Customer Reviews

Barabbas

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not your father's uplifting wishy-washy Biblical epic. This is a violent, dark, and sometimes depressing story that is quite a change from many religious films.

Based on a novel, this film imagines what happened to Barabbas after he was chosen over Jesus to be released before crucifixion. Anthony Quinn is a perfect choice as the unrepentant thief who goes back to the world he knows- crime and carousing. His favorite prostitute Rachel, however, has become a Christian and is later stoned for it. Barabbas is not just an observer, he sees Jesus go to the crucifixion, and later finds Rachel at the open grave. Barabbas goes back to his old gang of thieves, murders the new leaders, and they rob some Jewish clerics. Caught, he is sent to the sulfur mines for life, where he meets Christian Sahak, played by Vittorio Gassman. Sahak knows Barabbas' name and reputation, and attacks him. They eventually become friends, since they are shackled together in the pit. Barabbas survives in the mine for twenty years, refusing to die. He is tormented by the memory of his near death years before, and he sees the sacrifice Jesus made not just for him, but for all of us.

Barabbas and Sahak survive a cave-in at the mine, and are taken to Rome as good luck charms by a newly appointed senator's wife. They are recruited to fight in the coliseum, ruled by a maniacal gladiator played by a very young Jack Palance. The duo also make contact with a Christian servant, Ernest Borgnine in a small but good role. Eventually, Sahak dies for his beliefs at the hands of Palance, and Barabbas has his bloody revenge on the field. Granted his freedom, Barabbas takes Sahak's body to a group of Christians, who reject Barabbas' half hearted attempts at Christianity. Barabbas misunderstands God's word and helps in the torching of Rome, eventually ending up a martyr himself.

Just under two and a half hours, there are a few slow spots. The cast is excellent, however, and Fleischer does an impressive job with a cast of thousands. No CGI to rely on here, Fleischer uses his assorted set pieces to their fullest extent without trying to fix or better anything in editing. What is left are a series of scenes that can stand on their own as highlights in early 1960's film making, when the cinema was hotly competing with television to win viewers back. The stoning of Rachel, the sulfur mine collapse, the burning of Rome: all are unforgettable scenes.

Two stretches of the film are very memorable. First, an extended sequence between Palance and Quinn fighting in the coliseum. There is no dialogue, just brutal violence and action. Another scene is the final tracking shot of dozens of crucified Christians, including the now ironic Barabbas. This shot sent chills down my spine.

This film is very dark and very different. Barabbas is a man torn between his heathen upbringing, and what he knows is right through what he has witnessed in Jerusalem and Rome, no matter how much he denies what he has seen.

Produced by Dino DeLaurentiis in Italy, this film has a European feel that makes it different and lends a certain credibility to the proceedings. The Oscar heavy cast does not fall victim to any preachy speeches or effects laden miracles, these are seemingly ordinary people caught up in tumultuous times. I highly recommend "Barabbas" to any film fan, especially those who think "Gladiator" is the only decent sword and sandals epic out there.

Although not rated, this does contain strong physical violence, some sexual violence, gore, and some adult situations.

I've often wished for a widescreen edition of Barabbas and now here it is. I became excited several months ago when I saw this edition was to be relased on DVD. So here I am on March 5th ordering my copy. I own the VHS version which distracts from the excellent photogarphy. There are some important things to know about the production of this film: the crucifixion sequece was filmed during an actual eclipse, a one shot scene. The sets were constructed three dimnesional so the streets of Jerusalem and Rome appear real. Anthony Quinn was a perfect choice for Barabbas. If you've read the book this film will provide a quality visual to the fine, simple telling of a man's life, the man who was spared crucifixion and free'd instead of our Lord. Also if you've read the book you'll know what Barabbas is thinking most of the time. Quinn is excellent, his eyes ever roaming in thought of survival. This is a big movie shot in a down to earth realistic way. A fine study in seeking truth, arriving on it's doorstep only to turn away. Because of the book, when Baabbas is helping set fire to Rome, I am aware of how truly emotional this last scene in the film is. (I hope am not giving anything way in the film). Barabbas finally makes an open commitment, acting out on a belief system that he's denied since Christ's crucifixion, only to discover in the end it was Nero who set fire to Rome and not the Christians. It's really all there. The muscal score is unsual and unique. I have the old mono 33 1/2 rpm version which gives musical examples at the end of how Mario Nascimbene wrote and orchastrated the incedibe score. Sadly enough this old recording is far supeior to the new CD issue which edited cuts and left out the 5 minute + prologue. I rate this movie 5 stars. If you like the old spectaculars this one is unique and should be in your library.

