"Jesus of Nazareth" (1977) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Anthony Burgess (written by) &
Suso Cecchi d'Amico (written by) ...

Release Date:

3 April 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

A reverent depiction of the life of Christ using the Gospel accounts.

Plot Keywords:

Ancient Text | Prayer | Rabbi | Miracle | Jerusalem

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Robert Powell	...	Jesus Christ
Anne Bancroft	...	Mary Magdalene
Ernest Borgnine	...	The Centurion
Claudia Cardinale	...	The Adulteress
Valentina Cortese	...	Herodias
James Farentino	...	Simon Peter
James Earl Jones	...	Balthazar
Stacy Keach	...	Barabbas
Tony Lo Bianco	...	Quintilius
James Mason	...	Joseph of Arimathea
Ian McShane	...	Judas Iscariot
Laurence Olivier	...	Nicodemus
Donald Pleasence	...	Melchior
Christopher Plummer	...	Herod Antipas
Anthony Quinn	...	Caiaphas

Also Known As:

"Gesù di Nazareth" (Italy)

Runtime:

382 min | UK:180 min (2 episodes) | Italy:237 min (2 parts) (theatrical version)

Country:

Italy | UK

Language:

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:G (cut version) | Australia:M (original uncut version) | Egypt:(Banned) | South Korea:All | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

Peter O'Toole was cast as Judas, but had to back out of the project due to illness.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jesus visits Jerusalem as a young boy, his family walks past the outer wall and travels past the crucifixion site where Jesus would be killed later in the movie. In this early scene, the crosses and scaffolding have already been set up with the same Roman guards who appear later in the film (set 30 years in the future) already posted by the crucifixion hill.

Quotes:

Jesus Christ: What are the greatest commandments?
Joseph of Arimathea: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with the whole soul and with thy whole mind"... And the second is like it; "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" .
Jesus Christ: You have said well. You are not far from the Kingdom of God, Joseph of Arimathea.

Movie Connections:

Featured in George W. Bush Battles Jesus Christ (2008)

The Best Movie of the Life of Christ

"Jesus of Nazareth" is by far the most detailed movie on the life of Christ. I remember when it first aired on TV back in April of 1977. That was the week of my wedding and I remember watching it with my new bride on our honeymoon. Because of it's length and as a mini series it was able to cover most all the events in Jesus's life. There are many scenes and which I would say are some of my favorites but by far the best scene in the whole movie is when Earnest Borgnine, playing a Roman Centurian, approaches Jesus with a request that he heal a servant of his. A servant he loves as a son. Jesus says he will go to his home. The Centurian says that it won't be necessary since Jesus is a Jew and can't come into a Gentiles home. All Jesus has to do is give the word and he knows that Jesus would heal his servant. Jesus says that he has found no greater faith in all Israel than that of this Centurian. Although there were some artistic interpretations in the movie, they are so very few it isn't worth mentioning. I have seen the "Passion of the Christ" and I feel it is a very powerful movie on the last week of Christ, but it is so intense. I have to give "Jesus of Nazareth" the highest rating possible