Barabbas (1961 film)

Barabbas
Theatrical release one sheet by Frank McCarthy
Directed byRichard Fleischer
Screenplay byChristopher Fry[a]
Based onBarabbas
(1950 novel)
by Pär Lagerkvist
Produced byDino De Laurentiis
StarringAnthony Quinn
Arthur Kennedy
Jack Palance
Silvana Mangano
Harry Andrews
Ernest Borgnine
Katy Jurado
Vittorio Gassman
CinematographyAldo Tonti
Edited byRaymond Poulton
Music byMario Nascimbene
Production
company
Distributed byDino de Laurentiis Cinematografica (Italy)
Columbia Pictures (U.S.)
Release dates
  • December 23, 1961 (1961-12-23) (Italy)
  • October 10, 1962 (1962-10-10) (U.S.)
Running time
137 minutes
CountriesItaly
United States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2,900,000 (US/ Canada)[2]

Barabbas (Italian: Barabba[1]) is a 1961 religious epic film directed by Richard Fleischer for Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica, expanding on the life of Barabbas, from the Christian Passion narrative in the Gospel of Mark and other gospels. It stars Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Katy Jurado, Arthur Kennedy, Harry Andrews, Ernest Borgnine, Vittorio Gassman, and Jack Palance. The screenplay is based on Nobel Prize-winner Pär Lagerkvist's 1950 novel of the same title.

The film was shot in Verona and Rome. It included many highly acclaimed scenes, including a battle of gladiators in a Cinecittà film studio mock-up of the Colosseum, and a crucifixion shot during an actual total solar eclipse. It was released in Italy on December 23, 1961, and in the United States by Columbia Pictures on October 10, 1962. In Italy, the film was nominated for three Nastro d'Argento Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design).

A previous film version of the novel, in Swedish, had been made in 1953.


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  1. ^ a b "Barabba (1961)". BFI Collections. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  2. ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1963". Variety. Penske Business Media. 8 January 1964. p. 71. Retrieved 18 July 2018. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.