Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15462 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-03-25
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 127 minutes

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

Synopsis
When thief and murderer Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) is freed by the people of Judea rather than Jesus of Nazareth, the criminal struggles to understand why he was chosen to live. Rachel (Silvanno Mangano), the woman he loves, becomes a follower of Jesus, whom she believes has risen from the tomb. Barabbas, however, is unconvinced. Caught preaching, Rachel is stoned to death. Barabbas is sentenced to life working in the sulphur mines. Years later, when Barabbas is chained to Sarak (Vittorio Gassman), a Christian, the mines collapse. Barabbas and Sahak escape, and are taken to Rome and trained to fight. In the Coliseum, Barabbas eventually faces the villainous Torvald (Jack Palance). Academy Award-winning director Richard Fleischer's fictional look at one of the New Testament's most stirring passages showcases strong performances all around.

Customer Reviews

No death for Barabbas!
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.

Just thought you'd like to know ...
If you want Barabbas - and it certainly is a film worth seeing in my view - it is now included in a 4-disk boxed set "Historical Epics" along with Gladiator, Spartacus and The Conqueror (I've reviewed this set elsewhere on Amazon). It represents much better value bought this way.

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!