IMDb > "Masada" (1981)

"Masada" (1981) More at IMDbPro »TV mini-series

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   852 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Boris Sagal
Writers:
Ernest K. Gann (story)
Joel Oliansky (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Masada on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 April 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Drama | History more
Plot:
After the destruction of the Second Temple, 900 Jewish zealots hold out against a 5000 man Roman legion on the mountaintop fortress of Masada. full summary
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Hollywood Producer Eckstein Dies
 (From WENN. 15 September 2009, 9:06 AM, PDT)
Masada Region 2 DVD Review -- Masada is a 1981 television mini-series starring acting legend Peter O’Toole and directed by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man)
 (From Collider.com. 8 February 2009)
User Comments:
An inspiring saga more (18 total)

Cast

  (Series Credited cast)

Peter O'Toole ... General Cornelius Flavius Silva

Peter Strauss ... Eleazar ben Yair
Barbara Carrera ... Sheva
Anthony Quayle ... Rubrius Gallus
David Warner ... Senator Pomponius Falco
Giulia Pagano ... Miriam
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reuven Bar-Yotam ... Joshua (Butcher) (as Reuben Bar Yotam)

Richard Basehart ... Narrator
John Terry Bell ... Israeli Master of Ceremonies
Heinz Bernard ... Elder (as Heinz Bernhard)
Christopher Biggins ... Claudius Albinus, Falco's secretary
David A. Block ... Reuben
Christal Blue ... Fatima

Nick Brimble ... Milades
Warren Clarke ... Plinius (mutineer)
Nigel Davenport ... Senator Mucianus

Vernon Dobtcheff ... Chief Priest
Michael Elphick ... Vettius
Alan Feinstein ... Aaron
Clive Francis ... Attius, Head Tribune and Vespasian's spy

Patrick Gorman ... Tribune
David Hooks ... Kophar
Ken Hutchison ... Fronto
George Innes ... Titus (as George Peter Innes)
Alex Karras ... Roman Soldier
David Mauro ... Epos, Silva's servant

Kevin McNally ... Norbanus
Derek Newark ... Engineering Officer
David Opatoshu ... Shimon
Alexander Peleg ... Zidon (as Alex Peleg)
John Phillips ... Centurion
Richard Pierson ... Ephraim
Denis Quilley ... General Marcus Quadratus
Norman Rossington ... Maro

Joe Sagal ... Seth (as Joey Sagal)
Michael Schneider ... Surgeon

William Morgan Sheppard ... Sergeant (as Morgan Sheppard)
Michael Shillo ... Ezra
Paul L. Smith ... Gideon
Ray Smith ... Lentius - Would-Be Assassin

Anthony Valentine ... Merovius, Head Tribune
Jack Watson ... Decurion
Diana Webster ... Quintilia
Timothy West ... Emperor Vespasian

Joseph Wiseman ... Jerahmeel, Head Essene
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Antagonists (UK)
more
Runtime:
394 min | Argentina:131 min | Finland:122 min (theatrical version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:K-12 (cut) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp
Filming Locations:
Masada, Judean Desert, Israel
Company:
Arnon Milchan Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In order to avoid the heat of the Israeli desert, the crew employed a unique shooting schedule: they divided the day into three eight-hour segments and only shot either late at night or early in the morning. They avoided shooting between late morning and late afternoon, the hottest part of the day. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: During the scene in which the Jews are ascending the trail up to the summit of Masada, a vehicle the size of a bus can clearly be seen travelling on a road in the background more
Quotes:
Senator Pomponius Falco: [arriving in camp during the heat of day] So much for atheism! There is a Hell! This is it! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Dead End (1985) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful.
An inspiring saga, 26 September 2007
9/10
Author: rleroe from United States

Long-last on DVD, Masada depicts the true story of the Jewish struggle atop Masada following the A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem. While visiting the site in 1989 I was told that Peter Strauss asked to spend a night atop the mount, then the Israeli Air Force flew overhead scaring him considerably. The film wisely starts with a documentary showing the significance this site has today. Peter O'Toole is superb and the script is well-written. You expect the Roman General to be the "bad guy" and you discover otherwise. Much of the conversation is quite clever, especially from the Roman bureaucrats and the political intrigue. You'll want to read about the archaeological excavations and to visit Masada after seeing this wonderful movie. This is from the golden age of TV mini-series.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Deleted scenes? vanesselen
The height of the real Masada makes this movie impossible? kinglerch
The Ramp erikbeale
Masada Mini series hrh29
Great movie in uncertain times. Dbusdriver71
Out in R2 on Monday rebelstrike
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