In the Beginning (2000) (TV)

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writer (WGA):

John Goldsmith (written by)

Release Date:

12 November 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

From creation to the commandments, Man's greatest journey starts here.

Plot:

Biblical tales from the books of Genesis and Exodus, including the stories of Abraham's devotion and Joseph's betrayal. |

Plot Keywords:

Two Part TV Movie

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Martin Landau	...	Abraham
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Sarah
Bill Campbell	...	Moses
Eddie Cibrian	...	Joseph
Fred Weller	...	Jacob (as Frederick Weller)
Alan Bates	...	Jethro
Steven Berkoff	...	Potiphar
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Yocheved
Amanda Donohoe	...	Zuleika
Christopher Lee	...	Rameses I
Art Malik	...	Rameses II
Rachael Stirling	...	Young Rebeccah
Diana Rigg	...	Mature Rebeccah
Victor Spinetti	...	Happatezoah, Pharaoh's Magician
David Threlfall	...	Aaron

Runtime:

USA:189 min | Argentina:189 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Netherlands:6 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

HCC Happy Crew Company

Movie Connections:

Follows Noah's Ark (1999) (TV)

Wonderful, if overlong, Hallmark miniseries.

My Take: An all-star cast and a few glorious visuals make a rather interesting TV movie.

Martin Landau as Abraham? Jacqueline Bisset as his wife Sarah? Christopher Lee in gratuitous cameo as Rameses I? Only TV's Hallmark Entertainment could make this possible. The producer back at Hallmark who might nearly have enough money to make a macho Hollywood blockbuster spend it yet again on a another 3-hour two-part miniseries meant to set ratings on fire. Well not really, but they do come up with a rather interesting and marginally entertaining TV special with an agreeable cast and a modest budget. The movie is basically a 3-hour long adaptation of the most important events of the Old Testament. From Adam and Eve (with cut-for-TV nudity), Abraham and how he became "the Father of All Nations", Joesph and his multicolored dreamcoat and the grand story of Moses and the Exodus, the movie has it all and has time to spare. It's a bit long when watched on DVD rather than the two-part miniseries on TV, but it's an adequate and actually well-crafted effort. Just don't expect it to be anything grand ala Cecil B. Demille, or at least something that would make a cinch to get ratings.

Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.