Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1973)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

David Greene (screenplay) and
John-Michael Tebelak (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 August 1973 (Denmark)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

Godspell comes to the screen !

Plot:

An adaption of the musical, in a modern-day song-and-dance recreation of the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Religion | Brooklyn Bridge | Hippie | Reference To Mae West

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Victor Garber	...	Jesus
Katie Hanley	...	Katie
David Haskell	...	John / Judas
Merrell Jackson	...	Merrell
Joanne Jonas	...	Joanne
Robin Lamont	...	Robin
Gilmer McCormick	...	Gilmer
Jeffrey Mylett	...	Jeffrey
Jerry Sroka	...	Jerry
Lynne Thigpen	...	Lynne
Daniel Levans	...	Un-named ballet rehearsal dancer (uncredited)
Joe Madden	...	Homeless man (uncredited)
Burt Richards	...	Garment Salesman (uncredited)
John-Michael Tebelak	...	Pharisee Monster (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
David Greene

Writing credits
David Greene		(screenplay) and
John-Michael Tebelak		(screenplay)
John-Michael Tebelak		(book from the musical play "Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew")

Produced by
Edgar Lansbury	....	producer
Kenneth Utt	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Stephen Schwartz

Cinematography by
Richard G. Heimann		(director of photography) (as Richard Heimann)

Film Editing by
Alan Heim

Production Design by
Brian Eatwell

Art Direction by
Ben Kasazkow		(as Ben Kazazkow)

Set Decoration by
John Godfrey

Costume Design by
Sherrie Sucher
Susan Tsu		(original designs)

Makeup Department
Philip Goldblat	....	makeup artist (as Phil Goldblatt)
Phyllis Sagnelli	....	hair stylist (as Phyliss Sagnelli)

Production Management
Paul Ganapoler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ron Walsh	....	assistant director

Art Department
Richard Adee	....	property master
Stanley Cappiello	....	master scenic artist

Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens	....	dubbing editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound
Emil Neroda	....	sound mixer
Elliot Scheiner	....	sound recording engineer
Dan Sable	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Block	....	camera operator
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator (as Richard Mingalone)
Martin Nallan	....	key grip
Frank Schulz	....	chief electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joseph W. Dehn	....	wardrobe supervisor
Reet Pell	....	wardrobe coordinator

Editorial Department
Trudy Ship	....	assistant editor
Hal Levinsohn	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Irving Rathner	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Jesse Cutler	....	musician: guitar
Peggy Gordon	....	composer: song "By My Side"
Jay Hamburger	....	composer: song "By My Side"
Rich LaBonte	....	musician: bass (as Richard Labonte)
Steve Manes	....	musician: bass
Stephen Reinhardt	....	associate musical supervisor
Stephen Reinhardt	....	musician: keyboards
Stephen Schwartz	....	lyrical composer: songs
Stephen Schwartz	....	music composer: songs
Stephen Schwartz	....	musician: keyboards
Paul Shaffer	....	musician: keyboards
Ricky Shutter	....	musician: drums and percussion
Don Thomas	....	musician: guitar
Anahid Ajemian	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Wayne Andre	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Norman Carr	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Mickey Gravine	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Bira Haas	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Michael Kamen	....	musician: synthesizer "Alas for You" (uncredited)
Allen Raph	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Elliot Rosoff	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Irving Spice	....	musician: strings (uncredited)
Lou Stone	....	musician: strings (uncredited)

Other crew
Sammy Bayes	....	choreographer
Arthur Eckstein	....	title designer
Nina Faso	....	assistant to producer
Belle Halpern	....	script supervisor
Joanne Jonas	....	assistant choreographer
Peter Kean	....	assistant to producer
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production office coordinator (as Adeline Leonard)
John-Michael Tebelak	....	creative consultant
George Devins	....	timpani (uncredited)
Corky Hale	....	harp: "Beautiful City" (uncredited)
Darrell Jonas	....	production office coordinator (uncredited)
Charles Macey	....	banjo: "All for the Best" (uncredited)
Hugh McCracken	....	lead guitar: "Prepare Ye" (uncredited)
Ralph S. Singleton	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Chayim Tamar	....	shofar: "Prepare Ye" (uncredited)

Thanks
Joseph Beruh	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by
Stuart Duncan	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by
Edgar Lansbury	....	acknowledgment: produced on the stage by

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (first TV airing)
• Columbia TriStar (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Filmsounds  sound editing by
• Music Maximus  music coordination

Also Known As:

Godspell (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | Spanish

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Andrew Carnegie Mansion - 2 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The final scene was filmed at the southeast corner of Park Avenue & 68th Street in Manhattan, across the street from Hunter College.

Goofs:

Continuity: The face paint that Jesus puts on all the characters in the junkyard changes in almost every scene after that. The position and even some shapes change.

Quotes:

Gilmer: [in a southern accent] Well, the other servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened. Are you sitting down? They ran and told their master the whole story, mm-hmm.
Robin: DAAAAH!
Gilmer: Accordingly he sent for the man.
Robin: You scoundrel!
Gilmer: He said to him!
Robin: I remitted the whole of your debt when you appealed unto me. Were you not bound to show your fellow servant the same pity I showed to you?
Jerry: And so angry was the master that he condemned the man to torture, until he could pay the debt in full.
Jesus: And that is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you, unless you forgive your brothers from you hearts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Soundtrack:

By My Side

Music has held up!

Just watched the DVD of this and enjoyed hearing how well the music has held up over the years! You can't watch the movie without humming along to the songs!

My high school did this for the school play and it sure brought back a lot of memories!

I was real sorry to hear that Lynne had passed away....her solo was one of the standouts in my opinion....her talent (as well as the talent of the others who have passed) will be missed.