"Masada" (1981) TV mini-series 1981-

Seasons:

1

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 / ... (4 episodes, 1981)
Peter Strauss	...	Eleazar ben Yair (4 episodes, 1981)
Barbara Carrera	...	Sheva (4 episodes, 1981)
Alan Feinstein	...	Aaron (4 episodes, 1981)
Giulia Pagano	...	Miriam (4 episodes, 1981)
Anthony Quayle	...	Rubrius Gallus (4 episodes, 1981)
Paul L. Smith	...	Gideon (4 episodes, 1981)
David Warner	...	Falco (4 episodes, 1981)
Clive Francis	...	Attius, Head Tribune (4 episodes, 1981)
David Opatoshu	...	Shimon (4 episodes, 1981)
Richard Pierson	...	Ephraim (4 episodes, 1981)
Joseph Wiseman	...	Jerahmeel, Head Essene (4 episodes, 1981)
David A. Block	...	Reuben (4 episodes, 1981)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Chief Priest (4 episodes, 1981)
David Mauro	...	Epos (4 episodes, 1981)
Alexander Peleg	...	Zidon (4 episodes, 1981)
Joey Sagal	...	Seth (4 episodes, 1981)
Michael Shillo	...	Ezra (4 episodes, 1981)
Christopher Biggins	...	Albinus (3 episodes, 1981)
Heinz Bernard	...	Elder (3 episodes, 1981)
Warren Clarke	...	Plinius (3 episodes, 1981)
Ken Hutchison	...	Fronto (3 episodes, 1981)
Reuven Bar-Yotam	...	Butcher (3 episodes, 1981)
Denis Quilley	...	Gen. Marcus Quadratus / ... (2 episodes, 1981)
Anthony Valentine	...	Merovius, Head Tribune (2 episodes, 1981)
Jack Watson	...	Decurion (2 episodes, 1981)
Derek Newark	...	Engineering Officer (2 episodes, 1981)
Michael Elphick	...	Vettius (2 episodes, 1981)
Nick Brimble	...	Milades (2 episodes, 1981)
Michael Schneider	...	Surgeon (2 episodes, 1981)
Richard Basehart	...	Narrator, Modern Day Scene (2 episodes, 1981)

Series Directed by
Boris Sagal		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Writing credits
Ernest K. Gann		(4 episodes, 1981)
Joel Oliansky		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Produced by
George Eckstein	....	producer (4 episodes, 1981)
Arnon Milchan	....	supervising producer: Israel (4 episodes, 1981)
Richard Irving	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Jennings Lang	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith		(2 episodes, 1981)
Morton Stevens		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Cinematography by
Paul Lohmann		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Film Editing by
Edwin F. England		(4 episodes, 1981)
Peter Kirby		(4 episodes, 1981)
Robert L. Kimble		(unknown episodes)
Ron Rutberg		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(4 episodes, 1981)
Mark Malis		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Design by
Jack Senter		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Art Direction by
George Renne		(4 episodes, 1981)
Kuli Sander		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Set Decoration by
Edward M. Parker		(4 episodes, 1981)
Joseph J. Stone		(4 episodes, 1981)
Ladislav Wilheim		(unknown episodes, 1981)

Series Costume Design by
Vittorio Nino Novarese		(4 episodes, 1981)

Series Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1981)
Terri Cannon	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1981)
Irene De'Atley	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1981)
Albert Jeyte	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1981)
Chris Taylor	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Management
Ben Bishop	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1981)
Richard Irving	....	executive in charge of production (4 episodes, 1981)
Robert G. Stone	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1981)
Rony Yacov	....	production manager: Israel (4 episodes, 1981)
Edward D. Markley	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Gardner	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1981)
Dov Maoz	....	assistant director: Israel (4 episodes, 1981)
Mark R. Schilz	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1981)
Forrest L. Futrell	....	trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)
Shemi	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Leo Zisman	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Roy Barnes	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
James Passanante	....	painter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James R. Alexander	....	sound (4 episodes, 1981)
Brian Marshall	....	sound (4 episodes, 1981)
Kendrick Sweet	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 1981)
Barney Cabral	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Kevin Pike	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Bill Taylor	....	matte photography (4 episodes, 1981)
Albert Whitlock	....	special visual effects (4 episodes, 1981)
Syd Dutton	....	matte painter (unknown episodes)
Henry Schoessler	....	visual effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jack Tyree	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth J. Withers	....	camera operator: second unit (4 episodes, 1981)
Nimi Getter	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alex D'Alessio	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1981)
Eddie Marks	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1981)
Lambert Marks	....	costume supervisor (4 episodes, 1981)
Jerry Herrin	....	set costumer: USA (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
John Bloom	....	editorial consultant (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Music Department
Robert Mayer	....	music editor (4 episodes, 1981)
Jerry Goldsmith	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 1981)

Series Transportation Department
Michael Hartman	....	transportation manager (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Danny Ben Menahem	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1981)
Marge Champion	....	dialogue coach (4 episodes, 1981)
Claude Hudson	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1981)
Ian Lewis	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1981)
Vittorio Nino Novarese	....	technical advisor (4 episodes, 1981)
Alan J. Lam	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
William Sackheim	....	acknowledgment (4 episodes, 1981)

Production Companies

• Arnon Milchan Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1981) (USA) (TV)
• MCA Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Koch Vision (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• NBC Universal (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (2011) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Polyband (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Studios USA Television

Also Known As:

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:

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

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:

Continuity: In one scene General Silva is having a conversation with Eleazar ben Yair. One of the men's chain around is neck is stuck around a pin on his body armor in one camera view, but not in a different view.

Quotes:

Cornelius Flavius Silva:[to Gallus] We must face the truth. We laid out this camp for the prosecution of a siege. We didn't expect them to come visiting at all hours. We expected them to be stubborn, and they've turned out to be clever. I hate cleverness! It's the soldier in me, but we could use a little bit of it ourselves at the moment.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 33rd Annual Emmy Awards (1981) (TV)

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.