In Jerusalem, young Zealot Joel wants to fight the Roman conquerors and hopes that Jesus will be their Jewish king. But Jesus is crucified, and Joel becomes an early Christian, learning to live by the divine command, 'Love thy neighbor.'

"The Great Commandment" is a Christian film directed by Irving Pichel, which portrays the conversion to Christianity of a young Zealot, Joel, and the Roman soldier Longinus, through the teachings of Jesus in his parable of the Good Samaritan. It was co-produced by Rev. James K. Friedrich and released by Cathedral Films in 1939. Its theatrical release was in 1941 by Twentieth Century Fox.—Bob Renner