Starring Anthony Quinn in the title role, Barabbas was released in 1961 in the midst of a wave of widescreen epics based on biblical characters. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to Ben-Hur), is an unusually intelligent one. Further assets are the imaginative, sparingly orchestrated score by Mario Nascimbene and a handsome production design by art director Mario Chiari that is so rewarding to the eye in Aldo Tonti's often dazzling cinematography.
Many scenes, such as Christ's crucifixion, are shot and staged like tableaux in a style reminiscent of the great masters of art. And director Richard Fleischer surpasses anything Ridley Scott achieved years later in Gladiator: he fills the huge arena--a vast Roman amphitheatre--with a gladiatorial school of hand-to-hand combat, a parade of elephants, and a den of lions, and then caps his production with a riveting and thrillingly mounted duel between Jack Palance, careering round the circumference of the arena in his chariot, and Barabbas dodging him on foot. --Adrian Edwards
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Life is Preferable to Death.:
To die is to live; death is nothing, sayth Lazarus whom Jesus brought back to life. Lazarus was the best character in this film, he looked like a "blithe spirit," as he explained what it is to die, to Barabbas. A blind man sees Barabba's face. There in the beginning, "tell us what it will be like: "a star, light in the sky, everything new, no more pain or grief, only happiness." Innocent people were stoned to death as blasphemy and "he who is without sin shall cast the first stone." They threw huge... more info
Christianity in its beginning:
great performance between actors, Quinn-Palance-Borgnine and their supporting actors for those who believe in the life after death concept. It holds the interest of the viewer to the end.
Interesting if you ignore the details...:
Barabbas is an interesting "what if" presentation of Barabbas the man who was saved from execution when Jesus was crucified in his stead. The movie is heavily slanted towards a view of Christianity that seems to be highly superstitious and primarily focused on signs, symbols, and ritual. Anthony Quinn does a great job in portraying a conflicted character who ebbs back and forth between belief and doubt.
Good movie on faith:
If you have doubt about your faith, this movie will inspire you. Anthony Quinn gives a award winning performance.
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