Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth 2-Disc Set DVD

This epic chronicle of Christ begins with the arrangements of the wedding between Joseph and Mary proceeds through Jesus' birth his encounter with John the Baptist and all the way to the grueling transfigurative end. The all-star cast includes Anne Bancroft Laurence Olivier Michael York James Mason Rod Steiger and Robert Powell as Jesus. As the beautiful locations superb performances and reverent portrayals reveal Franco Zeffirelli OTELLO HAMLET directed this six-hour-plus television miniseries with palpable passion.

Jesus of Nazareth [VHS]

Originally made for TV in 1977, this in-depth (six hours plus) version of Jesus' life is so thorough that the first hour is devoted solely to the story of his birth. The film doesn't skimp on some of the other landmark events of this famous story either. Director Franco Zeffirelli gives more than 12 minutes screen time each to the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Passages of the Bible are quoted verbatim, the locations have a Palestine-like authenticity, and, aside from some of the principals (Robert Powell as Jesus, Olivia Hussey as Mary, and Stacy Keach as Barabbas), many of the non-Roman characters are actually played by Semitic-looking actors. Zeffirelli diligently provides the sociopolitical background that gave rise to Jesus' following and the crisis in belief it caused for the people of Israel (and one or two Romans). While not graphic by today's standards, some of the scenes--baby boys being ripped from their mothers' arms and slaughtered, nails being driven into Jesus' hands--may disturb young and/or sensitive children. --Kimberly Heinrichs