Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Melvyn Bragg (screenplay) and
Norman Jewison (screenplay) ...
(more)

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:

Jesus Christ | Rock Opera | Roman | Christian | Singer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 10 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
Robert LuPone	...	Apostle James
Jonathan Wynne	...	Apostle
Thommie Walsh	...	Apostle Thaddeus
Richard Molinare	...	Apostle Andrew
David Devir	...	Apostle
Jeff Hyslop	...	Apostle (as Jeffrey Hyslop)
Richard Orbach	...	Apostle John
Shooki Wagner	...	Apostle
Darcel Wynne	...	Woman
Marcia McBroom	...	Woman
Sally Neal	...	Woman
Leeyan Granger	...	Woman
Vera Biloshisky	...	Woman
Kate Wright	...	Woman (as Kathryn Wright)
Wendy Maltby	...	Woman
Denise Pence	...	Woman
Baayork Lee	...	Woman
Wyetta Turner	...	Woman
Susie Allanson	...	Woman (as Susan Allanson)
Tamar Zafria	...	Woman
Ellen Hoffman	...	Woman
Riki Oren	...	Woman
Judith Daby	...	Woman
Lea Kestin	...	Woman
Adaya Pilo	...	Woman
Zvulun Cohen	...	Priest
Amity Razi	...	Priest
Meir Israel	...	Priest
Avi Ben-Haim	...	Priest
Itzhak Sidranski	...	Priest
Haim Bashi	...	Priest
David Rejwan	...	Priest
David Duack	...	Priest
Steve Boockvor	...	Roman Soldier
Cliff Michaelevski	...	Roman Soldier
Peter Luria	...	Roman Soldier
Tom Guest	...	Roman Soldier
David Barkan	...	Roman Soldier
Stephen Denenberg	...	Roman Soldier
Danny Basevitch	...	Roman Soldier
Didi Liekov	...	Roman Soldier
Doron Gaash	...	Temple Guard
Zvi Lehat	...	Temple Guard
Noam Cohen	...	Temple Guard
Moshe Uziel	...	Temple Guard

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits
Melvyn Bragg		(screenplay: based upon the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" by) and
Norman Jewison		(screenplay: based upon the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" by)
Tim Rice		(book)

Produced by
Norman Jewison	....	producer
Patrick J. Palmer	....	associate producer (as Patrick Palmer)
Robert Stigwood	....	producer

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs

Casting by
Michael Shurtleff		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Richard Macdonald

Art Direction by
John Clark

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bond	....	hairdresser
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Carruth	....	post-production supervisor
Larry DeWaay	....	production supervisor (as Larry De Waay)
Arik Dichner	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack N. Reddish	....	first assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Jack Towns	....	property master
Danny Perlman	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Keith Grant	....	sound re-recordist
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound re-recordist
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	machine room loader (uncredited)
Eli Yarkoni	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Evans	....	gaffer
Dennis Fraser	....	key grip
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Itzik Ben-Aroya	....	key grip (uncredited)
Avraham Leibman	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ted Neeley	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Terry Busby	....	assistant editor
Lois La Salle	....	post-production secretary
Brian Mann	....	assistant editor
Derek Trigg	....	assistant editor
Brent Eldridge	....	digital color correction (uncredited)

Music Department
Andrew Lloyd Webber	....	music by
Andrew Lloyd Webber	....	orchestrations
André Previn	....	conductor
Tim Rice	....	lyrics
Herbert W. Spencer	....	music coordinator
Angela Morley	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Hartman	....	transportation manager (uncredited)

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Charles Cannon	....	production accountant
Quinn Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Robert Iscove	....	choreographer (as Rob Iscove)
David Land	....	assistant to producers
Golda Offenheim	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (as A Universal Picture)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (1973) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)

Also Known As:

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 | Peru:14 | UK:A (original rating) | West Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (1992) (2004) | USA:G | Singapore:PG | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

Beit Guvrin, Israel

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the 1980 book The Golden Turkey Awards by film critics Michael Medved and Harry Medved, Ted Neeley was given the award for "The Worst Performance by an Actor as Jesus Christ".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the opening of the final song "Jesus Christ Superstar", after Judas steps off the chain the lipsync is out of time with the song. It's corrected after the first cutaway.

Quotes:

Pontius Pilate:Where are you from, Jesus? What do you want, Jesus? Tell me! You've got to be careful! You could be dead soon! Could well be! Why do you not speak when I hold your life in my hands? How can you stay quiet? I don't believe you understand!
Jesus:You have nothing in your hands. Any power you have comes to you from far beyond. Everything is fixed, and you can't change it.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Poor Jerusalem

Carl is the real KING.

I saw this film for the first time in the mid 70's at a cinema on a school organised outing, I remember being peeved as it was being shown on TV for the first time the same evening. I was aware of one or two of the songs but I had never heard the original concept album before hand so I really had no idea what to expect. I was transfixed from the Overture to the End Titles and probably have not had a more moving experience watching a film since. I have been a devoted fan of this film now for over 25 years and still find the occasional viewing moving. The film was unique, the first Rock Opera given the Big Screen treatment and this is still in my opinion the best of its genre. Of course the Music and Lyrics are the fulcrum of the film and the numerous album recordings are still popular now because the songs are so unforgettable but the performances of all the principle characters in this original film version give this interpretation a dynamic edge. All the cast probably give their definitive performances but without any doubt Carl Anderson as Judas is the real KING. Rest In Peace. For all you long term fans like me get the new Region 1 DVD special edition with improved sound and picture quality and extras especially the commentary with Norman and Ted- you'll cry your heart out. Thanks Carl, I will never forget the impact your performance has made on my life. Thank you ALW, Tim Rice and Norman Jewison for an unforgettable Spiritual experience.