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?

The Cleansing of The Temple

My focus aspect for the semester has been the Cleaning of the Temple. The three films that I have chosen to analyze in regards to my focus aspect are Cecil B. DeMille’s silent Film King of Kings, Norman Jewison’s film of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s’ Rock Opera Jesus Christ Superstar, and Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. Each of these films takes a unique look at this memorable scene from the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. I also believe that the filmmakers in each of these three films took this scene seriously and found it to be a crucial part of both their film and the way that they portrayed Christ as a person and as the savior of humanity.

Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings

DeMille’s Depiction of Christ and the Cleansing of the Temple did not sit well with me initially. I felt like Jesus looked weak and effeminate in the scene. He seemed disengaged and uninterested in what was really happening. This did not seem to me to be the Jesus that I knew. He looked old, pasty, and frail. I questioned both DeMille’s casting and his directing of the scene. I felt as though my view of DeMille’s depiction of Jesus was tainted from this scene. While I liked the gentle way that he treated the adulterous woman in the scene before I expected to see him respond in a stronger way to the moneychangers in the temple. When I saw him pick up the leather whip I expected to see him use it but he only held it. He said all the write words but his actions didn’t seem strong enough to match his strong words.

It is however interesting to look at DeMille’s explanation for his depiction “The slightest trace of overacting would have ruined it... 
He simply picked up a leather thong and wrapped one end of it around his hand, but with such authority that it was entirely believable when the money-changers fled in confusion from a Christ whose anger was the more terrible because so perfectly
 controlled”[1] This is very interesting to think about this idea that his anger was the more terrible because so perfectly
 controlled. Clearly, more than entertainment was in the mind of DeMille. It would appear that controlled anger was very much a part of his Christology. This certainly makes me look at how DeMille’s Jesus is depicted in other scenes in the film.

Norman Jewison’s film of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s’ Rock Opera Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar has always been one of my favorite films and musicals. I enjoy the way that Jesus is depicted through both Jewison’s direction and Ted Neely’s acting.

It is clear in this depiction that the director holds one belief and wants the view to have a clear feeling that Jesus believed in justice. This is evident when Jesus did the cleansing of the temple; he was showing justice since he did not want people disrespecting the house of God or being taken advantage of.

While I found this depiction of Jesus as a whole in the film to be a bit lacking a felt like he was strong and well played in the Cleaning of the Temple. In the rest of the film he seems like and angsty teenager who is lost in his own skin and upset with his parents. While I do think that is in many ways Jesus is represented in the Gospels it just did not work for me on the screen. I felt like in the Temple scene Jesus was strong out of most of the scenes in the films he seems to understand his mission here more.

Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ

In the Last Temptation of Christ we see a downright angry Jesus he takes issue with everything that is going on and quite simply Jesus goes on a rampage. In this depiction of the Cleansing of the temple Jesus becomes so angry and is so violent that as I viewer I almost began to lose some of my understanding that I was watching Christ being depicted. He is sweating, struggling, and so emotional that this scene almost depicts him as too human. Knowing that one of Scorsese’s goals was to wrestle with the two natures of Jesus, both human and divine, I understand this added dose of humanity in the scene it just seems to put me as a viewer off.

Another part that I found myself critical of in this depiction was all of the dialogue between Jesus and the temple leaders. It seemed to me that there was quite a bit added he and much of it I didn’t even feel was needed. This added dialogue seemed to push the depiction of Jesus too far and make me question how he was even able to walk out of there alive after the things he said. It is clear that Scorsese was aware of this and it seems intentional as the disciples almost escort Jesus out before he says anything more. While I liked the look of this scene it just seemed to over the top for me to really connect with.

Conclusions

Out of the three films depictions of the cleaning of the temple I fell that I connected most with the Jesus Christ Superstar depiction. What was interesting to me however was how over the course of the semester I have become fonder of the King of Kings depiction. There does seem to be something to be said for DeMille’s idea of a controlled anger in his portrayal of Jesus Christ. All of the films makers seemed to so a respect for this scene and its importance and all seemed to make it a key part of their films. I believe that it would be hard for anyone’s view of their depictions of Jesus not to be affected by how he is portrayed in the Cleansing of the Temple in each of these films.

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[1] Donald Hayne, ed., The Autobiography of Cecil B. DeMille (New York: Garland Publishing, 1985), p. 277

Jesus Christ Superstar?

