Product Description

This is the fictional story of Barabbas based on a fascinating passage in the New Testament, when Pontius Pilate asks the people of Jerusalem whom they want freed - Jesus of Nazareth or Barabbas (two-time Academy Award-winner Anthony Quinn), a thief and murderer - the people cry out for Barabbas. And though he is set free, the event is one that haunts Barabbas for the rest of his life. After watching his former lover, Rachel, being stoned to death for her belief in Jesus, Barabbas returns to his life of thievery. Arrested again, he is sent to the sulfur mines and then to a gladiator school where he witnesses yet another friend giving his life in the name of the Nazarene. It is only at the end, when Barabbas himself faces crucifixion, that he discovers his faith.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71704 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2008-03-04
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 137 minutes

Customer Reviews

What if....
The imaginative novel by Par Lagerkvist that ponders what might have happened to Barabbas once he was freed by the Romans, his place taken by Jesus at Calvary, certainly inspired Dino de Laurentiis' own imagination. Dino decided to hire everybody in Hollywood who was looking for work and whipped up this overlong 137 minute epic to compete in the post-"Ben Hur" movie spectacular era of the early '60s. Anthony Quinn grunts and groans his way through the entire film wondering, "Why me?" Arthur Kennedy in a toga does not a Roman make. Silvana Mangano (Mrs. de Laurentiis) literally gets stoned in a cameo appearance. Dino, what were you thinking? Lots of other "name" actors try to make a go of it, but it is only Jack Palance who may have a handle on things with his comically camp gladiator in a chariot. Hmmm, wonder where they got the idea for the chariot?