Norman Jewison managed only two takes of "The Temple" before he ran out of unbroken props, due to Ted Neeley's unrestrained energy when Jesus smashes everything.
According to the commentary, all the wind shots in the film were done with natural wind. No machines were used.
Actors were required to "hydrate" every 20 minutes while on location in the desert. Huge, multicolored blocks of ice were brought in from Tel Aviv.
Seventeen-year-old John Travolta auditioned for the role of Jesus. He didn't get the part, but producer Robert Stigwood kept him in mind for future productions. Four years later, Stigwood cast Travolta in La Fièvre du samedi soir (1977).
In the stage version, Herod was a flaming drag queen. Norman Jewison apparently thought that was too shocking, and would divert attention away from the serious drama in the show. Herod became a fat, hippyish, Hugh Hefner-type playboy in a bathing suit, on the beach with several other hippie characters.
Norman Jewison: the dubbed voice of the third man at Peter's Denial ("But I saw you too / He looked just like you").