The Day Christ Died

*The Day Christ Died*
The Day Christ Died
Genre	Drama
Written by	Edward Anhalt ; James Lee Barrett
Directed by	James Cellan Jones
Starring	Chris Sarandon
Music by	Laurence Rosenthal
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Martin Manulis
Production location	Tunisia
Cinematography	Franco Di Giacomo
Editor	Barry Peters
Running time	142 min.
Production company	20th Century Fox Television
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	March 26, 1980

The Day Christ Died is a 1980 American television film directed by James Cellan Jones. The collaborative production by 20th Century Fox and CBS-TV dramatizes the last 24 hours of Jesus Christ's life and is based on Jim Bishop's 1957 book of the same name.^[1] The book was co-adapted by James Lee Barrett, who, 15 years prior, had scripted The Greatest Story Ever Told for George Stevens.

Bishop, who did not accept the adaptation, had his name removed from the credits. He called the film "cheap revisionist history", and even tried unsuccessfully to change the film's title.^[2] The Day Christ Died was filmed in Tunisia, at a cost of US$2.8 million.^[3] It was broadcast by CBS-TV on Wednesday, March 26, 1980.^[4]

Plot

Around the same time that a popular mob hero named Barabbas is arrested and convicted by Pontius Pilate and his lieutenant governor/aide Tullius, Jesus of Nazareth arrives in Jerusalem in time for the celebration of the Passover/Seder. The High Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, who oppose and find Jesus to be a menace and danger to their traditions, scarcely bargain with Pilate on how to detain Jesus. This ideas initially goes well with Pilate since he fears a riot from a mob clamoring for Barabbas release. When Jesus is finally condemned by the Sanhedrin and handed over to Pilate, he uses him as a decoy or alternative to please the Jerusalem populace by acquitting Barabbas and sentencing Jesus to be crucified in his place.

Cast

Chris Sarandon as Jesus Christ
Colin Blakely as Caiaphas
Keith Michell as Pontius Pilatus
Jonathan Pryce as Herod Antipas
Barrie Houghton as Judas
Tim Pigott-Smith as Tullius
Jay O. Sanders as Simon Peter
Eleanor Bron as Mary
Delia Boccardo as Mary Magdelene
Hope Lange as Claudia (Pontius Pilate's wife)
Oliver Cotton as John
Rod Dana as Abenadar
Gordon Gostelow as Nicodemus
Nando Paone as Thaddeus
Samuele Cerri as Nathaniel

References

^ Alex Keneas Newsday (Mar 26, 1980). "A Question of Intrigue". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ Winfrey, Lee (Mar 24, 1980). "Film Treatment Annoys His Author". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Revised Christ Draws Writer's Ire". Montreal Gazette. Mar 17, 1980. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "The Day Christ Died". The Evening News. March 23, 1980. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

External links

The Day Christ Died at IMDb

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[1] Alex Keneas Newsday (Mar 26, 1980). "A Question of Intrigue". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[2] Winfrey, Lee (Mar 24, 1980). "Film Treatment Annoys His Author". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[ded-3] "Revised Christ Draws Writer's Ire". Montreal Gazette. Mar 17, 1980. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

[4] "The Day Christ Died". The Evening News. March 23, 1980. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

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