From the Manger to the Cross or Jesus of Nazareth (1912)

Walt Disney "historians" always tell us that Walt's first cinematic experience was the 1916 film adaptation of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs but this isn't accurate. Walt's sister, Ruth, revealed an earlier experience where Ruth and Walt snuck into a theater to see From the Manger to the Cross in 1912. Ruth said that the film had a profound impact on her brother and they marveled at the effects of Jesus being crucified and resurrected.

Their father Elias was a devout congregational Christian, was both a deacon and trustee in their church, and would often preached sermons when their pastor, Walter Parr, was away. Walt's mother, Flora, was the church treasurer and played the organ in the service. Elias was a contractor and built a new sanctuary for their church without charge. The Disneys and Parrs were close friends and when both wives found they were expecting babies at the same time, Elias and Walter made a pact to name their children in each other's honor. Walt was named after Pastor Walter Parr and a few weeks later Elias Parr was born.

Walt would have been familiar with Judeo-Christian values from his upbringing and not only displayed these values in his body of work but wrote about them a few times across his life as well. Influences from his childhood, including his Judeo-Christian values, are evident throughout many of the things Walt created.

From the Manger to the Cross is regarded at the most important film of the silent era portraying the life of Christ. At the time, it was one of the longest and most popular films ever made. In 1998 it was added to the National Film Registry. From the Manger to the Cross was an influential film on young Walt Disney and is an important part of Walt Disney history and deserves to be acknowledged as such.

*Note: Ruth said this was the film they witnessed but all copies in circulation abruptly end after the crucifixion. It's unclear if the final real is missing or if it, indeed, only tells Christ's story from the manger to the cross.

Starring

Robert Henderson-Bland as Jesus
Percy Dyer as Boy Jesus
Gene Gauntier as the Virgin Mary
Alice Hollister as Mary Magdalene
Sidney Olcott as Blind Man
Samuel Morgan as Pontius Pilate
James D. Ainsley as John the Baptist
Robert G. Vignola as Judas Iscariot
Helen Lindroth as Martha
George Kellog as Herod
Jack J. Clark as John the Apostle
J. P. McGowan as a Wise Man
Montague Sidney as Joseph
F. Owen Sterling as Unknown
Thos J. Wentworth as a Wise Man
G. Howard Barton as a Wise Man
Frederic Bryson as Unknown
Leslie D. Thomas as Peter (Saint-Pierre)
Frank T. Gregory as Andrew
Harry Lennox as James
H. H. Kerr as Bartholomew
Jack Melville as James
Denton Harcourt as Matthew
J. M. Baber as Thaddeus
Ralph T. Duncan as Simon
William Smiley as Lazarus
F. R. Payne as a leper
Huntley Roma as a palsied man
James H. Wilson as the son of the widow
Ruth Middelton as the widow
G. W. Martin as Thomas
Carl Vincent as Simon of Cyrene
Lydia Gardebeau as Salome
H. L. Lumt as Penitent Thief
F. T. Bostock as Impenitent thief

Written by Gene Gauntier

Directed by Sidney Olcott

Release Date October 1912

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.