Who is the Superstar Jesus or Judas?

This 1973 film starring Ted Neely as Jesus is based on an earlier Broadway “rock opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice.

The film was filmed on location in Israel though the sets are ambiguous in nature and do not represent any true historical locations.

The cast is made up of a very stereotypical late 60’ early 70’s group of ragtag hippy style actors who are members of a fictitious acting troupe who comes upon this desert setting and immediately begins to set up for the production. Quickly the actors are in costume and the production begins. It is obvious from the very beginning that this film unlike others that have been reviewed earlier here will have a unique emphasis on Judas. The film follows the story of Christ through to his crucifixion and death from the viewpoint of Judas. As with other films of the era there is no resurrection scene and the film leaves the viewer to struggle with the questions of whom Christ was for themselves.

Key Characters-

Jesus Christ (Ted Neely)

- In Jesus Christ Superstar Nelly brings a new look and feel to the role of Jesus. Neely truly puts the rock into rock Opera with his strong vocals matching up with Weber’s and Rice’s music and lyrics. The Feel of Jesus in this film is different then others as Neely play him as more of an agnsty teen then the childlike or disconnected heavenly figures that viewers have experienced in other films. The role certainly was one that Neely found a connection with as he has continued on Broadway and many touring companies of the live production of the rock opera.

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Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson)

- In a departure from the stage actor role of Judas played by Ben Vereen we see Carl Anderson cast to take on what in this film is the lead role of Judas Iscariot. Anderson brings strong vocals and a commanding presence to the role of Judas. We see Judas in this film in a completely different light then other Jesus films as he is a key role and in many ways the main role in this film with his story even at many times eclipsing the story of Christ. Viewers see Judas as conflicted between his view of Jesus as a revolutionary come to change the structures of the day and his role as messiah. As Jesus comes closer to fulfilling his role as messiah Judas becomes angry with him and frustrated that he is deviating form “the plan.” Judas over and over again talks about what a great man Jesus is and all that he can do for the poor and the oppressed Jews of the day. Viewers find that the ultimate reason for his betrayal to be his belief that Jesus has completely lost touch with the reality of what Judas believes to be his mission and that he has become more dangerous to himself and his followers. The climax of this comes in Judas’ suicide and subsequent return with is reprise of the title song Jesus Christ Superstar.

Key Scenes-

There are many key scenes in which the viewer must struggle with if this is or is not the story of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ or rather the story of Judas Iscariot. SO the Question at hand is Who is the real Superstar of Jesus Christ Superstar?

The First major musical piece of the film is Jesus singing about his call and role as savior of the world but rather Judas critiquing Jesus work and how it is not in line with his vision of what “the plan” should be and the way Jesus should be acting.

Key scenes that illustrate Judas struggle and showing the focus of the film on Judas and his struggle include when Mary is Anointing Jesus with Oil, the Cleansing of the Temple, Judas Suicide, and the final Closing Scene that includes Judas reprise of the Title Song Jesus Christ Superstar.

- Judas struggles with the idea that Mary would lavish Jesus with expensive oil that he believes could feed many of the poor. Viewers must wrestle with Jesus response that the poor will always be with us. In this scene it is very easy for viewers to sympathize with Judas and become confused and annoyed by Jesus response.

- - In the Cleansing of the Temple we again see Jesus again deviate from “the plan” when he offends the Jewish and Roman authorities. Judas here is upset believing that Jesus has brought unwanted and dangerous attention to their mission. The scene certainly feels awkward and again viewers are forced to think about if Judas's point makes scene or not.

- - In this film Judas Suicide is more of a focus then other films we have reviewed so far. This clearly shows the filmmakers focus on Judas. In many ways some viewers could argue that Judas death is larger in this film the that of Jesus.

- - The final Reprise again puts Jesus and Judas toe to toe and places Judas as the central figure questioning why everything went so wrong and how they got to the place that Jesus had to die and how the entire plan fell apart.

Given that there is no resurrection scene and Judas reprise and Jesus death ends the films as viewers watch the actors silently load back up their sets and costumes onto their bus and leave without Neely the ending focus remains Judas’s questions. Viewers must ask why such a focus on Judas? Is it the historical Judas that the filmmakers so wanted viewers to focus on or is it that in some ways Judas and his questions simply represent the questions that viewers today continue to ask about who Jesus was and what his life and mission was for the world?