Ponce Pilate

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.

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?

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 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