Pontius Pilate

Interesting movie showing Pontius Pilate's reasons for the execution of Jesus. Like a modern policemen he has files on all local trouble-makers, such as the disciples. He wants Jesus convicted so that he can be spared at the Passover instead of the terrorist Barabbas. To this end he tricks Judas into betraying Jesus to the Pharisees so he can prove he is the Messiah. As Pilate anticipates he is condemned, and Judas, to his horror, is paid the appropriate 30 pieces of silver, the sum given to the man who betrays the Messiah. The crowd, however, choose to save Barabbas, not Jesus, and Judas hangs himself in remorse.

The director had great ambitions;he wanted to mix politics with religion but the results show too much confusion,and the fact that Jesus and Judas are played by the same actor (!) doesn't help.Actually Jesus appears lately in the production ;the first half is marred by too many subplots :the aqueduct,the young girl who tries to seduce Pilate,the Sanhedrin,Nicodemus,gladiators devoured by ouch! crocodiles,Barabbas who sometimes seems at the Sanhedrin's beck and call,and of course the Temple.Irving Rapper has certainly De Millesque ambitions but he 's no match for the "ten commandments" man.He should have stuck to melodrama ("Now voyager",1942).

Pilate is played by great actor Jean Marais,but the production is overwhelming and he can't really display his brilliant skills.In fact,the movie is a flashback (Why?The screen play did not ask for that at all).

The second part is more run of the mill Passion stuff even if the camera focuses on Pilate,showing the crucifixion from a distance.To "enliven" things a bit,it seems that Good Friday events are turned into a disaster movie,complete with destruction of Pilate's palace and his wife's death.

Rapper ,like Wyler before him in "Ben Hur" ,never shows the Christ's face,except for a shot of his eyes.As for Barabbas,you'll always be better off with Richard Fleischer's eponymous movie(1962)

Many reasons to see it, from the interesting - in few points provocative perspective- about the Savior , to an image too idealistic of Pontius Pilate, from Jean Marais decent job to the old recipe of genre, well used. A portrait of Pilate , romantic, off course, far by historical proofs, not doubts but far to be boring or only expression of good intentions. Good performances, nice details for create the atmosphere and seductive try to give the familiar story from different perspective , using the image of good leader in an world remaining far by him against his effort to help it. So, just decent.

This is an interesting though average retelling at the life of Pontius Pilatos , Caiaphas , Giuseppe d'Arimatea , Nicodemus , Barabbas and Jesús from a Roman political , historical and religious view point , being based on the biblical Gospel of John . This Biblical movie deals with the story of a notorious Procurator of Judea , Pontius Pilatos , and the events that culminated with the Passion of Christ , the man who moves multitude . As Pilatos must choose between Christ's freedom or His condemnation , but he washes his hands . Following ¨Passion Christ¨ seen from the perspective of Pontius Pilate (Jean Marais) who unwillingly condemned Jesus to death and his wife Procula (Jeanne Crain as Emperor Tiberio's niece) who is tormented by delusion and nightmares after learning His innocence . The film includes some major events referred to the New Testament with descriptive Biblical passages such as the revolt led by Barrabbas (John Drew Barrymore who gives overacting) as Zelots leader and his struggle to deal with seek the best course of resistance to Roman oppression embodied by the political savvy Pontius Pilate , sermon and entry of Jesús Christ in Jerusalem , expulsion of merchants of the temple , the arrest of Jesús (who never appears His face) in Mount of Olives , Golgotha Crucifixion , among others . At the end takes place a silly finale with an unexpected earthquake included .

