Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Melvyn Bragg (screenplay) &
Norman Jewison (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 August 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Musical

Tagline:

and now the film...

Plot:

Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life, told in an anachronistic manner.

Plot Keywords:

Anachronistic | Rock Opera | Jesus Christ | Religion | Surrealism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Ted Neeley	...	Jesus Christ
Carl Anderson	...	Judas Iscariot
Yvonne Elliman	...	Mary Magdalene
Barry Dennen	...	Pontius Pilate
Bob Bingham	...	Caiaphas
Larry Marshall	...	Simon Zealotes (as Larry T. Marshall)
Josh Mostel	...	King Herod (as Joshua Mostel)
Kurt Yaghjian	...	Annas
Paul Thomas	...	Peter (as Philip Toubus)
Pi Douglass	...	Apostle
Richard Orbach	...	John
Robert LuPone	...	James
Jonathan Wynne	...	Apostle
Thommie Walsh	...	Thaddeus
Richard Molinare	...	Andrew
David Devir	...	Apostle
Jeff Hyslop	...	Philip
Shooki Wagner	...	Apostle
Darcel Wynne	...	Woman
Marcia McBroom	...	Woman
Sally Neal	...	Woman
Leeyan Granger	...	Woman
Vera Biloshisky	...	Woman
Kate Wright	...	Woman (as Kathryn Wright)
Wendy Maltby	...	Woman
Denise Pence	...	Woman
Baayork Lee	...	Woman
Wyetta Turner	...	Woman
Susie Allanson	...	Woman (as Susan Allanson)
Tamar Zafria	...	Woman
Ellen Hoffman	...	Woman
Riki Oren	...	Woman
Judith Daby	...	Woman
Lea Kestin	...	Woman
Adaya Pilo	...	Woman
Zvulun Cohen	...	Priest
Amity Razi	...	Priest
Meir Israel	...	Priest
Avi Ben-Haim	...	Priest
Itzhak Sidranski	...	Priest
Haim Bashi	...	Priest
David Duack	...	Priest
David Rejwan	...	Priest
Steve Boockvor	...	Roman Soldier
Cliff Michaelevski	...	Roman Soldier
Peter Luria	...	Roman Soldier
Tom Guest	...	Roman Soldier
David Barkan	...	Roman Soldier
Stephen Denenberg	...	Roman Soldier
Danny Basevitch	...	Roman Soldier
Didi Liekov	...	Roman Soldier
Doron Gaash	...	Temple Guard
Zvi Lehat	...	Temple Guard
Noam Cohen	...	Temple Guard
Moshe Uziel	...	Temple Guard

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits
Melvyn Bragg		(screenplay) &
Norman Jewison		(screenplay)
Tim Rice		(book)

Produced by
Norman Jewison	....	producer
Patrick J. Palmer	....	associate producer
Robert Stigwood	....	producer

Original Music by
Andrew Lloyd Webber		(music by)

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs

Casting by
Michael Shurtleff

Production Design by
Richard Macdonald

Art Direction by
John Clark

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake

Makeup Department
Gordon Bond	....	hair stylist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Carruth	....	post-production supervisor
Larry DeWaay	....	production supervisor
Eric Dichne	....	production manager
Arik Dichner	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack N. Reddish	....	first assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Danny Perlman	....	production buyer
Jack Towns	....	property master

Sound Department
Keith Grant	....	sound re-recordist
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound re-recordist
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor
Eli Yarkoni	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Itzik Ben-Aroya	....	key grip
Martin Evans	....	gaffer
Dennis Fraser	....	grip
Dennis Fraser	....	key grip
Avraham Leibman	....	gaffer
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Ted Neeley	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Terry Busby	....	assistant editor
Brian Mann	....	assistant editor
Derek Trigg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Andrew Lloyd Webber	....	orchestrator
André Previn	....	conductor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	associate music coordinator
Angela Morley	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Hartman	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Angela Allen	....	script supervisor
Quinn Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Robert Iscove	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (1973) (Australia) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Spain:13 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:G | Singapore:PG | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

Beit Guvrin, Israel

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Norman Jewison's previous project had been the film version of the Broadway hit Fiddler on the Roof (1971) in which he had cast Israeli actor Topol in the role of Tevye, to the bitter disappointment of Broadway's Tevye, Zero Mostel. When Jewison wanted to cast Mostel's son Joshua as Herod in this movie Mostel snapped, "Tell him to get Topol's son!"

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In several shots during the movie people are holding guns, but guns were not around in 33 A.D. However, neither were combat boots, helmets on the soldiers, and purple tank tops. This is an intentional, artistic choice, to make it more modern.

Quotes:

Jesus: The end is just a little harder when brought about by friends. For all you care, this wine could be my blood. For all you care, this bread could be my body. The end. This is my blood you drink, this is my body you eat. If you could, remember me when you eat and drink.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Showbiz Today: (1996-10-29)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

What's the Buzz

Superstar Rocks!

Speaking for the younger generation, I've never seen anything like it. This movie hit theaters 6 years before I was born and I only just saw it now in Nov. 2004. and I was so moved that I had to comment. Visually it was psychedelic, and the editing matches the music masterfully.

The music rocks! Carl Anderson is beyond amazing as Judas, and ALL of the performances are really magnetic. I love singing along with Annas, Jesus, and Kiafass. I mostly listen to KoRn and Rap, so I never expected to remember (rock opera) lyrics and run around performing them. The feeling I got when 1st "experiencing" the movie was trippy. Similar to a live concert. The movie is outstanding and in my opinion will last for generations and generations. It speaks to a part of my soul and spirit.It says "right on" "rock on"