Star of Bethlehem (England)

Jordison and Co. Ltd., London & Middlesborough; Thanhouser Film Company, one of the earliest film companies (1909-1917). Directed by Lawrence Marston, The Star of Bethlehem featured, among its 200-member cast, Florence LaBadie as Mary, James Cruze as Joseph, and William Russell as Herod, and cost $8,000 to produce. An article in the March 8, 1913, edition of The Moving Picture World, included the following about the film: "Somewhat spectacular in places and follows the Jewish or Rabbinic rather than the Christian interpretation of the events leading up to the birth of Christ." Of special note here is the desire and openness at the time of the distributor, Thanhouser Film Corporation, to screening this film in churches and schools. This poster is one of the rare extant examples from the earliest period of the film industry.