Barabbas Rating: Release Date: 05 March, 2002 Retail Price: $9.95 Sorry, this product is not currently available. Cast: Anthony Quinn Silvana Mangano Ernest Borgnine Jack Palance Complete Cast (10 total)

Barabbas Reviews

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Lesser Known Biblical Epic With It's Own Unique Approach
In among the glut of biblical epics from the late 1950's and early 1960's the Dino De Laurentiis production of "Barabbas", is undoubtedly one of the least well known of this particular genre that proved so popular at this time. Indeed it can be assumed that it basically got lost in among all the hype surrounding such super productions of the same period as "Ben Hur", and "Cleopatra". "Barabbas", enjoyed regular screenings during the Easter period while I was growing up but what always struck me about this particular epic was the very unique and darker slant it took on its religious storytelling compared to such films as "The Robe" etc. In actual fact from history and the bible we know very little about the thief and con man Barabbas who was spared crucifixtion in place of Jesus Christ however writer Christopher Fry has weaved a fascinating fictional story full of intelligent dialogue and believable characters in his telling of the life of Barabbas in the years after he was spared execution on the cross by the last minute replacement of Jesus. Not your typically pious or colourful religious epic "Barabbas", takes a very non sentimental slant in its storytelling that makes it a standout among the other similiar efforts of this golden period of the biblical film.

I'd like to give it three and a half stars!
Though it doesn't rank there with the like of "Ben-Hur," "The Ten Commandments," "The Robe," or even "The Greatest Story Ever Told" as one of the best Biblical epics, "Barabbas" does have its merits. The direction is crisp and the combination cinematography and set design does transport one back to those fateful days before and following the Crucifixion.

And, besides that, the movie features three of Hollywood's most testosterone-heavy stars: Anthony Quinn, Jack Palance, and Ernest Borgnine. Quinn, as the man that must live with the fact that his life was spared as a result of the death of the Messiah, balances his guilt/shame with the inborn need of self-preservation. Palance gets to chew the scenery as a merciless gladiator that meets his match in Quinn's Barabbas.

And Borgnine plays against type by being much reserved in his role of one of Christ's followers. He still has those piercing eyes that suggest that he can still kick your [...] if you disagree with him.

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