Pontius Pilate

A very elusive film on this side of the Atlantic. It received only a brief and limited theatrical release in the United States. It is reportedly available on video, but in the PAL (European) format, not NTSC (USA and Canada). It hasn't been aired in the Washington, D.C., area in over 20 years.

My recollection is that it had beautiful photography and production design, but a hectic and confusing storyline. Typical of many European imports of the time, it had a jerky continuity (editing by the importer?) and some awkward dubbing with the usual "Speed Racer" voices. An attempt to compete with Hollywood epics that came up a bit short.

What I found both distracting and amusing was that the actor who played Barabbas was a dead ringer for a crazy professional wrestler named Bugsy McGraw. In fact, they actually talked and acted much the same!

This film takes an unusual perspective on events surrounding the Passion of Jesus Christ by focusing on Pontius Pilate, the man who condemned Him to death. The ambitious Pilate, a Roman citizen from the province of Hispania was promoted to be the Procurator of Judaea, which turned out to be the most troublesome and intractable of Rome's provinces. He immediately sets his foot wrong by setting up the eagles of Rome, as was customary, in the most prominent place, the courtyard of the Jewish temple. When riots ensue, Pilate backs down, but he's in for a bumpy ride. To put the fractious mobs to work, Pilate has an acquaduct built to show Rome's benevolence by ensuring a potable water supply to the masses. But here again, instead of being grateful the people rebel because the course of the acquaduct transgresses one of their nonsensical tribal laws; it traverses over a burial ground! Pilate fails to placate them, zealots attempt to assassinate him, nothing goes right accept the safe arrival of his wife and son. Eventually, the Sanhedrin turns over a "blasphemer" for Roman dispensation of justice. By this time Pilate senses a trap, sees no wrong in the Man, and gives the mob a choice. They choose that Christ be executed. Pilate's wife, Claudia Procula, warns him not to crucify Christ as she saw violent repercussions in a dream, but he has to keep his given word. So he makes the biggest mistake of all time...and the results are tragic. Altogether a very interesting film which depicts more details of the enigmatic administrator's life than we are accustomed to seeing.

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

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)