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Amazon.co.uk Review
Starring Anthony Quinn in the title role Barabbas was released in 1961 in the midst of a wave of widescreen epics based on Biblical characters. "It begins where the other big ones leave off", declaims the trailer. The screenplay, by playwright Christopher Fry (who also contributed to Ben-Hur), is an unusually intelligent one: listen out for Barabbas' final encounter with the Apostle Thomas, for example. Further assets are the imaginative, sparingly orchestrated score by Mario Nascimbene and a handsome production design by art director Mario Chiari that is so rewarding to the eye in Aldo Tonti's often dazzling cinematography.
Like the other Biblical epics of the day, in its original theatrical incarnation Barabbas had an intermission and orchestral intermezzo which is sadly missing from this version. (It occurred at the point where Barabbas emerges from a 20 years exile in the sulphur mines in Sicily, allowing the audience to dwell on his recuperation before we next encounter him. He now appears muscled and bronzed ploughing the verdant fields outside Rome in all too quick a fashion!). Many scenes, such as Christ's crucifixion, are shot and staged like tableaux in a style reminiscent of the great masters of art. And in Fleischer's hands this film surpasses anything Ridley Scott achieved years later in Gladiator: he fills the huge arena--a vast Roman amphitheatre--with a gladiatorial school of hand-to-hand combat, a parade of elephants and a den of lions, and then caps his production with a riveting and thrillingly mounted duel between Jack Palance, careering round the circumference of the arena in his chariot, and Barabbas dodging him on foot. The supporting cast, who sport a variety of accents call for some tolerance, however.
On the DVD: Barabbas on disc comes devoid of any extra features other than trailers for it and another contemporaneous blockbuster, The Guns of Navarone. --Adrian Edwards
DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
Trailer
Languages in LCR 4.0: English, French, German, Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
2.35:1 Aspect Ratio enhanced for 16:9 Widescreen TVs
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a remarkably intelligent film, based on Nobel Prize winning author Pär Lagerkvist's novel of the same name. Directed by Richard Fleischer (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea [DVD] [1954], Tora! Tora! Tora! [1970] [DVD], Fantastic Voyage [DVD] [1966]), the film follows the fate of Barabbas, the criminal who was freed in the place of Jesus Christ.
Anthony Quinn plays Barabbas, and although we begin by thinking we are getting a pre-echo of his 1964, over-the-top Zorba The Greek [DVD] [1964], the characterisation proves a thoughtful one, which is well-complemented by Fleischer's restrained directing style, never afraid to have long periods without dialogue where it is not required. Likewise, the musical score Alexander the Great/Barabbas is used sparingly.
The big set-pieces such as the combat in the arena, the destruction of the sulphur mine and the burning of Rome are beautifully handled, as are the more introspective moments like where Barabbas gets lost - physically and spiritually - in the catacombs. This is a big, thoughtful movie, with a lot to say about what it means to be human.
Considering that the picture is almost half-a-century old, it looks pretty good. A decently sharp image is possible with an upscaling DVD player, although the sound shows its age more obviously. It would be good to see a properly restored version of this movie, although this will do nicely for the moment, and is a bargain at the price.
Anthony Quinn plays Barabbas, and although we begin by thinking we are getting a pre-echo of his 1964, over-the-top Zorba The Greek [DVD] [1964], the characterisation proves a thoughtful one, which is well-complemented by Fleischer's restrained directing style, never afraid to have long periods without dialogue where it is not required. Likewise, the musical score Alexander the Great/Barabbas is used sparingly.
The big set-pieces such as the combat in the arena, the destruction of the sulphur mine and the burning of Rome are beautifully handled, as are the more introspective moments like where Barabbas gets lost - physically and spiritually - in the catacombs. This is a big, thoughtful movie, with a lot to say about what it means to be human.
Considering that the picture is almost half-a-century old, it looks pretty good. A decently sharp image is possible with an upscaling DVD player, although the sound shows its age more obviously. It would be good to see a properly restored version of this movie, although this will do nicely for the moment, and is a bargain at the price.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
SPOILERS!
Barabbas is, hands down, the most intelligent biblical movie ever made. It even tops Scorsese's 'Last Temptation' because it is a fascinating character study of a man who struggles with 'survivor guilt' and then attempts to believe in the man who died in his place - and fails, returning full circle to the cross in a bleak climax.
Quinn is magnificent as Barabbas. A man who attempts to return to a ransomed life and sets out on a journey of attempted self discovery. His failure is not an anti-climax to this journey, but a necessary summation: Barabbas tries to believe, but can't. That simple. Any other reviewer stating that Quinn finds his faith in the closing moments of the film is way off the mark. It is a faithless, barbaric journey, struggling with self doubt and a desperate search for meaning that yields nothing.
