Barabbas (
- Sharon Tate as Patrician
- Joan Young as Prisoner
Production
thumb|The scene where the [[solar eclipse of February 15, 1961, was used to recreate the crucifixion darkness]]
Before major casting began, Yul Brynner was actively considered for the title role of Barabbas, yet never got the part. His previous Biblical film roles were Rameses II in The Ten Commandments and Solomon in Solomon and Sheba.
The music score by Mario Nascimbene, which was conducted by Franco Ferrara, the noted conductor and lecturer on conducting at several famous international academies, was noted for its unusual, stark experimental component – the composer referred to his work, which included the introduction of electronic sounds achieved by the manipulation of tape speeds, as "new sounds". The main theme was based on the "Kyrie" from "Orbis Factor:Missa XI" which is a part of the Roman Catholic Ordinary. The depiction of the crucifixion was filmed on 15 February 1961 during an actual total eclipse of the sun.
Differences from the book
In Pär Lagerkvist's original novel, Barabbas' later crime that sends him into slavery is left vague. He is sent to the copper mines of Cyprus, rather than Sicily as in the film. Sahak (Vittorio Gassman) and Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) are freed from the mines by an overseer friendly to Christians, rather than it being destroyed by an earthquake. There are no gladiatorial scenes anywhere in the book, as Barabbas is made a field slave and then a house slave to his Roman owner.
Reception
Barabbas received positive reviews; it currently holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 9 reviews with an average rating of 6.8/10.
Awards
- Nominee Best Color Cinematography - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Aldo Tonti)
- Nominee Best Costume Design - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Maria De Matteis)
- Nominee Best Production Design - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Mario Chiari)
- Selected Top Foreign Films of the Year - National Board of Review
See also
- 1961 in film
- List of Italian films of 1961
- List of Easter films
- List of films featuring eclipses