AllMovie

Filmed in color, the 60-minute Hill Number One was an episode of the TV religious anthology Family Theatre. Father Patrick Peyton hosts this star-studded Easter special, wherein the story of the Resurrection is told in flashback form at a contemporary family gathering. As always, Fr. Peyton has assembled an impressive cast, including Roddy McDowell, Michael Ansara, Leif Erickson and Ruth Hussey. What makes this special truly special is the early appearance by James Dean, who delivers an earnest, non-mumbling performance as the apostle John. Dean's brief scenes have since been excerpted in many a TV documentary devoted to the late actor's career.