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| Jesus of Nazareth Special Edition [1977] | ![Jesus of Nazareth Special Edition [1977]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G37WRZ7WL._SL160_.jpg)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 9 reviews)
Sales Rank: 5813
Category: DVD
Actors: Robert Powell, Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Michael York, James Mason
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Publisher: ITV DVD
Studio: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
Label: ITV DVD
Format: Box Set, Pal, Special Edition
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Media: DVD
Running Time: 372 minutes
Number Of Items: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5037115220332
ASIN: B000H5TIKG
Release Date: October 16, 2006
Theatrical Release Date: 1977
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
JESUS OF NAZARETH SPECIAL EDITION October 29, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I waited for years to get this on dvd and when the full ed was announced, i ordered it without fail, but what a let down.
What on earth made the people who released this special ed, miss out some crucial moments such as the last supper bread dipping and the John the baptist head on a platter scene?
There must be at least 5-10 mins missing form this supposed full ed; version!
It would have been nice, if they had included a booklet to go with it.I bought it but can only rate it three out of five.
So near yet not quite the special ed i hoped for.
 Great Series - really poor DVD set August 8, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
In it's full form Jesus of Nazareth staring Robert Powell is just about the best TV series ever made - but this box set says it is the full unedited version.
No way - I brought this to replace my video set and then find out that this DVD set is missing three vital scenes of the series! Do not waste your money, find the full version!
Looks great, sounds odd April 10, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have strong memories of seeing this on television over Easter thirty years ago. Robert Powell's portrayal of Christ made a strong impression on me then, and I was pleased to be able to pick up the original DVD version of this film from Amazon a couple of years ago. This extended version is even better, containing (it seems) just about all of the original footage, which is all valuable. The photography, costumes, direction and settings are beautiful and memorable, but I'm less happy with the sound and the dialogue. Much of the latter has obviously been overdubbed (a small number of the actors were apparently not speaking English on the set), and the tone can be hopelessly jarring in places - so much so that I wondered if it might even have been better as a silent film. The parade of big stars that take on bit parts can be somewhat uneven as well; I thought Anthony Quinn dreadfully histrionic as Caiaphas, but liked Rod Steiger's thoughtful, worried Pilate a lot.
But maybe the problem is attempting to find a memorable way to portray stories that have long been familiar to much of the audience: just seeing the three kings converging in a clearing under palm trees conjures up so many memories of school nativity plays, it's hard to imagine how they could ever come across as anything other than stylised. In the midst of all this, Robert Powell makes some good choices in his portrayal of Jesus; the unblinking gaze, the voice and the infrequent fleeting amused expression all mean he's always the focus of any scene. And some of these are unforgettable; for example, the parable of the Prodigal Son, told in Matthew's house as an appeal to Peter to love his neighbour as himself.
 Missing scenes! February 21, 2007
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
I too was very disappointed to find missing episodes from this powerful film. It had been advertised as 'full, un-edited version' portraying the death of Jesus. This is simply not the case as the second disc simply ended, missing out the crucial end episodes. I am furious at the misleading information, especially as the DVD is not cheap.
Desperately disappointing ... November 6, 2006
98 out of 99 found this review helpful
First of all, it should be pointed out that this film is a superb piece of television, beautifully crafted from a first-rate director, and marvellously performed by one of the best ensembles ever to grace our screens. In Franco Zeffirelli, this film benefited from a director of great vision who was sympathetic to the storyline, and Robert Powell's performance as Jesus is representative of both the compassionate grace of Christ, as well as demonstrating his strength of character (for instance, when challenging the Pharisees).
I have long awaited the full version of this film to be released on DVD in the UK; in between its last (dreadfully edited) video release and this current offering, I have acquired a Dutch DVD edition (fine for viewing, as the subtitles are removable), and even an Australian edition, of which the packaging actually echoes the original 80s video release, and therefore is of sentimental value. The reasons for the huge disappointment, however, are twofold: 2007 sees the 30th Anniversary of this film's first showing, and it would have been appropriate for this edition to have included either a booklet or DVD extras within the packaging. Neither exists, and as such is a wasted opportunity. More disturbing, however, is the blatant untruth of the presentation: it is labelled on the box as being "374 minutes approx."; how approximate do they wish to be? It is actually a mere 363 minutes, the remaining eleven having been omitted from episode 4, and producing a serious flaw in the plot line. We miss the fictitious (though dramatically necessary) scene where the priest Zerah persuades Judas to bring Jesus to the Sanhedrin; but more shockingly, we have also lost the essential scene that follows (this time based on the gospel narrative), from the early part of the Last Supper sequence, in which Jesus predicts Judas' betrayal and sends him out on his errand. The action on the DVD only resumes with Judas leaving the Upper Room, with anyone unfamiliar with the story (possibly young children watching for the first time) at a loss about what is now going on.
The blurb on the back of the DVD packaging announces for all the world to read that this is the "full, unedited version" of the film. It is NOT, and ITV DVD have made a heinous error in promoting it as such. Did they not realise there would be aficionados who would spot the omissions? Was the problem that the last two episodes couldn't be squeezed onto a single disc? I would have quite happily settled for the programme spread over four discs if necessary, if only to have had the full film. Surely there is a contravention of advertising standards here, and the distributors should be called to account. It is impossible to recommend this edition in the light of these factors, although people coming to the film for the first time may wonder why anyone is fussing. In my case, I grew up with this film. There has never been a production which I have watched so often (in spite of its length), no movie which I know quite as well by heart. Yet here I am, STILL waiting for a full UK release, despite the billing attached to this edition. Please, avoid buying, and contact ITV DVD to encourage them to re-release - maybe in time for the 30th Anniversary - an edition we can finally call, "complete".
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