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Masada

  • TV Mini Series
  • 19811981
  • 6h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss in Masada (1981)
Masada
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
16 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • History

After the destruction of the Second Temple, nine hundred Jewish zealots hold out against a five thousand man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.After the destruction of the Second Temple, nine hundred Jewish zealots hold out against a five thousand man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.After the destruction of the Second Temple, nine hundred Jewish zealots hold out against a five thousand man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Peter Strauss
    • Barbara Carrera
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Peter Strauss
    • Barbara Carrera
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 3 wins & 15 nominations total

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1981

    Videos1

    Masada
    Trailer 2:00
    Masada

    Photos16

    Masada (1981)
    Masada (1981)
    Masada (1981)
    Masada (1981)
    Masada (1981)
    Peter Strauss in Masada (1981)
    Barbara Carrera and Peter O'Toole in Masada (1981)
    Barbara Carrera and Peter O'Toole in Masada (1981)
    Barbara Carrera in Masada (1981)
    Barbara Carrera and Peter O'Toole in Masada (1981)
    Peter O'Toole in Masada (1981)
    Patrick Gorman in Masada (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • General Cornelius Flavius Silvaas General Cornelius Flavius Silva
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Peter Strauss
    Peter Strauss
    • Eleazar ben Yairas Eleazar ben Yair
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Barbara Carrera
    Barbara Carrera
    • Shevaas Sheva
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Alan Feinstein
    Alan Feinstein
    • Aaronas Aaron
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Giulia Pagano
    • Miriamas Miriam
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Anthony Quayle
    Anthony Quayle
    • Rubrius Gallusas Rubrius Gallus
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Paul L. Smith
    Paul L. Smith
    • Gideonas Gideon
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    David Warner
    David Warner
    • Senator Pomponius Falcoas Senator Pomponius Falco…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Clive Francis
    Clive Francis
    • Attius, Head Tribuneas Attius, Head Tribune
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    David Opatoshu
    David Opatoshu
    • Shimonas Shimon
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Richard Pierson
    • Ephraimas Ephraim
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Joseph Wiseman
    Joseph Wiseman
    • Jerahmeel, Head Esseneas Jerahmeel, Head Essene
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    David A. Block
    • Reubenas Reuben
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    • Chief Priestas Chief Priest
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    David Mauro
    • Eposas Epos
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Alexander Peleg
    Alexander Peleg
    • Zidonas Zidon
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Joey Sagal
    Joey Sagal
    • Sethas Seth
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    Michael Shillo
    • Ezraas Ezra
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Flavius Silva, commander in Roman Judea, wants to reach a reasonable compromise with the Jewish Zealots and withdraw his legion. Events and personalities in Rome, however, lead to his besieging the fortress of Masada. There the engineering genius of the Romans must fight both the harsh climate and landscape, and the passion and ingenuity of Eleazar Ben Yair and his people. —Cleo <frede005@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
    • roman deity
    • sword and sandal history
    • roman
    • masada
    • zealot
    • 34 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • History
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the lengthy location filming, Peter O'Toole was the only cast member who didn't fall ill. This was due to the fact that these were similar locations to Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and he knew how punishing and gruelling the region could be.
    • Goofs
      During the scene in which the Jews are ascending the trail up to the summit of Masada, a vehicle the size of a bus can clearly be seen travelling on a road in the background
    • Quotes

      Cornelius Flavius Silva: A victory? What have we won? We've won a rock in the middle of a wasteland, on the shores of a poisoned sea.

    • Alternate versions
      An extremely edited, two-hour version was released on video c. 1982.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    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.
    helpful•46
    5
    • Gunn
    • Dec 1, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Antagonists
    • Filming locations
      • Masada, Judean Desert, Israel
    • Production companies
      • Arnon Milchan Productions
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      6 hours 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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