Jesus of Nazareth: The Complete Miniseries [40th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray]

Overview

Because director Franco Zeffirelli noted publicly that he intended to depict Jesus Christ as a human being rather than a religious icon, his expensive made-for-TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth fell victim to protestors long before its April 3, 1977, debut. Despite the pullout of several sponsors, Jesus of Nazareth was aired as scheduled, sweeping the ratings in the process. In avoiding the usual overproduced Hollywood approach to the Gospels, Zeffirelli offers one of the most sensitive and reverent portrayals of Jesus ever seen on film. In the title role, Robert Powell heads a huge international cast, which includes Olivia Hussey as Mary, Peter Ustinov as Herod the Great, Christopher Plummer as Herod Antipas, Michael York as John the Baptist, James Farentino as Simon Peter, Donald Pleasence as Melchior, James Earl Jones as Balthazar, Ian McShane as Judas, Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene, Rod Steiger as Pontius Pilate, James Mason as Joseph of Arimathea, Anthony Quinn as Caiaphas, Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus, Ernest Borgnine as the Centurion, and Claudia Cardinale as the Adulteress. Filmed in England, Tunisia, and Morocco, Jesus of Nazareth was scripted by Zeffirelli, Anthony Burgess, and Suso Cecchi D'Amico. It originally aired in two three-hour segments, telecast Palm and Easter Sunday of 1977 as part of NBC's Big Event anthology.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/23/2016
UPC:	0826663165012
Original Release:	1977
Rating:	NR
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	6:24:00
Sales rank:	12,728

Special Features

New Interviews with Actor Michael York and Best-Selling Author Jean-Pierre Isbouts

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert Powell	Jesus Christ
Olivia Hussey	Virgin Mary
Peter Ustinov	Herod the Great
Christopher Plummer	Herod Antipas
Anne Bancroft	Mary Magdalene
James Mason	Joseph of Arimathea
Ian McShane	Judas
Laurence Olivier	Nicodemus
Rod Steiger	Pontius Pilate
Ernest Borgnine	Centurion
Claudia Cardinale	Adulteress
James Farentino	Peter
Ian Holm	Zerah
James Jones	Balthazar
Stacy Keach	Barabbas
Tony Lo Bianco	Quintilius
Simon MacCorkindale	Actor
Robert Olivier	Actor
Donald Pleasence	Melchior
Anthony Quinn	Caiaphas
Michael York	John the Baptist
Cyril Cusack	Yehuda
Ralph Richardson	Simeon
Fernando Rey	Gaspar
Valentina Cortese	Herodias
Yorgo Voyagis	Joseph
Maurice Jarre	Composer

Technical Credits

Anthony Burgess

Suso Cecchi d'Amico

Franco Zeffirelli	Director
Anthony Burgess	Screenwriter
Suso Cecchi d'Amico	Screenwriter