Alternate Ending - Movie Review Podcast · Alternate Ending

Podcast Special: Old Testament Movies

February 25, 2026·1 hr 11 min·3 clips

Host Tim Brayton and Alternate Ending columnist Gavin McDowell celebrate the publication of Gavin's academic book 'The Rewritten Bible in Late Antiquity' with a wide-ranging conversation about movies based on Old Testament stories. The two discuss the historical arc of the biblical epic genre from the silent era through classical Hollywood to the present day, touching on key films like Samson and Delilah, The Ten Commandments, and the works of Cecil B. DeMille, while exploring themes of sex, violence, spectacle, and religious interpretation in cinema. The episode blends film history with Gavin's academic expertise in rabbinic and apocryphal literature to examine how biblical storytelling has evolved on screen.

As heard by us

A book-led episode that turns Old Testament film adaptations into a lively tour through early movie history.

This special Alternate Ending episode frames Gavin McDowell's new book, The Rewritten Bible in Late Antiquity, as the reason to revisit movies built from Old Testament stories.

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Why you'd press play

You want an Old Testament movie conversation, film history side roads, and a special detour celebrating a new book.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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