Ponce Pilate

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!!

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!

I finally scored an English language copy of this interesting Italian sword-and-sandal style depiction of the life and times of Jesus, focusing on the career of Pontius Pilate, played by legendary French actor Jean Marais (Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST). I previously had a Spanish language version, but the dubbing sounded like it was recorded in a radio station last week and there were virtually no sound effects. This original English version is MUCH more enjoyable, with both Basil Rathbone and John Drew Barrymore (as Judas, not as Jesus) doing their own voices in the dubbing. The story is structured with a wrap-around sequence where Pilate is on trial in front of Caesar, and Pilate recounts the events of his life. At the end of the film, we pick back up with this trial and we see what Pilate has learned from his life and from his encounter with Christ. Basil Rathbone, doing his own voice, is quite impressive as the Jewish religious leader Caiaphus--he tries to be a faithful spiritual leader to his people, while he understands the political necessities of the day. The scene where Rathbone challenges Marais to take down the Roman insignias off the Hebrew temple is quite impressive. Of course, the "gimmick" about this film is that John Drew Barrymore plays both Judas and Jesus. Let's start with Judas. This is a role Barrymore was born to play--he was always excellent as a tortured soul or an outcast or a man with a tragic obsession, and in the Judas created by these scriptwriters, the part requires all of these qualities, and Barrymore does a great job. During one of Judas's most intense scenes, we suddenly start getting angular, Orson Welles style shots of Barrymore that are unlike any other shots in the film! Yes, Barrymore also plays Jesus, but we only see Jesus' back and side and closeups of his eyes--frankly, had a man of similar build been under the robe throughout the film and it wasn't John Drew Barrymore, I don't think I would have known. Also, someone else dubs Jesus' voice when He speaks, which isn't very often. Peplum fans will see a number of familiar faces such as Livio Lorenzon and Riccardo Garrone, and the whole film has the look of a sword and sandal film. I feel like I understand more about the political world of Palestine in the days of Jesus after seeing this film, and Barrymore's unique portrayal of Judas is something I won't soon forget. As a fan of sword and sandal films in general, I thought PONTIUS PILATE was quite interesting and overall a success. Perhaps someone could restore the film for DVD? Finally, although my copy of this runs 100 minutes, I have a strange feeling some small sections have been cut. Perhaps the Euro version ran over 100 minutes?

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)

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.