Barabbas (1961 film): Difference between revisions

| screenplay = [[Christopher Fry]]{{efn|The screenplay includes uncredited contributions from [[Nigel Balchin]]<br, />[[Diego Fabbri]]<br, />[[ChristopherIvo FryPerilli]]<br />and [[Salvatore Quasimodo]].}}

| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Barabbas (novel)|Barabbas]]''<br>(1950 novel)|[[Pär Lagerkvist]]}}

| starring = [[Anthony Quinn]]<br />[[Arthur Kennedy (actor)|Arthur Kennedy]]<br />[[Jack Palance]]<br />[[Silvana Mangano]]<br />[[Harry Andrews]]<br />[[Ernest Borgnine]]<br>[[Katy Jurado]]<br>[[Vittorio Gassman]]

| editing = Alberto Gallitti<br />[[Raymond Poulton]]

| distributor = Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica (Italy)<br>[[Columbia Pictures]] (U.S.)

| released = {{Film date|1961|12|23|Italy|1962|10|10|United StatesU.S.}}

'''''Barabbas''''' ({{langx|it|'''Barabba'''}}<ref name=bfi/>) is a 1961 [[EpicList films#Religiousof epicsreligious films|religious]] [[epic film]] directed by [[Richard Fleischer]] for [[Dino De Laurentiis|Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica]], expanding on the careerlife of [[Barabbas]], from the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]] narrative in the ''[[Gospel of Mark]]'' and other gospels. TheIt film stars [[Anthony Quinn]] as Barabbas, features [[Silvana Mangano]], [[Katy Jurado]], [[Arthur Kennedy (actor)|Arthur Kennedy]], [[Harry Andrews]], [[Ernest Borgnine]], [[Vittorio Gassman]], and [[Jack Palance]], and was distributed by [[Columbia Pictures]]. ItThe wasscreenplay conceived as a grand Roman epic, wasis based on [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize]]-winningwinner [[Pär Lagerkvist]]'s [[1950 in literature|1950]] novel [[Barabbas (novel)|of the same title]]. A [[Barabbas (1953 film)|previous film version]] of the novel, in [[Swedish language|Swedish]], had been made in 1953.

The film was directedshot byin [[Richard FleischerVerona]] and shot in Verona and Rome under the supervision of producer [[Dino De LaurentiisRome]]. It included many spectacularhighly acclaimed scenes, including a battle of gladiators in a [[Cinecittà]] film studio mock-up of the arena[[Colosseum]], and a crucifixion shot during an actual total [[Solar eclipse of February 15, 1961|solar eclipse]]. It was released in Italy on December 23, 1961, and in the United States by [[Columbia Pictures]] on October 10, 1962. In Italy, the film was nominated for three [[Nastro d'Argento|Nastro d'Argento Awards]] (Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design).

[[Pontius Pilate]] offers to release either [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]] or Barabbas, in keeping with the [[Passover]] custom. The crowd gathered for the pardoning chooses Barabbas, and Jesus is condemned to [[crucifixion]], while Barabbas is set free. Returning to his friends, Barabbas asks for his lover, Rachel. His friends inform him that Rachel has become a follower of [[Christ]]. Rachel soon returns, but she is not happy to see Barabbas, and they tussle physically.

Barabbas witnesses the crucifixion of Jesus. As Jesus dies, the sky turns black, and Barabbas is shaken. He watches Christ's body sealed in the tomb. On the third morning, Barabbas finds the tomb open. Rachel tells him that Christ has risen, but Barabbas says it's is an illusion, or that Hishis followers have stolen the body. He visits the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]]; they do not know where Hehe is, but also believe Hehe is risen.

Barabbas survives this hellish existence for the next twenty years. He is chained to Sahak, a [[Christians|Christian]] sailor who was sent to the mines for allowing slaves to escape. Sahak at first hates Barabbas for being pardoned instead of "the Master", but the two men eventually become friends. Over time, Sahak becomes too weak to work. As the guards are about to kill him, the mine is destroyed in an earthquake, andwith Sahak and Barabbas are the only survivors. Julia, the superstitious wife of the local prefect, considers them blessed. The prefect is due to leave for Rome, having been appointed to the Senate. Julia insists that Barabbas and Sahak accompany him for good luck.

Once in Rome, the men are trained to become [[gladiator]]s by Torvald, the top gladiator in Rome. After a gladiatorial event, Sahak is overheard sharing his faith with other gladiators, and is condemned to death for [[Law of majestas|treason]]. When a firing squad deliberately miss throwing their thrown spears, Torvald executes Sahak. The next day, Torvald and Barabbas battle in the arena. Barabbas wins, killing Torvald and impressing Emperor [[Nero]], who sets him free. Barabbas takes Sahak's corpse to the [[Catacombs of Rome|catacombs]], where the local Christians are worshiping. They give him a proper burial.

Barabbas becomes lost in the catacombs. When he eventually emerges, [[Great Fire of Rome|Rome is on fire]]. Barabbas is told that the Christians started the fire. Believing that the end of the world has come (as Rachel and Sahak had taught), Barabbas sets fire to more buildings. He is confronted by Roman soldiers and tells them that he is a follower of Christ. He is imprisoned with several other Christians, among them the apostle [[Saint Peter|Peter]]. Peter admonishes Barabbas for committing arson, informing him that Christians would not do such a thing. Afterwards, the Christians are executed by mass crucifixion in the [[Persecution of Christians#Persecution under Nero, 64–68 AD|persecutions]] that follow the fire. ThroughoutHaving finally placed his lifefaith in Christ, Barabbas wasis saidcrucified to bewith the manothers, whothough couldhis notlast die.words Havingare, finally"Darkness... placedI hisgive faithmyself inup Christ,into hisyour bodykeeping... breathesIt itsis lastBarabbas".

* [[Arnoldo Foà|Arnoldo Foa']] as [[Joseph of Arimathea]]

The [[Film score|music score]] by [[Mario Nascimbene]], which was conducted by [[Franco Ferrara]], the noted conductor and lecturer on conducting at several famous international academies, was noted for its unusual, stark experimental component&nbsp;&ndash; the composer referred to his work, which included the introduction of electronic sounds achieved by the manipulation of tape speeds, as "new sounds". The main theme was based on the ''"[[Kyrie]]"'' from ''Orbis Factor'', the "[[Ordinary_(liturgy)Kyriale|llthOrbis MassFactor:Missa XI]]"'' andwhich is also a part of the Roman Catholic [[KyrialeOrdinary (liturgy)|Ordinary]]. The depiction of the [[crucifixion]] was filmed on 15 February 1961 during an actual [[Solar eclipse of February 15, 1961|total eclipse of the sun]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Elley |first1=Derek |title=The Epic Film: Myth and History |year=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |isbn=9781317928874 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g1RJAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA94}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hughes|first=Howard|title=Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult|publisher=I.B. Tauris|year=2011|isbn=9781848856080 |location=London |page=72|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C5_3AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA72|chapter=Sword and Sandal Spectacles}}</ref>

* '''Nominee''' Best Color Cinematography - [[Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists]] ([[Aldo Tonti]])

* '''Nominee''' Best Costume Design - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists ([[Maria De Matteis]])

* '''Nominee''' Best Production Design - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists ([[Mario Chiari]])

* '''Selected''' Top Foreign Films of the Year - [[National Board of Review]]

* {{tcmdbTCMDb title|68101|Barabbas}}

* {{allroviallMovie movietitle|3903|Barabbas}}

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