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Barabbas [DVD] [1962] starring: Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Katy Jurado, Harry Andrews

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Publisher: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date: 25th March, 2002
Media: DVD

Format

• PAL
• Widescreen

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Editorial Review

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. "It begins where the other big ones leave off", declaims the trailer. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to Ben-Hur), is an unusually intelligent one: listen out for Barabbas' final encounter with the Apostle Thomas, for example. 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.

Like the other Biblical epics of the day, in its original theatrical incarnation Barabbas had an intermission and orchestral intermezzo which is sadly missing from this version. (It occurred at the point where Barabbas emerges from a 20 years exile in the sulphur mines in Sicily, allowing the audience to dwell on his recuperation before we next encounter him. He now appears muscled and bronzed ploughing the verdant fields outside Rome in all too quick a fashion!). Many scenes, such as Christ's crucifixion, are shot and staged like tableaux in a style reminiscent of the great masters of art. And in Fleischer's hands this film 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. The supporting cast, who sport a variety of accents call for some tolerance, however.

On the DVD: Barabbas on disc comes devoid of any extra features other than trailers for it and another contemporaneous blockbuster, The Guns of Navarone. --Adrian Edwards

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Average rating -

Rating: - Barabbas (DVD)

I absolutely loved this film from beginning to end, no waiting to get into it. It gets the 'thumbs up' from me, and definitely a 5 star.

Rating: - Just thought you'd like to know ...

If you want Barabbas - and it certainly is a film worth seeing in my view - it is now included in a 4-disk boxed set "Historical Epics" along with Gladiator, Spartacus and The Conqueror (I've reviewed this set elsewhere on Amazon). It represents much better value bought this way.

Rating: - No death for Barabbas!

This is a remarkably intelligent film, based on Nobel Prize winning author Pär Lagerkvist's novel of the same name. Directed by Richard Fleischer (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea [DVD] [1954], Tora! Tora! Tora! [1970] [DVD], Fantastic Voyage [DVD] [1966]), the film follows the fate of Barabbas, the criminal who was freed in the place of Jesus Christ.

Anthony Quinn plays Barabbas, and although we begin by thinking we are getting a pre-echo of his 1964, over-the-top Zorba The Greek [DVD] [1964], the characterisation proves a thoughtful one, which is well-complemented by Fleischer's restrained directing style, never afraid to have long periods without dialogue where it is not required. Likewise, the musical score Alexander the Great/Barabbas is used sparingly.

The big set-pieces such as the combat in the arena, the destruction of the sulphur mine and the burning of Rome are beautifully handled, as are the more introspective moments like where Barabbas gets lost - physically and spiritually - in the catacombs. This is a big, thoughtful movie, with a lot to say about what it means to be human.

Considering that the picture is almost half-a-century old, it looks pretty good. A decently sharp image is possible with an upscaling DVD player, although the sound shows its age more obviously. It would be good to see a properly restored version of this movie, although this will do nicely for the moment, and is a bargain at the price.

Rating: - Sorry very dated

Barabbas with Anthony Quinn is from 1962 and now looks very dated. But it is a film from it's day and as such can still be enjoyed.

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