One always wonders what might have happened to both Barabbas and Pontius Pilate, and this is a fanciful tale about the fate of the man who was chosen to live, based on the novel by Par Lagerkvist (winner of a Nobel prize for Literature in 1951).
The scourging and crucifixion are shown, but mostly, Jesus is seen through His followers, and the faith that endures in them throughout the film. A solar eclipse apparently happened during the filming, and it is the backdrop for the darkened sky at the crucifixion, used to great effect.

Anthony Quinn is perfect as Barabbas, and heads a fine international cast, with Silvana Mangano as his former girlfriend who has become a follower of Jesus, Arthur Kennedy as Pontius Pilate, Harry Andrews as Peter, Valentina Cortese as the wife of a high-ranking Roman, Ernest Borgnine as a Christian in Rome, and Katy Jurado (at the time Mrs. Borgnine) as one of the raunchy women in Barabbas' Jerusalem gang.
Two of the best performances come from Jack Palance as a sadistic gladiator, and especially, Vittorio Gassman as a young Christian who shares the latter part of Barabbas' life.
Richard Fleischer keeps the pacing so that the dark nature of the story doesn't get too gloomy, and the film is also helped by Mario Nascimbene's score, and Aldo Tonti's Technicolor cinematography.

The script has some inspirational touches, and the scenes I found fascinating were the ones in the "school of gladiators", where the physical feats are astounding, and the arena itself, especially at the conclusion when Jack Palance makes his entrance in a chariot.
Interesting as both an historical supposition, and an interpretation of that era of Roman rule, as well as for its excellent acting, this is probably the grimmest of the big sword and sandal religious epics of its era, but well worth watching. The DVD extra is the theatrical trailer, and total running time is 137 minutes.

After years of waiting, finally there is a widescreen version of this great movie (which is the ony way to see these widescreen epics and the only way to do them justice). So much for the good news. Unfortunately, Barabbas hasn't been granted the same deluxe treatment of other equally deserving epics of the 50's and 60's. I mean going to huge epic movies back then was quite an experience not unlike going to the Opera and you got treated to an introductory musical Overture, an Intermission with Entre'act music and sometimes even Exit music. In line with this treatment for other epics (now restored on Laser Disc/DVD versions), Barabbas was no exception. It originally included a Bolero-like overture of Mario Nascimbene's main theme, an Intermission at the end of the Mines sequence (you can see the abrupt cut into the next scene at the fields where the intermission has been deleted from the all versions of the movie currently available), and an Intermezzo (on the theme for the arrival to Rome)previous to the continuation of the second part of the movie. Until Mario Nascimbene's innovative score is restored, we should still wait for a definitive restored version of Barabbas. The Circus scenes are probably the best ever filmed, and are up there with similar sequences of Ben-Hur and Gladiator. (Spartacus is a great movie but does not include Circus action). I hope some day we get the Deluxe verson of this great epic.

This is a fine character study and classic portrayal by Anthony Quinn from the Pulitzer Prize winning novellete. What sets this one apart from the other Biblical films of the 50's and early 60's is its lack of "epic" proportions; that is, there are not the usual 50 familiar faces playing a variety of supporting roles. You've got Quinn as the principle, Arthur Kennedy as Pilate (brief), Ernie Borginine (brief), Jack Palance in another evil turn, and filled out by mostly fine Italian character actors. As a Christian, I'm always amazed at how this film reaches me on a spiritual level with each viewing; The soundtrack is innovative and quite extraordinary. A definite thumbs up.

Anthony Quinn gives a good, tortured portrayal in this speculative movie of what happened to Barabbas after the death of Jesus. Although a bit slow in places, the film manages to keep the viewer interested in what will become of this poor character. One fact about the film that a lot of people do not know is that the sequence featuring Christ's crucifiction was shot during a REAL solar eclipse. This lends an eerie and divine backdrop to the crucifiction and sets the mood for Barabbas' journey to his ultimate destiny.

