Pontius Pilate

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.

Best-known for a string of Bette Davis tear-jerkers, director Rapper had previously overseen another Italian Biblical epic, Joseph AND HIS BRETHREN (1960), but he would subsequently direct just two more movies in Hollywood.

Despite a general air of overfamiliarity to the proceedings, the film is quite watchable as it unveils – and only falls apart in its last third, when the Jesus trials take center-stage. This is because the figure of Jesus had only been mentioned fleetingly before (even by the Pharisees) and suddenly the whole of Judea turns against him for no apparent reason (other than, it seems, because that's what did happen according to the Bible)! In fact, before this unconvincing about-face, the figure of High Priest Caiaphas (Basil Rathbone) was a sympathetic one fighting with dignity for the plight of his oppressed people. Another uncharacteristic event is the fact that, according to this version, it is Judas (John Drew Barrymore) who convinces the Pharisees that Jesus is dangerous, and it is they alone who capture him at Gethsemane!!

Whatever the flaws in the many-handed script (seven writers in total!), they are redeemed by competent production values and a good cast: Jean Marais (rather stiff in the title role), Jeanne Crain (as Pilate's wife), Leticia Roman (a Judean girl Pilate falls for), Roger Treville (as Roman's powerful merchant father), Massimo Serato (as Nicodemus), Riccardo Garrone (as Pilate's faithful lieutenant), Gianni Garko (as one of a bald-headed[!] Barabbas' rebels) and Raffaella Carra' (as Garko's girl); according to the IMDb, Paul Muller and Dante Di Paolo also appear but, personally, I didn't recognize them! Interestingly enough, the events unfold in flashback at Pilate's own trial before an uncredited Emperor Caligula...with the former using the same silent tactics (and, subsequently, the famous words) as Christ himself did before him!!

There's plenty of aged beefcake and stale cheesecake on display in Hollywood "woman's director" Irving Rapper's peplum-style Passion Play (co-directed by someone named Caligari) which attempts to cash in on a popular run of big budget biblical epics that began with SOLOMON & SHEBA.

Jean Cocteau's muse Jean Marais, no spring chicken, struts about as the titular magistrate and cuts a fine if flabby figure in his red cape, breastplate, sandals, and tiny gladiator skirt (he's topless, too, at one point) but apparently the only acting he can do is with his profile. Another old profile, Basil Rathbone, is also on hand as an ancient rabbi and a still-attractive Jeanne Crain unintentionally nails "patrician indifference" as Pilate's wife. Pilate's a womanizing martinet not without heart and the gang's all here from a ruthless, cut-throat Barabbas to a bony John Drew Barrymore in a dual role as both Jesus & Judas. The latter has a wild-eyed mad scene that would give JD's dad John a coronary and, like most movies of this sort, the Lord's visage is never shown, just his eyes. The money lenders get thrown out of the temple, too. I never knew the saying "I wash my hands of it" came from Pilate (or if I did, I forgot) and it's illustrated nicely here when he washes his hands after condemning Jesus and the basin water turns red with the Nazarine's eyes reflected in it.

There's much ado about an aqueduct and enough political intrigue between the Jews and the Romans in the first half of the film to put any viewer to sleep before the final crucifixion, which was unlike any I'd seen before on film. There's an eclipse and "spectacular cataclysm" as Jesus dies on the cross but unfortunately, for every plus there's a minus here and although it's no doubt unintentional, the movie does suggest the Jews killed Jesus since sending down an earthquake to destroy Jerusalem during the Crucifixion implies punishment, no? The U.S. release version cut out a wrap-around of Pilate's trial before Caligula but it's been restored (albeit with English subs) and although Rapper had an eye for spectacular widescreen tableaux (there really is a cast of thousands), it's pretty much a bore (albeit a strangely compelling one) and the low IMDb rating is about right for once.

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.