Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical that “frequently comes across as dated and the product of a particular era.” The sixties were a time for change and reinventing rules. “The decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the fall or relaxation of some social taboos especially relating to sexism and racism that occurred during this time”

Jesus Christ Super Star became a stage musical in 1971 and the film was released in 1973 by director, Norman Jewison. The film was originally a Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice. Unlike the musical play, the director took the play off stage and filmed it in the Negev desert. This film is released about five years after the Civil Rights Movement ends and this is the first time in theater we see an African American Judas or an African American with a prominent role in Jesus films.

What the film emphasized
Like other films and productions on Jesus, this movie places emphasis on the suffering of Jesus into his crucifixion. Jewison lost me somewhere in the middle because I did wonder who the real superstar of this film was. Judas was portrayed as Jesus’ opponent. We see Judas as the character whose values and behavior are in conflict with those of Jesus while Jesus seems carefree as he sings along. There is no secret the movie is based on the conflict between Jesus and Judas.

Films intentions
To someone that is looking for the traditional characteristics of Jesus, this film is not the best choice. The Jesus in this movie does a lot of singing and less teaching like other films. Healing miracles don’t seem present and I would say the films intentions focuses more on his death than his resurrection.

This film is not intended for someone that as a practical understanding and view of life and Christianity.

Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell
Another musical that was directed the same year as Jesus Christ Superstar was Godspell. While both movies are musicals I feel they are geared to two different audiences. Godspell shows us a Jesus that is full of energy, entertaining, and funny to the extent of being absurd but I’m not sure if that was intentional or the filmmaker’s motive. The Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar is geared to a more mature audience that does not care to see a flowered Jesus that hangs out with teenagers that want to run around the city of New York and retell the Parables and stories in the gospels. Interesting to see in the musicals is that in one he is a clown and the other he seems laid back while Judas is the one that seems serious about what is going on.

My feelings about this film - who is the real superstar, Jesus or Judas?