This is a great fictional film of inspiration about a biblical character that truly little is known. Anthony Quinn gives a restrained performance. He seems to totally misunderstand the meaning of his vast experiences but his good natured spirit seems to guarantee his spiritual salvation. This film demonstrates man's ability for infinite cruelty toward his own species. Quinn's performance gives witness to all these events of horror through the eyes and mind of a child yet he understands the true meaning of right and wrong. Ultimately in the end, Quinn must pay for his worldly transgressions. This is a rare and thought provoking film.

I've seen just about all of the Biblical epics, but this one has always been my favorite because of the deeper character development. Except for the beginning of the movie, where Barabbas has been released instead of Jesus, the story is completely speculative. But the journey the story takes is quite moving and unpredictable and thought-provoking. It's probably the only older Biblical movie that actually touches upon the struggle for faith in Christ and the consequences of advertising that faith in a society that outlaws it. Barabbas is a man in anguish, full of guilt and indecision, but tries hard to repress his emotions and his humanity when he's imprisoned and enslaved in a mine for many years. When he's partnered later with another slave, this time a devout Christian, Barabbas resents and then envies this other man's joy in the face of hardship. Is life nothing but hard work and then death, with nothing to look forward to? Nothing to sustain you? Just a bleak end? It's the sort of questions Barabbas faces, even when trying to remain detached. He's a simple man throughout the movie, almost stupid and barbaric, but you can see that deep down he's trying to be a good man. Trying! So, compared to other Biblical movies, this one really touches upon what it means to be human, what it means to have faith, rather than dealing with cardboard cutout characters and flashy special effects. Not to say that the movie is lacking spectacle. The sets are wonderful and massive, and the gladiator fights are huge and violent. As you watch the crowds moving and cheering in the background, you can't help but think: Everyone is real back there. No CGI, no computer manufactured people. It's amazing how they were able to make such large sets and fill them with so many people.

As for the DVD itself, it's beautifully transfered and in its original widescreen aspect ratio. Very sharp and clear, one of the best looking DVDs I own. No special features, which is only a slight disappointment. After all, this has been a favorite movie of mine for years, so I was cautiously celebrating when I haerd the DVD was going to be released. "Cautiously" only because I worried they might cut corners and release a cheap looking DVD. But I was pleasantly surprised that it looks better than I expected.

Bottom line: If you want depth with your spectacle, this is the best choice. And the DVD quality is superb! 'Nuff said.

This would have to rate as one of the better Biblical epics, especially once one gets past the rather slow beginning. My only complaint at all would be with the DVD. This isn't to say that the movie was transferred poorly, but rather that the source film had seen its better days. While NOT riddled with dirt or grain, there are portions of the film which appear extremely washed out or faded...rather like a picture that has been sitting in the sun too long. It is not a consistent problem, as some scenes look spectacular.

Overall, I'd say Columbia needs to do a little restoration and re-release this film. However, given it's rather obscure status, I'm doubting this will ever be done. So get this one, and enjoy.

In among the glut of biblical epics from the late 1950's and early 1960's the Dino De Laurentiis production of "Barabbas", is undoubtedly one of the least well known of this particular genre that proved so popular at this time. Indeed it can be assumed that it basically got lost in among all the hype surrounding such super productions of the same period as "Ben Hur", and "Cleopatra". "Barabbas", enjoyed regular screenings during the Easter period while I was growing up but what always struck me about this particular epic was the very unique and darker slant it took on its religious storytelling compared to such films as "The Robe" etc. History and the bible in fact gives little information about the thief and con man Barabbas who was spared crucifixtion in place of Jesus Christ however writer Christopher Fry has weaved a fascinating fictional story full of intelligent dialogue and believable characters in his telling of the life of Barabbas in the years after he was spared execution on the cross by the last minute replacement of Jesus. Not your typically pious or colourful religious epic "Barabbas", takes a very non sentimental slant in its storytelling that makes it a standout among the other similiar efforts of this golden period of the biblical film.

