor was able to give to his troops showed how low his hopes of a military success had fallen.