The Passover Plot (1976)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Michael Campus

Writers:

Millard Cohan (writer)
Patricia Louisianna Knop (writer)
(more)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Dramatization of the controversial best-seller that posits an alternate version of the birth of Christianity...

Plot Keywords:

Crucifixion | Torture | Whipping | Shirtless Male Bondage | Execution

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Harry Andrews	...	Yohanan the Baptist
Hugh Griffith	...	Caiaphas
Zalman King	...	Yeshua
Donald Pleasence	...	Pontius Pilate
Scott Wilson	...	Judah
Daniel Ades	...	Andros (as Dan Ades)
Michael Baseleon	...	Mattai
Lewis Van Bergen	...	Yoram
William Paul Burns	...	Shimon (as William Burns)
Dan Hedaya	...	Yaocov (as Daniel Hedaya)
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Visionary Woman
Kevin O'Connor	...	Irijah
Robert Walker Jr.	...	Bar Talmi
William Watson	...	Roman Captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ken Globus	...	Hashimoni (uncredited)
Michael Schneider	...	Zaccaharius (uncredited)
Lauren Simon	...	Malcah (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Campus

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Millard Cohan		writer
Patricia Louisianna Knop		writer
Hugh J. Schonfield		book

Produced by
Menahem Golan	....	executive producer
Wolf Schmidt	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex North

Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg

Film Editing by
Dov Hoenig

Art Direction by
Kuli Sander

Costume Design by
Mary Wills

Production Management
Danny Perlman	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Barnett	....	first assistant director
Ken Globus	....	second assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Danny Ben Menahem	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Mervyn Nelson	....	casting

Editorial Department
Larry Kemp	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• Atlas Film
• Coast Industries
• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Atlas Film Corporation (1976) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Israel | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Atlas Film

Trivia:

'Stacey Keach' and 'Trevor Howard' were cast in major roles but were replaced before filming.

Demands a re-release

Of course this film -- made over thirty years ago to exploit a controversial theory -- has been all but forgotten until very recently. But if The Da Vinci Code (2006) is as popular as the book -- and it looks like that's a possibility -- then this should be re-released, or shown on The History Channel or presented on DVD by a decent company, with Da Vinci Code tie-ins and all.

The book this is from, with the same title, by Hugo Schoenfeld, is very good, well researched and well thought-out. Another complementary title (and one the Da Vinci Code is accused of stealing from) is Baigent, Leigh and Lincoln's Holy Blood, Holy Grail. All three are recommended to religious conspiracy/heresy fans, like me, although The Da Vinci Code itself is the worst written of the trio.