Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.
Acting
Quinn's haunted eyes carry entire silent sequences.
Cinematography
Technicolor crucifixion eclipse still shocks.
Practical Effects
Real gladiators, real dust, real sunburns.
Director
Richard Fleischer
Anthony Quinn
Barabbas
Silvana Mangano
Rachel
Arthur Kennedy
Pontius Pilate
Katy Jurado
Sara
Harry Andrews
Peter
Vittorio Gassman
Sahak
Norman Wooland
Rufio
Valentina Cortese
Julia
Jack Palance
Torvald
Ernest Borgnine
Lucius
Arnoldo Foà
Joseph of Arimathea
Michael Gwynn
Lazarus
Laurence Payne
Disciple
Douglas Fowley
Vasasio
Guido Celano
Scorpio
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The solar eclipse during the crucifixion was a real 1961 total eclipse filmed in Italy; producers scheduled the entire shoot around it.
This was the last major Hollywood biblical epic before the genre collapsed, making it both a climax and a tombstone for 1950s religious spectacle.
US