The fictional story created around the real-life Barabbas begins with the well known New Testament story of Pontious Pilate asking the mob who they wish to see executed; the loutish thief and murderer Barabbas, or a young Nazarene called Jesus who it is claimed is spreading rebellion among the cities residents. The crowd calls for the crucifixion of Jesus and so Barabbas is set free. He witnesses the quiet dignity of Jesus dying on the cross on Calvary however he soon goes back to his old drunken and debauched ways. Barabbas soon discovers the wide following that Jesus had when his former love Rachel is revealed as one of his followers and is stoned by the local authorities. He however still refuses to mend his ways and returns to his thieving however he is arrested again when he and his band of murderers attack a group of Jewish Clerics and he is sentenced to a lifetime of servittude in the ghastly sulfur mines which is a death sentence in itself. Many years pass and Barabbas finds himself shackled with a young upright christian by the name of Sahak (Vittorio Gassman), who he first despises but then grows to admire. After a serious cave at the mine the two men are conscripted for land clearing duties together where they catch the eye of the wife of a Roman Senator and the two become her good luck charms and are taken to Rome to be trained as Gladiators. Barabbas runs a foul of the gladiator school's resident champion Torvald (Jack Palance), and after Sahak is executed for his beliefs by Torvald's own hands Barabbas swears to revenge his friend and gets his opportunity when he comes face to face with his old nemesis during the games before the Emperor in the arena. Barabbas out smarts Torvald in their deadly competition and manages to kill him and he is rewarded with his freedom however when he retrieves Sahak's hastily buried body and takes it to the catacombs for a decent christian burial he is rejected by the other followers who do not believe in his sincerity and blame him for Sahak's death. Furious, Barabbas emerges from the catacombs just as the great fire of Rome begins to break out and the out cry is that the christians are responsible for it. In his rage he then assists in spreading the fire to other buildings and is arrested by the authorities who put him on trial. Accused of being responsible for the fire and for being a christian Barabbas is condemmed to death but in prison he again encounters the calming presenses of Peter (Harry Andrews) who sets him on his course of inner peace and salvation. This in turn gives him the strength to endure the eventual crucifixion he now faces which he avoided all those years earlier when Jesus took his place on the cross.

Playing the title role of the drunken thief who only finds salvation at his own crucifixion years after he escaped death in place of Jesus, Anthony Quinn has the perfect role as Barabbas and makes the most of creating a realistic character who has been a rogue and a con man all his life. He brings a starkly realistic persona to the title character, free of the usual biblical sentiment or pious regret for his life long misdeeds. It is a masterful piece of acting that should have received more attention from the critics of the time than it did. Quinn's large, rough physique, and deep gravely voice also seem perfect casting for the largely unlikeable character of Barabbas and help make him a memorable addition to 1960's historical characters (of course largely fictionalised here) on screen. While the film naturally focuses on the Barabbas character many of the supporting cast get to shine in their respective roles as well. The big standout for me was the usually bland Jack Palance as Torvald the champion gladiator who holds a grudge against Barabbas and the almost crazed playing by Palance especially in the scene depicting the two men's big show down in the arena where they must fight to the death is one of the film's absolute highlights. It was interesting how in this not traditional biblical epic that some of the casting also took a decidely non traditional turn in displaying some veteran performers in roles outside their usual "type". Ernest Borgnine as Lucius, the sympathetic worker at the gladiator school and Vittorio Gassman as the Christian Sahak who succeeds in changing Barabbas' life by sacrificing his own deliver most interesting work which is at variance with the types of characters these two gifted actors normally took on screen. Arthur Kennedy as Pontius Pilate, Harry Andrews as Peter, and Katy Jurade as Rachel fill out fairly traditonal characters from the bible that nevertheless have important places in this story. Visually "Barabbas", is one of the more interesting epics from this period with superb cinematography courtesy of the gifted Aldo Tonti who creates vivid landscapes for the scenes in the grimy sulfur mines, and in the brutal games to the death in the arena. The two crucifixion scenes at both the beginning and end of the film are however his master work as he blends design and colour like old master paintings to great effect. The recreation of the period flavour around the period of Jesus' crucifixion by master art director Mario Chiari are also second to none and one of the strong points of "Barabbas", and his work doesn't shy away from depicting the squalor and deprivation of the cities and their inhabitants at this time.

While I personally love all of the great epics produced in the 1950's and 60's, this particular film has a distinct feel to it that makes it a standout among your standard Hollywood epics. In a way I often feel "Barabbas", really makes a serious attempt to show the life and personalities of the time as they possibly were. Anthony Quinn was ideal for Barabbas, being not your typical Hollywood hero type like Richard Burton or Charlton Heston and that in itself really works for both the character and the whole mood of this piece of filmmaking. Not well known in the "epic stable", of cinema classics from this period "Barabbas", is well worth viewing for it's performances, and for it's gritty look at the truly harsh life existing in the time of Christ. Highly recommended to all historical drama lovers.