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

User Rating:

8.5/10   

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:

Tax Collector | Compassion | Rabbi | Cross | Easter

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:

Banned in Egypt after religious leaders objected to its content.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Full-immersion baptism, not sprinkling baptism, was in use at the time of Christ.

Quotes:

Simeon: [seeing the Baby Jesus for the first time] Now I can die contented, Lord, according to Thy will.
[gently, to the Virgin Mary]
Simeon: And a sword shall pierce your heart.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tékás (2001)

Fantastic!

This movie is SO awesome! I've seen it so many times that I can quote most of the dialog! If you want the ultimate portrayal of Jesus, watch this movie. If you want to see the best church sermon ever, watch this movie. If you want God in your life and don't know how to go about it, watch this movie! Anyone who isn't touched by this movie definitely has a heart of stone.

At the scene where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, the camera pans out and you see the countryside and Jesus from the back with his arms out and the tomb. Pay attention, after Lazarus walks out and the music gets dramatic, you see a huge shadow pass over the land that literally looks like God himself waved his arm over the earth. I wouldn't be surprised if He really did; showing us that He's pleased at what He was seeing! ;)