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Jesus Christ Superstar | Year: 1973 Classification: Musical Actors/Actresses: - Carl Anderson - Ted Neeley - Yvonne Elliman - Carl Anderson (II) This video will stay in your mind forever! This video is an absolute gem. When I saw the movie on release in the cinema I sobbed my heart out. It wasn't just that I knew this story didn't have a happy ending: its themes of love and betrayal, looking for redemption and coping with grave doubt struck a deep chord which stayed with me all my life. The key scenes are extraordinary - the rage in the Temple, Jesus' and Judas's confrontation at the Last Supper, Pilate's bafflement, the turmoil of 'Gethsemane' leading up to the heartrending climax. All the performers play their parts with empathy and verve. I love Ian Gillan, but Ted Neeley is superb as Jesus, his voice managing to convey virility and vulnerability - and the camera loves him. Carl Anderson's portrayal of Judas is both passionate and sympathetic. I was delighted to read that over 20 years later these two actors were still working together - their on-screen chemistry is great. Tim Rices's excellent lyrics, the 60s guitars and the audacious filmic techniques (which could've only been attempted with a straight face in the 70s) combine to make this a powerful portrayal of Christ's final days that will linger with you for a long, long time. Jesus for the Hippie Crowd Jesus Christ Superstar isn't your average telling of the Messiah story. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, along with director Norman Jewison, take a very tongue-in-cheek approach to the telling of Christ's passion week. It's a telling that's ultra-reflective of the early 70s in which is was produced. The movie begins as a delapedated school bus loaded with actors and dancers rolls into the dessert, and then the kids on the bus begin unloading everything from a large cross to submachine guns. They then begin to tell the story of Jesus, completely in song and dance; there is no exposition, so if you don't at least have a passing idea of the events of Jesus' life, you'll be completely lost. This movie also represents an unique blend of biblical times, modern times (ok, the early 70s), and a world that only exists in the costumer's and choreographer's minds. For example, while Jesus and his disciples mostly where approximate attempts at the robes worn in biblical times, their Roman oppressors march around in modern fatigues with purple tank tops and Army helmets not unlike those worn by American troops in Vietnam (except in shiny silver). The people tend sheep just like in olden times, the Romans have tanks and jets. Obviously no attempt was made at accuracy of anything. The shirtless Sanhedrin with their gigantic black "pope" hats, for example, don't even hint at biblical times. The actor cast as Jesus looks as if he came from Norway. Judas is an African-American actor, who spends most of the movie in a fire-red spandex jumpsuit. Getting the picture? But then, historical accuracy never was the point. The point was to tell the Messiah story in a way that makes it hip and cool. This telling is most definitely fun, even if it isn't the least bit educational. On many levels, this telling serves well as a reward to the Sunday school class that just completed an indepth study of the Gospels, because it does little to explain the events in the story but does everything to liven them up and add unforgettable imagery. Most powerful movie ever produced! Too many people miss the point. This movie was not made as a literal portrayal of Jesus' last days...it was (and remains) a figurative interpretation of the last days of one who would inspire a new branch of religion. From the opening moments of the movie when Carl Anderson (Judas) sings ("...my mind is clearer now, at last, all too well, I can see, what we all, soon will be...") through Ted Neely (Christ) during "Gethsemane" ("Allright! I'll die, just watch me die!") the viewer is mesmerized by some of the most powerful music, lyrics, and staging ever written and performed. This particular sequence (when Jesus is climbing the mountain, fairly crying out for God's explanation of things to come ~ "Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain") still brings tears to my eyes and I've seen this movie at least 100 times! The movie was shot on location in Israel a few years after the 6 day war, and during the Vietnam war. These realities are not lost on the writers, and evidence of their beliefs and opinions are sprinkled throughout the movie (the tanks coming over the horizon and the F-16's flying over Judas' head were a nice touch). Their religious convictions are displayed in such moments as when the priests are on the scaffolding ("He is dangerous") and the crowd extols Jesus below ("Haysanna, hosannah, sanna sanna ho, sanna hey sanna hosanna; hey JC, JC won't you die for me...") watch Jesus' face at that moment.... Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdelene) does a fine job of balancing the angst of Judas with the over-arching compassion of Jesus, and Barry Dennen (Pilate) captures a high point when he washes his hands of Jesus' plight. Bob Bingham's (Caiphas) bass rattles your soul with his deep melodic tonality. While the acting is certainly not on par with the great actors of our times, one has to take that with a grain of salt. I was 7 when I first saw it and I still watch this movie at least once per year (can you guess which day? :) By far this is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at their best. Buy Jesus Christ Superstar at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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