Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1973)

An adaption of the musical, in a modern-day song-and-dance recreation of the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

David Greene (screenplay), John-Michael Tebelak (screenplay),

Stars:

Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell

2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Victor Garber	...	Jesus
Katie Hanley	...	Katie
David Haskell	...	John / Judas
Merrell Jackson	...	Merrell
Joanne Jonas	...	Joanne
Robin Lamont	...	Robin
Gilmer McCormick	...	Gilmer
Jeffrey Mylett	...	Jeffrey
Jerry Sroka	...	Jerry
Lynne Thigpen	...	Lynne

Storyline

A modern-day version of the gospels, opening with John the Baptist calling a disparate group of young New Yorkers from their workaday lives to follow and learn from Jesus. They form a roving acting troupe that enacts the parables through song and dance, comedy, and mime. Jesus' ministry ends with a last supper, his Crucifixion in a junkyard, and, the following morning, his body being carried aloft by his apostles back into the world of the living on the streets of New York.

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Plot Keywords:

song | religion | brooklyn bridge | kicked in the butt | singing | 

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Taglines:

GODSPELL spreads its joy to the screen

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Genres:

Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew Spanish

Release Date:

24 August 1973 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Godspell

Filming Locations:

68th and Park Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The final scene was filmed at the southeast corner of Park Avenue & 68th Street in Manhattan, across the street from Hunter College.

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Goofs

The concept that New York City is magically empty of people (other than Jesus and his disciples) is messed up only once - during the baptism scene on Bethesda Terrace, a man in the background of Central Park Lake can be seen frantically trying to row his boat out of the camera's view (he is visible in 3 separate shots). Additionally, the concept of the city being empty resembles turning our lives over to Christ.

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Quotes

Lynne: Master...
[Lynne climbs down from a stage and rushes to Jesus. Gilmer, Robin, Joanne, Jeffrey, Merrell, Jerry and Katie follow]
Lynne: Master! Blessed are the poor in Spirit...
Jesus: For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Gilmer: Blessed are they who mourn...
Jesus: For they shall be comforted.
Robin: Blessed are the meek...
Jesus: For they shall inherit the Earth.
Joanne: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice...
Jesus: For the shall be filled.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The end credits include an infinity frames effect. A sixteen second film of a busy street is shown, and then the right and bottom of the frame is frozen in a sideways capital L. This then becomes the frame for the next iteration of the film, which in turn leaves its right and bottom edges as a frame for the next film. Over the frames and film are played thumbnails of the actors, then credit cards and finally a credit scroll.

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Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Critic: Double Dragon (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Beautiful City"
Written by Stephen Schwartz
Performed by Entire Company

User Reviews

unbelievable

even though it was really hard to get on DVD we finally did and i was just blown away it is so good!!!!!by my side is the best and prettiest song i love it...the movie rocks and i want all strict religious people to watch this and see the real meaning of religion!!!!they portrait religion as such a violet thing to us with all the damnation and hells and literally scare us with that which does not accomplish anything...yet there is a musical like god spell which is so light and loving that shows us the great side of Jesus and how he himself was human and we could be like that instead of some Saviour no one ever can be like...i think schools should show this movie to all kids...i love this movie and i hope everyone reading this will watch it..its so worth it..and the actors and actresses are really talented...