Because director Franco Zeffirelli noted publicly that he intended to depict Jesus Christ as a human being rather than a religious icon, his expensive made-for-TV miniseries JESUS OF NAZARETH fell victim to protestors long before its 1977 debut. Despite the pullout of several sponsors, JESUS OF NAZARETH was aired as scheduled, sweeping the ratings in the process. In avoiding the usual overproduced Hollywood approach to the Gospels, Zeffirelli offers one of the most sensitive and reverent portrayals of Jesus ever seen on film.
In the title role, Robert Powell heads a huge international cast, which includes Olivia Hussey as Mary, Peter Ustinov as Herod the Great, Christopher Plummer as Herod Antipas, Michael York as John the Baptist, Donald Pleasence as Melchior, James Earl Jones as Balthazar, Ian McShane as Judas, Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene, Rod Steiger as Pontius Pilate, James Mason as Joseph of Arimathea, Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus, and Ernest Borgnine as the Centurion. Filmed in England, Tunisia, and Morocco, JESUS OF NAZARETH was scripted by Zeffirelli, Anthony Burgess, and Suso Cecchi D'Amico.
In the title role, Robert Powell heads a huge international cast, which includes Olivia Hussey as Mary, Peter Ustinov as Herod the Great, Christopher Plummer as Herod Antipas, Michael York as John the Baptist, Donald Pleasence as Melchior, James Earl Jones as Balthazar, Ian McShane as Judas, Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene, Rod Steiger as Pontius Pilate, James Mason as Joseph of Arimathea, Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus, and Ernest Borgnine as the Centurion. Filmed in England, Tunisia, and Morocco, JESUS OF NAZARETH was scripted by Zeffirelli, Anthony Burgess, and Suso Cecchi D'Amico.