Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Melvyn Bragg (screenplay) &
Norman Jewison (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 August 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Musical

Tagline:

and now the film...

Plot:

Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.

Plot Keywords:

Anachronistic | Rock Opera | Jesus Christ | Religion | Surrealism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Ted Neeley	...	Jesus Christ
Carl Anderson	...	Judas Iscariot
Yvonne Elliman	...	Mary Magdalene
Barry Dennen	...	Pontius Pilate
Bob Bingham	...	Caiaphas
Larry Marshall	...	Simon Zealotes (as Larry T. Marshall)
Josh Mostel	...	King Herod (as Joshua Mostel)
Kurt Yaghjian	...	Annas
Paul Thomas	...	Peter (as Philip Toubus)
Pi Douglass	...	Apostle
Richard Orbach	...	John
Robert LuPone	...	James
Jonathan Wynne	...	Apostle
Thommie Walsh	...	Thaddeus
Richard Molinare	...	Andrew

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Spain:13 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:G | Singapore:PG | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

Beit Guvrin, Israel

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Tragedy almost struck for real while the Crucifixion was being filmed. The Roman soldier we see nailing Christ to the cross is an Israeli actor who spoke very limited English; consequently, he thought Ted Neeley was actually supposed to have nails hammered through his hands! Just in time, director Norman Jewison saw what was happening and screamed, "NO! NOT IN THE HAND!"

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In several shots during the movie people are holding guns, but guns were not around in 33 A.D. However, neither were combat boots, helmets on the soldiers, and purple tank tops. This is an intentional, artistic choice, to make it more modern.

Quotes:

Jesus: For all you care, this wine could be my blood. For all you care, this bread could be my body.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Passion: Films, Faith & Fury (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Arrest

what a group of voices!

The Lloyd-Webber and Rice musical comes to the screen, and is nothing like the stage show at all. The deserts are real, although the back story is that this is a theatre company, putting on a production in real locations.

The cast are largely session singers and unknowns - Ted Neeley, delicate and high-voiced as Jesus (particularly superb in `Gethsemane'); Carl Anderson, black and doe-eyed as Judas with hot soul vocals, Barry Dennen as Pilate, and Yvonne Elliman as Magdelene with her big number `I Don't Know How To Love Him'.

One loss for those who know the stage version is being removed from the crucifixion preamble, when the ghost of Judas sings `Superstar' - this was all video camera projection in the theatre, while in the movie we are detached observers. But at other times we get uncomfortably close. And the songs survive the transportation to a more realistic setting (except the added `Could We Start Again, Please?' which sounds rather too much like the Coca-Cola theme for comfort).

Best scenes? The one in the temple; Hosanna; and the Pharisees tapping on their scaffolding perches like crows.