Godspell

Even back in the 1970s, skepticism everywhere, the song "Day By Day" seemed like a genuine expression of reverence for the simple teachings of Jesus Christ, despite the obvious efforts in this film to make him a psychedelic hero. While the hippie costumes and clown make-up don't hold up very well today, the point of the movie is to deliver a view of Christ as the radical threat to the status quo that he was. This film was part of an effort to make us take a new look at the gospels (see "Jesus Christ Superstar" as well) and make them relevant to contemporary life while avoiding any mention of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Overall, it may seem naïve and disingenuous now, but if you want a look at the anti-establishment, anti-materialism youth culture of the 1960s, this can't be beat. ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013