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"Masada" (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
5 April 1981 (USA)
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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
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes.
Another 3 wins
&
11 nominations
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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)
(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 | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Antagonists (UK)
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Runtime:
394 min | Argentina:131 min | Finland:122 min (theatrical version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
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.
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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
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Quotes:
Senator Pomponius Falco:
[arriving in camp during the heat of day] So much for atheism! There is a Hell! This is it!
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (18 total)
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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.