Movies - Jesus Christ Superstar

Home > Listing Index > Movies > Jesus Christ Superstar

	Movies - Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Introduced in 1970, it highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The action largely follows the canonical gospels' accounts of the last week of Jesus's life, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. Twentieth-century attitude and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many anachronisms.

A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas who is depicted as an angry, conflicted, and tragic figure.

Plot and songs

The play begins with Judas confronting Jesus, and expressing concern that Christ's popularity is getting out of control ("Heaven On Their Minds"). Jesus is questioned by many of his supporters about the future and is frustrated by their insistence ("What's The Buzz"). In response, Mary Magdalene helps Jesus relax by massaging him with ointment, which makes Judas angry, as he feels that Jesus should not be hanging around with Mary, a former prostitute, and that the expensive ointment should have been used for charity ("Strange Things Mystifying", "Everything's Alright").

Meanwhile, Caiaphas and other high-ranking Jewish priests meet to discuss Jesus' movement. Caiaphas worries that if Jesus' supporters proclaim him as their king, the government of the Roman Empire will see him as a political threat and stage a violent crackdown. The Jewish council decides that Jesus must be killed to protect their own sovereignty ("This Jesus Must Die").

Jesus is confronted by a mob of supporters, and Caiaphas demands he silence them. Jesus replies that this is impossible ("Hosanna"). Simon Zealotes encourages Jesus to gain power by leading the mob against Rome ("Simon Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this suggestion cryptically ("Poor Jerusalem").

In the next scene, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, speaks of having a dream foretelling meeting Jesus and being blamed for his death, although he does not understand what it means ("Pilate's Dream").

Jesus and his supporters come to Jerusalem to visit the Temple. While there, Jesus is enraged to see it has become a "den of thieves", and his supporters cause a small riot. While he leaves he is confronted by a mass of lepers, cripples, and beggars, who beg to be healed. Jesus is overwhelmed ("The Temple"). Meanwhile, Mary sings privately of her complicated feelings towards Jesus ("I Don't Know How To Love Him").

Feeling guilty, Judas secretly visits Caiaphas and complains to him that Jesus' supporters are out of control. Caiaphas convinces Judas to tell him of Jesus' location so he can get the Roman Guard to arrest him. Judas reluctantly obliges ("Damned For All Time/Blood Money".)

Jesus meets with his twelve apostles at the last supper and speaks in dire terms that he will soon be betrayed and killed. Feeling confronted, Judas has a quarrel with Jesus interspersed with the other apostles' focusing on themselves. Judas then runs off ("The Last Supper"). While the apostles sleep, Jesus prays and finally agrees to make the sacrifice that God wants ("Gethsemane").

Jesus is arrested and brought to Caiaphas. Along the way he is confronted by reporters. Caiaphas sends him to the Governor, Pilate ("The Arrest"). One of Jesus's apostles, Peter, meanwhile, denies having been with Jesus at his arrest to three people who ask ("Peter's Denial").

Pilate criticises and mocks Jesus, but eventually comments that since Jesus is from Galilee he is not under his jurisdiction, and sends him to King Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). Herod is very excited to meet Jesus, but quickly becomes frustrated when Christ refuses to perform any miracles for his amusement ("King Herod's Song"). In a scene added for the first film, the apostles and Mary Magdalene wistfully remember the beginnings of their movement ("Could We Start Again Please?")

Judas, now feeling extremely guilty, meets Caiaphas again. He runs off and hangs himself ("Judas' Death").

Jesus is brought back to Pilate, who tries to decide what to do with Jesus. The mob and the priests call loudly for his death. Pilate hesitates, but eventually agrees ("Trial Before Pilate"). The spirit of Judas then appears to Jesus to question him ("Superstar").

Jesus is beaten and crucified ("The Crucifixion"). The play ends with an orchestral piece, "John 19:41". The title is a reference to a verse in the Bible about Jesus being laid in the tomb.

From Album to Broadway

The opera was first heard as an album before being staged—on Broadway and later in London's West End. (The same pattern would be followed by Rice and Lloyd Webber's second musical hit, Evita.) On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan and that of Judas by Murray Head. The future Gary Glitter had a one-liner as a priest and Michael d'Abo appeared as King Herod. The title song, "Superstar", sung by Judas, and "I Don't Know How to Love Him", sung by Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman) about her relationship with Jesus, were both big hits.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Jesus Christ Superstar ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Jesus Christ Superstar; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Movies - Jesus Christ Superstar

Plot and songs

From Album to Broadway

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay