X
- 1973
- G
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 1973
- G
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
Summary Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life told in an anachronistic manner.
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Written By: Melvyn Bragg, Tim Rice, Norman Jewison
- 1973
- G
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
- 1973
- G
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 46 m
Jesus Christ Superstar
64
7.0
Where to Watch
Summary Film version of the musical stage play, presenting the last few weeks of Christ's life told in an anachronistic manner.
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Written By: Melvyn Bragg, Tim Rice, Norman Jewison
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 Critic Reviews
64
29% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
71% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 Critic Reviews
64
29% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
71% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
However dated stylistically (everybody’s dressed, to put it baldly, like hippies) it remains immensely powerful.
A bright and sometimes breathtaking retelling of the rock opera of the same name. It is, indeed, a triumph over that work; using most of the same words and music, it succeeds in being light instead of turgid, outward-looking instead of narcissistic.
Norman Jewison's film version of the 1969 legit stage project in a paradoxical way is both very good and very disappointing at the same time. The abstract film concept veers from elegantly simple through forced metaphor to outright synthetic in dramatic impact.
The music quickly becomes monotonous, and the operatic dialogue is silly right from the start—but Carl Anderson as Judas and Joshua Mostel as an unbelievably campy King Herod almost make this 1973 film worth sitting through.
Despite the impressive desert locations and an array of tanks (to represent the ills of modern militarism), it's still staged like a student revue. Most notable moments are the garden of Gethsemane scene, where Jewison cuts in leering Pharisees and crucifixion details from Flemish masters to supremely kitschy effect, and the scene of Christ being flogged, shot in sadistic slow motion.
Yvonne Elliman is electrifying as Mary Magdalene, and Carl Anderson couldn't have been better as Judas; but Ted Neeley as Jesus is more whiny than heroic.
If it weren't for Lost Horizon, this would have gone down in history as the Worst Musical of 1973.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 12 User Ratings
7.0
75% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
8% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
17% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 12 User Ratings
7.0
75% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
8% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
17% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
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