Editing From the Manger to the Cross (section)

==Production background==
Herbert Reynolds has shown<ref name=Reynolds>{{cite book
 |chapter=From the Palette to the Screen: The Tissot Bible as sourcebook for From the Manger to the Cross
 |last=Reynolds
 |first=Herbert  
 |editor1=Cosandey, Roland
 |editor2=Gaudreault, André
 |editor3=Gunning, Tom 
 |title=Invention of the devil?
 |place=Saint-Foy
 |publisher=Presses Université Laval
 |year=1992
 |isbn=9782763773001
 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k-KOCMRN1yYC&pg=PA275}}</ref> how Olcott used [[James Tissot]]'s illustrations for his ''The Life of our Saviour Jesus Christ'' (1896-1897)<ref>{{cite book
 |last=Tissot
 |first=James
 |author-link=James Tissot
 |title=The Life of our Saviour Jesus Christ
 |series=(4 vols)
 |year=1899
 |place=Toronto
 |publisher=G.N. Morang & Co.}}&nbsp;[https://archive.org/details/lifeofoursaviour01tiss Vol. 1] · [https://archive.org/details/lifeofoursaviour02tiss Vol. 2] · [https://archive.org/details/lifeofoursaviour03tiss Vol. 3] · [https://archive.org/details/lifeofoursaviour04tiss Vol. 4]</ref> as the basis for numerous shots in the film. The head of Kalem, [[Frank J. Marion]], presented a copy to the troupe as they departed for the Middle East.<ref name=Reynolds />

According to [[Turner Classic Movies]], the film cost $35,000 to produce (roughly between ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|35000|1912}}}}{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} and ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|35000|1912}}}}{{Inflation-fn|US}} adjusted to {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars); another source{{sfn|Wood|1947|p=167}} says that Olcott spent $100,000 of his own money on the project. Although the film's profits eventually amounted to almost $1 million (roughly ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|1000000|1912}}}}{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}} to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|1000000|1912}}}}{{Inflation-fn|US}}), the Kalem directors refused to increase Olcott's basic salary, and he resigned.

In later years, [[Louis B. Mayer]], head of [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], would say this was the premiere film for his movie theater in [[Haverhill, Massachusetts]] and a major boost for him in the movie business.<ref>"Mr. Motion Picture", ''Time'' magazine obituary (November 11, 1957)</ref> However, most sources place the release date of this film as 1912, long after the opening of Mayer's theater.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=0002199}}</ref>

At around 5,000 feet it was one of the longest films to be released to date,{{sfn|Wood|1947|p=167}}<ref>Kevin Brownlow, [https://web.archive.org/web/20111109054638/http://www.cinemaweb.com/silentfilm/bookshelf/18_kb_2.htm 'Silent Films: What Was the Right Speed?'] ''Sight and Sound'', Summer 1980, pp. 164-167.</ref><ref>James Card, [https://web.archive.org/web/20070407224839/http://www.cinemaweb.com/silentfilm/bookshelf/18_car_1.htm 'Silent Film Speed'] ''Image'', October 1955, pp. 55-56.</ref> although the [[Kinemacolor]] documentary ''[[With Our King and Queen Through India]]'' released in February 1912 ran to 16,000 feet;<ref>McKernan, Luke (2009). [http://academic.csuohio.edu/kneuendorf/frames/color/McKernan2009.pdf 'The modern Elixir of Life: Kinemacolor, royalty and the Delhi Durbar'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235002/http://academic.csuohio.edu/kneuendorf/frames/color/McKernan2009.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}, in ''Film History'', Vol. 21, pp. 122–136, 2009.</ref> and another religious film ''[[The Miracle (1912 film)|The Miracle]]'' (the first [[List of early color feature films|full-colour feature film]]) - was released in the UK at 7,000 feet in December 1912.<ref name=NYT_Filmshow>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/12/09/100563268.pdf "Film show in Covent Garden"]. ''New York Times'', 9 December 1912</ref>