"Masada" (1981) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Boris Sagal

Writers:

Ernest K. Gann (story)
Joel Oliansky (writer)

Release Date:

5 April 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History

Plot:

After the destruction of the Second Temple, 900 Jewish zealots hold out against a 5000 man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.

Plot Keywords:

Roman | Zealot | Masada | Palestine | Roman Legion

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	General Cornelius Flavius Silva
Peter Strauss	...	Eleazar ben Yair
Barbara Carrera	...	Sheva
Anthony Quayle	...	Rubrius Gallus
David Warner	...	Senator Pomponius Falco
Giulia Pagano	...	Miriam
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reuven Bar-Yotam	...	Joshua (Butcher) (as Reuben Bar Yotam)
Richard Basehart	...	Narrator
John Terry Bell	...	Israeli Master of Ceremonies
Heinz Bernard	...	Elder (as Heinz Bernhard)
Christopher Biggins	...	Claudius Albinus, Falco's secretary
David A. Block	...	Reuben
Christal Blue	...	Fatima
Nick Brimble	...	Milades
Warren Clarke	...	Plinius (mutineer)
Nigel Davenport	...	Senator Mucianus
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Chief Priest
Michael Elphick	...	Vettius
Alan Feinstein	...	Aaron
Clive Francis	...	Attius, Head Tribune and Vespasian's spy
Patrick Gorman	...	Tribune
David Hooks	...	Kophar
Ken Hutchison	...	Fronto
George Innes	...	Titus (as George Peter Innes)
Alex Karras	...	Roman Soldier
David Mauro	...	Epos, Silva's servant
Kevin McNally	...	Norbanus
Derek Newark	...	Engineering Officer
David Opatoshu	...	Shimon
Alexander Peleg	...	Zidon (as Alex Peleg)
John Phillips	...	Centurion
Richard Pierson	...	Ephraim
Denis Quilley	...	General Marcus Quadratus
Norman Rossington	...	Maro
Joe Sagal	...	Seth (as Joey Sagal)
Michael Schneider	...	Surgeon
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Sergeant (as Morgan Sheppard)
Michael Shillo	...	Ezra
Paul L. Smith	...	Gideon
Ray Smith	...	Lentius - Would-Be Assassin
Anthony Valentine	...	Merovius, Head Tribune
Jack Watson	...	Decurion
Diana Webster	...	Quintilia
Timothy West	...	Emperor Vespasian
Joseph Wiseman	...	Jerahmeel, Head Essene

Also Known As:

"The Antagonists" (UK)

Runtime:

394 min | Argentina:131 min | Finland:122 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (cut) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Masada, Judean Desert, Israel

Company:

Arnon Milchan Productions

Trivia:

In order to avoid the heat of the Israeli desert, the crew employed a unique shooting schedule: they divided the day into three eight-hour segments and only shot either late at night or early in the morning. They avoided shooting between late morning and late afternoon, the hottest part of the day.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At approximately 23 minutes in, we get a close-up of an obvious modern fiberglass bow covered in what appears to be black electrical tape.

Quotes:

Senator Pomponius Falco: [arriving in camp during the heat of day] So much for atheism! There is a Hell! This is it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dead End (1985)

Magnificent Spectacle

Masada is amazing, in part, because it is a true story and also because it is truly a fascinating drama. Originally filmed as a mini-series, at 6 plus hours, it has been released in short (movie length) form but don't bother with that edition. Even though it (the six hour video set) is quite long, not one minute will bore you. It is a story of the military...in a battle of wits against (Jewish) patriots. The cast is superb, with Americans playing the Jews and British actors as the Romans. The lowly soldiers speaking in "middle class" dialect while the officers sound more aristocratic...a really nice touch. Peter O'Toole has never been better in his role as Flavius Silva commander of the Roman regiment dispatched by Rome to capture the Jews holding out at Masada...a huge, almost impregnable mountain fortress. Anthony Quayle and David Warner also do some of their best work ever. Peter Straus as Eleazar, leader of the Jews is passionate in his convictions and the rest of the cast shines also. The mind games they utilize on each other are fascinating and make for engrossing drama. It is truly one of the best mini-series, or historical epics ever put to film. The newly released 4 video set consists of 90 mins. per video so one can enjoy Masada over four evenings. Note: As of 2007 it is now available on DVD. The viewer will feel it is time well spent.