Set against the magnificent backdrop of classic Rome and Israel , "Ponzio Pilato" is a colorful version of Jesus Christ and Pilato's life with a true international all-star-epic treatment , being professionally shot and reaches an exciting peak at the ending . It results to be an engaging idea : key moments and events in the life of Jesús , as seen through the eyes of other characters , mainly Ponzio Pilato , Caiaphas , Nicodemo and Procula . It is not completely reverential at some Biblical characters such as Judas Iscariote , Pontius Pilate and ¨Barrabbas¨ portraying the man less a thief than as a political revolutionary . Here appears , Jesús : John Drew Barrymore , only in what can best be described as "cameos" , usually from a long distance or with his face out of the frame . The result, however, proves one thing above all others , it is more entertaining than virtuousness . Filmed on a relatively acceptable scale , being efficiently produced by Enzo Merolle who financed other epics as ¨Colossus and the Amazon queen¨, "Pirate of the Half Moon" , "L'assedio Di Siracusa" , ¨Sheba and the Gladiator" or "Sign of Rome" . Good main cast , as the French Jean Marais is passable as the ambitious Procurator and the Hollywood star , Jeanne Crain , shows up beautiful and attractive , though is sometimes a little wooden . Fine support cast , at least they bring some life to their characters , such as Basil Rathbone as Caifa , leader of Sanedrín , Letícia Román as Sara , Massimo Serato as Nicodemus , Livio Lorenzon as Barabba , Riccardo Garrone as Galba and Gianni Garco , former his successful character as Sartana . Furthermore , a brief appearance by a very young Raffaella Carrà as Jessica . Evocative as well as atmospheric original music by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino . Including glowing cinematography by Massimo Dallamano , filmed surrounding Rome , Lazio . The motion picture was decently directed Irving Rapper , a craftsman who realized several Bette Davis vehicles and other films as ¨El Bravo¨, ¨Shinning victory¨ , ¨Strange intruder¨, ¨Crystal menagerie¨ , ¨The voice of the turtle¨ , ¨Adventures of Mark Twain¨, and another Biblical story : "Joseph and His Brethren" .

Other pictures dealing with divine presence of Jesus Christ are the followings : ¨King of Kings¨ , released in 1927, , first silent version by Cecil B. DeMille with H.B. Wagner ; ¨King of Kings¨ by Nicholas Ray with Jeffrey Hunter , Robert Ryan , Carmen Sevilla , Frank Thring , Rip Torn , Rita Gam , Harry Guardino ; ¨The Sword and the Cross¨ (1958) by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia , with Ivonne De Carlo , Jorge Mistral , Rossana Podestà , Massimo Serato , Andrea Aureli , Terence Hill ; ¨The greatest story ever told¨ (1965) by George Stevens with Max Von Sidow , Charlton Heston , Jose Ferrer , Sidney Poitier , Claude Rains ; ¨Gospel according to Matthew¨ by Pier Paolo Pasolini with Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus ; ¨Jesus Christ Superstar¨(1977) by Norman Jewison with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson ; ¨Jesus de Nazareth¨(1977) by Franco Zeffirelli with Robert Powell , Olivia Hussey , James Mason , Laurence Olivier , Anne Brancfort , Fernando Rey ; ¨Last temptation of Christ¨ by Martin Scorsese with Willem Dafoe , David Bowie , Harvey Keitel , Ian Holm , Harry Dean Staton ; and ¨The Passion of the Christ¨ (2004) by Mel Gibson with James Cazievel , Maia Morgenstern and Monica Belucci

After looking for this film for decades I find it and sad to say for me is not dubbed and my Italian is non-existent. Fortunately this is certainly a story quite well known and I could follow it in any event.

Playing the title role of Pontius Pilate is French screen legend Jean Marais and his wife is played by American expatriate Jeanne Crain. The story is told in flashback as Pilate is before the Emperor and the Roman Senate giving an account of that most troublesome of provinces Judea which they can't quite get a hold on.

Such as it seemed the plot followed along the same path of King Of Kings which starred Jeffrey Hunter the year before. Of course told from the occupying Roman point of view. Marais having been joined by Crain and their two kids has wife and kids somewhat taken with the preachings of that carpenter turned rabbi from Nazareth.

No need go into the rest, it can be found in the New Testament in four different versions. Basil Rathbone who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa plays Caiaphas and I really missed hearing that one of a kind voice as he is dubbed in Italian. John Drew Barrymore plays both Jesus and is one bug eyed Judas.

Hopefully we Americans will get an English dubbed version to watch soon.