Barabbas

Starring:Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Katy Jurado, Harry Andrews, Vittorio Gassman, Jack Palance, Ernest Borgnine, Norman Wooland, Valentina Cortese, David Maunsell, Robert Gardett, HonorÃ© Singer, Douglas Fowley, George Birt, Antonio Segurini, Nando Angelini, Carolyn De Fonseca, Paola Pitagora, Curt Lowens
Director: Richard Fleischer
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Starring Anthony Quinn in the title role, Barabbas was released in 1961 in the midst of a wave of widescreen epics based on biblical characters. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to Ben-Hur), is an unusually intelligent one. Further assets are the imaginative, sparingly orchestrated score by Mario Nascimbene and a handsome production design by art director Mario Chiari that is so rewarding to the eye in Aldo Tonti's often dazzling cinematography.

Amazon.com

Starring Anthony Quinn in the title role, Barabbas was released in 1961 in the midst of a wave of widescreen epics based on biblical characters. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to Ben-Hur), is an unusually intelligent one. Further assets are the imaginative, sparingly orchestrated score by Mario Nascimbene and a handsome production design by art director Mario Chiari that is so rewarding to the eye in Aldo Tonti's often dazzling cinematography.

Customer Reviews:

One Of The Best.......2007-02-23

This is one of the very best of Biblical epics ever made. The script is fantastic. It exposits man's continuing problems throughout the ages, using Barabbas as the example. Violence, hatred, lust, despair, guilt. All part of the human condition, all forever attached to life on Earth because we refuse to accept God. Barabbas, in this movie, is a man at war with others, himself, but mostly with God.

The movie continually draws the viewer in deeper to the depth of its storyline and characterizations as it unfolds. Viewing this movie has a soul-shaking effect. I believe the main reason for this is because it never becomes preachy. Viewers understand pain, it's part of all of us. Most of us also have hope, even if our hope can't be defined or fully understood. But when you marry pain with hope in the God/Man Jesus Christ, hope is crystallized and eternalized.

Anthony Quinn was amazing. He was given multiple scenes where lesser actors would have overacted and ruined Barabbas' characterization. But because he didn't, Barabbas became extremely real and relatable. Everyone was spot on. Jack Palance was at his fantastic creepy best.

Enjoy this movie and ask yourself some serious questions about the meaning of life, the reality of violence and hatred, and what hope is really about. Who it's about. Those life questions are best answered in the Christian Gospel.

Emotional tour de force.......2007-01-12

Anthony Quinn is outstanding as the man who's place is taken by Jesus at the cross. It is a brilliant tour de force for the gifted actor with unequalled pathos for the part he played. It is an intriguing question historically and theologically - what happened to Barrabbas the zealot? This movie provides us with an answer that is moving and dramatic and a perfect role for Mr. Quinn.

Don't expect depth of characterization... Fleisher's film lives only on its spectacle..........2006-12-18

Through Barabbas, complex themes of faith, spirituality, violence, peace, morality, human dignity and cruelty were examined in the guise of a Biblical epic directed by a competent filmmaker of action pictures... His film vividly captured the panoply of Rome, the stultifying sulfur mines, the savagery of the Roman arena, the gladiatorial sadism, Nero's fire in Rome, and the persecution of Christians...

Despite a lamentable weak script, the acting was often uncomfortable, but this didn't detract too much from the action...

Anthony Quinn made his best as the confused rebel in anguish; also Vittorio Gassman, as the brave prisoner who stood on his faith; Silvana Mangano, Barabbas' former lover who knew that Jesus was, for her, the true substitute; and Jack Palance, the cruel and sadistic gladiator...

PALANCE CREATES AN IMAGE !!.......2006-10-09

This movie is extraordinary as bible epics go! Really fine acting. The movie draws you in deeper and deeper as it moves along. One of the most fun things to watch is Jack Palance as he actually creates the despicable psychopathic character he used in so many wonderful films. That is until in later years he became the loveable one hand pushup cowboy!!! This is a must watch movie!!!

Lesser Known Biblical Epic With It's Own Unique Approach.......2006-03-14

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.

Average customer rating:

One Of The Best
Emotional tour de force
Don't expect depth of characterization... Fleisher's film lives only on its spectacle...
PALANCE CREATES AN IMAGE !!
Lesser Known Biblical Epic With It's Own Unique Approach

Barabbas [Region 2]
Starring: Anthony Quinn , Silvana Mangano , Arthur Kennedy , Katy Jurado , and Harry Andrews
Director: Richard Fleischer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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