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

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

David Greene (screenplay) and
John-Michael Tebelak (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 August 1973 (Denmark)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

Godspell comes to the screen !

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Reference To Mae West | Brooklyn Bridge | Hippie | Shofar | World Trade Center New York City

Awards:

2 nominations

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
Daniel Levans	...	Un-named ballet rehearsal dancer (uncredited)
Joe Madden	...	Homeless man (uncredited)
Burt Richards	...	Garment Salesman (uncredited)
John-Michael Tebelak	...	Pharisee Monster (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
David Greene

Writing credits
David Greene		(screenplay) and
John-Michael Tebelak		(screenplay)
John-Michael Tebelak		(book from the musical play "Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew")

Produced by
Edgar Lansbury	....	producer
Kenneth Utt	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Stephen Schwartz

Cinematography by
Richard G. Heimann		(director of photography) (as Richard Heimann)

Film Editing by
Alan Heim

Production Design by
Brian Eatwell

Art Direction by
Ben Kasazkow		(as Ben Kazazkow)

Set Decoration by
John Godfrey

Costume Design by
Sherrie Sucher
Susan Tsu		(original designs)

Makeup Department
Philip Goldblat	....	makeup artist (as Phil Goldblatt)
Phyllis Sagnelli	....	hair stylist (as Phyliss Sagnelli)

Production Management
Paul Ganapoler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ron Walsh	....	assistant director

Art Department
Richard Adee	....	property master
Stanley Cappiello	....	master scenic artist

Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens	....	dubbing editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound
Emil Neroda	....	sound mixer
Elliot Scheiner	....	sound recording engineer
Dan Sable	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Block	....	camera operator
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator (as Richard Mingalone)
Martin Nallan	....	key grip
Frank Schulz	....	chief electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joseph W. Dehn	....	wardrobe supervisor
Reet Pell	....	wardrobe coordinator

Editorial Department
Trudy Ship	....	assistant editor
Hal Levinsohn	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Irving Rathner	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Jesse Cutler	....	musician: guitar
Peggy Gordon	....	composer: song "By My Side"
Jay Hamburger	....	composer: song "By My Side"
Rich LaBonte	....	musician: bass (as Richard Labonte)
Steve Manes	....	musician: bass
Stephen Reinhardt	....	associate musical supervisor
Stephen Reinhardt	....	musician: keyboards
Stephen Schwartz	....	lyrical composer: songs
Stephen Schwartz	....	music composer: songs
Stephen Schwartz	....	musician: keyboards
Paul Shaffer	....	musician: keyboards
Ricky Shutter	....	musician: drums and percussion
Don Thomas	....	musician: guitar
Anahid Ajemian	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Wayne Andre	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Norman Carr	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Mickey Gravine	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Bira Haas	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	musician: synthesizer "Alas for You" (uncredited)
Allen Raph	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Elliot Rosoff	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Irving Spice	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Lou Stone	....	musician: strings (uncredited)

Other crew
Sammy Bayes	....	choreographer
Arthur Eckstein	....	title designer
Nina Faso	....	assistant to producer
Belle Halpern	....	script supervisor
Joanne Jonas	....	assistant choreographer
Peter Kean	....	assistant to producer
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production office coordinator (as Adeline Leonard)
John-Michael Tebelak	....	creative consultant
George Devins	....	timpani (uncredited)
Corky Hale	....	harp: "Beautiful City" (uncredited)
Darrell Jonas	....	production office coordinator (uncredited)
Charles Macey	....	banjo: "All for the Best" (uncredited)
Hugh McCracken	....	lead guitar: "Prepare Ye" (uncredited)
Ralph S. Singleton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Chayim Tamar	....	shofar: "Prepare Ye" (uncredited)

Thanks
Joseph Beruh	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by
Stuart Duncan	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by
Edgar Lansbury	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (first TV airing)
• Columbia TriStar (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Filmsounds  sound editing by
• Music Maximus  music coordination

Also Known As:

Godspell (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | Spanish

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Andrew Carnegie Mansion - 2 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Two major songs were removed that were from the original stage musical; "We Beseech Thee" and "Learn Your Lessons Well". Both, however, have instrumental "cameos". "We Beseech Thee" appears in the Cherry Lane Theatre scene, while the "car calliope" scene does "Learn Your Lessons Well". In addition, a new song was made specifically for the movie, "Beautiful City", which has become a part of subsequent stage versions.

Goofs:

Continuity: The face paint that Jesus puts on all the characters in the junkyard changes in almost every scene after that. The position and even some shapes change.

Quotes:

John: I baptize you with water for repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I. I am not fit to take off His shoes. And He will baptize you all with the Holy Spirit and with fire!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Best Friend's Birthday (1987)

Soundtrack:

By My Side

joyful

I remember seeing this film a very long time ago with my father when it was released in theaters. I just recently saw it again on TV and was just as dazzled as I was the first time (although I admit, to fully appreciate this movie, it is best seen on a large screen). The film is gorgeous to look at, and the whole feel is carnival-like. The songs are as fresh as they were in 1973, catchy and light-hearted, and yet touching. The young cast seems to be having a great time--and it's interesting that their characters (except for Jesus, played by Victor Garber) all use their real names.

Titanic fans will be interested in seeing the 23-year old Victor Garber (who played the ship's builder Thomas Andrews) as Jesus, and not only is he gorgeous to look at, he has a beautiful singing voice as well. It mystifies me why Garber never got more leading roles in movies. Far superior to the dreary opera that came out the same year, "Jesus Christ Superstar."