Don't let this pessimism put you off. Barabbas is faced with many examples of sacrifice and Christian virtue, but when he finally takes the leap, he can only act out his own violent nature. The film raises many questions on the topic of what faith is and how - or even if - one can achieve it. Is faith a gift or a mere fluke of circumstance?
From a weary looking Jerusalem, to the suffocating - and well invoked - hell of the sulpher mines, to the gladiatorial school and catacombs of Rome, to a burning Jerusalem and ultimately to the cross - Barabbas is a worthy film. It offers no comfortable answers, and is lacking the Hollywood nicities of 'King of Kings' and 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' and, especially, 'The Robe' which makes it a must see for anybody with a passing interest in well observed character studies and a refreshingly atheistic/agnostic view of biblical times.
Barabbas is, hands down, the most intelligent biblical movie ever made. It even tops Scorsese's 'Last Temptation' because it is a fascinating character study of a man who struggles with 'survivor guilt' and then attempts to believe in the man who died in his place - and fails, returning full circle to the cross in a bleak climax.
Quinn is magnificent as Barabbas. A man who attempts to return to a ransomed life and sets out on a journey of attempted self discovery. His failure is not an anti-climax to this journey, but a necessary summation: Barabbas tries to believe, but can't. That simple. Any other reviewer stating that Quinn finds his faith in the closing moments of the film is way off the mark. It is a faithless, barbaric journey, struggling with self doubt and a desperate search for meaning that yields nothing.
Don't let this pessimism put you off. Barabbas is faced with many examples of sacrifice and Christian virtue, but when he finally takes the leap, he can only act out his own violent nature. The film raises many questions on the topic of what faith is and how - or even if - one can achieve it. Is faith a gift or a mere fluke of circumstance?
From a weary looking Jerusalem, to the suffocating - and well invoked - hell of the sulpher mines, to the gladiatorial school and catacombs of Rome, to a burning Jerusalem and ultimately to the cross - Barabbas is a worthy film. It offers no comfortable answers, and is lacking the Hollywood nicities of 'King of Kings' and 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' and, especially, 'The Robe' which makes it a must see for anybody with a passing interest in well observed character studies and a refreshingly atheistic/agnostic view of biblical times.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Saw that the dvd was at a special price. Bought along with two other films that I remember seeing as a youngster in the local cinema.
Back to the days of casts of 1000's, well hundreds I suppose! Was one of the last BIG epics made in Italy I think, before the producers/directors went off on smaller films.
Covers the story after the crucifiction of Christ and what may have happened to the robber Barabbas. Going from being arrested again, being put to work in the mines to becoming a gladiator its a roller coaster ride of a film. The scenes in the arena have EVERYTHING thrown into it!! animals, amazons, dwarves and gladiators!!
Lots of what would be called "guest" stars now, see it and enjoy!
Upscaling on the blu ray works very well also.
Back to the days of casts of 1000's, well hundreds I suppose! Was one of the last BIG epics made in Italy I think, before the producers/directors went off on smaller films.
Covers the story after the crucifiction of Christ and what may have happened to the robber Barabbas. Going from being arrested again, being put to work in the mines to becoming a gladiator its a roller coaster ride of a film. The scenes in the arena have EVERYTHING thrown into it!! animals, amazons, dwarves and gladiators!!
Lots of what would be called "guest" stars now, see it and enjoy!
Upscaling on the blu ray works very well also.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
BARABBAS THE UNTOLD STORY.
BARABBAS IS A VERY GOOD FILM. THE UNTOLD STORY OF A MAN WHO IS TORMENTED BY HIS LIVE,AS HE LIVES IN PLACE OF JESUS THEN IS TORMENTED BY WHY HE DIDN'T DIE INSTEAD AS HE FINDS OUT... Read more
Published 10 days ago by xfactornutteron
barabbas
Very good film with all round performances of excellence........movie print is terrible with washed out colours and plenty of interference..... Read more
Published 21 months ago by martyn cros
A Search for Meaning
Thankfully, a number of 50s and 60s epics derided at the time have been positively reappraised in recent years, and in such doubting and insecure times, this film's always... Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by Bedinog
Biblical, brilliant, on time !!!
We have bought several biblical classics and they are all lovely to see. They were all in good condition and arrived quickly.
Published on 2 April 2010 by Mrs. L. Martin
Barabbas (DVD)
I absolutely loved this film from beginning to end, no waiting to get into it. It gets the 'thumbs up' from me, and definitely a 5 star.
Published on 3 Mar 2010 by Mrs MF Kapnisis
Sorry very dated
Barabbas with Anthony Quinn is from 1962 and now looks very dated. But it is a film from it's day and as such can still be enjoyed.
I did!
I did!
Published on 18 Oct 2007 by "Smith" Reader
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