by Dave Thompson His Land is the score to the documentary of the same name, following Cliff Richard's first visit to Palestine and the Holy Land, visiting the sites most integrally connected with the life of Jesus Christ. Directed by James Collier, who also oversaw Richard's last movie, Two a Penny, and featuring rich orchestration from the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra, it is an impassioned production and engrossing travelogue. It is not, however, essential viewing; neither is the soundtrack essential listening. Combining newly composed music with such old favorites as "Hava Nagila," "Hallelujah Chorus," and a reading of the Living New Testament version of "the 23rd Psalm," it unfortunately combines an overly-grandiose impression of its own purpose with a distinct lack of direction. The artist himself is in fine voice, but is scarcely stretched by lukewarm gospel-light renditions of "His Land," "Jerusalem Jerusalem," or, indeed, any of the seven vocal performances he's saddled with. In fact, one cannot help but wonder if his willingness to become involved in such well-meaning projects was perhaps clouding his creative judgement. One also assumes that maybe he realized that as well. This would be the last such outside project in which he was involved -- henceforth, his religious recordings would be based around his own concepts, and would emerge markedly improved as a consequence.