# Jesus Christ Superstar - 1973 film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488 "2012-02-21T01:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/41 "2012-02-23T06:04:34Z")
I remember when this whole thread began… no talk of Glenn then… Anyway, the first time Neeley really lost me is when he rebuked Judas. > [@](#): > > "Who are you to criticize her? > Who are you to despise her? > Leave her leave her! > Let her be now > Leave her leave her > She’s with me now! That’s supposed to be a _very angry_ outburst. Neeley sounds like somebody mildly p.o.d at an aunt who hurt hurt his feeling, more pouty than furious. My favorite film bio of Christ remains Zeffirelli’s miniseries _Jesus of Nazareth_. It’s interesting to me that both that version and _Superstar_ (which came several years before it) feature a very sympathetic Judas, one more in line with the Gospel of Judas. In neither version is Judas motivated by greed or in any way wanting Jesus to die but rather is trying to speed up his coming to power. I’ve wondered if Zeffirelli was inspired by Rice/Webber in that regard. (The official novelization of the miniseries was done by Anthony Burgess but was largely disregarded and for good reason- it’s awful.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/42 "2012-02-23T07:44:52Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > That’s supposed to be a _very angry_ outburst. Neeley sounds like somebody mildly p.o.d at an aunt who hurt hurt his feeling, more pouty than furious. The weird thing is I’ve seen reviews from back in the seventies that argued the opposite point. They called Neeley “Screaming Jesus” and said he was acting too emotional. Jesus had traditionally been portrayed as beatific and actors playing him (like [Max von Sydow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnDk_Dpm09I) and [Jeffrey Hunter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t9i4qowU7o)) didn’t even raise their voices. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/43 "2012-02-23T13:01:23Z")
I agree with both the “Screaming Jesus” and the “petulant” description of Neely in the role. If I put the movie on and surf the dope, rarely raising eyes to the screen, it sounds like he’s emoting all over the place. Neely’s VOICE is rather hammy and sometimes overdone, with a side of constipation. Neely’s FACE looks like a Botox accident. So he both overacts (voice) and underacts (face) at the same time. That being said, I think we have to give this show credit for making it even fathomable to play Jesus as other than beatific, and Judas as other than a blackhearted villain. It’s a huge part of why I love it. I’m far more interested in human beings and their foibles than I am gods and puppets of destiny. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/44 "2012-02-23T13:27:09Z")
Spelling Ted Neeley’s name wrong (as every second post in this thread does) makes greasy baby Jesus cry. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/45 "2012-02-23T13:30:02Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > In 1973, Ian Gillan was lead singer of Deep Purple, who’d just recorded the smash album _ **Machine Head** _, featuring the classic hit “Smoke on the Water.” Deep Purple was selling out big arenas all over the world that year, so even if Norman Jewison had WANTED Gillan to play Jesus, Gillan probably would have had to turn him down. He just didn’t have time, and was probably making MUCH more money on the concert circuit than JEwsion could have paid him. And yet it’s not unknown for very successful musicians to take time off from their touring and recording duties to star in films. John Lennon and Art Garfunkel both did this at the height of their popularity. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/46 "2012-02-23T13:34:04Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Spelling Ted Neeley’s name wrong (as every second post in this thread does) makes greasy baby Jesus cry. Sorrey. We’re rationing e’s these dayes. Recession, you knowe. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/47 "2012-02-23T13:38:19Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > If I put the movie on and surf the dope, rarely raising eyes to the screen, it sounds like he’s emoting all over the place. > > Neely’s VOICE is rather hammy and sometimes overdone, with a side of constipation. Neely’s FACE looks like a Botox accident. So he both overacts (voice) and underacts (face) at the same time. I just did this as an experiment - and y’know what? You’re right. Did the What’s the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying sequence…and without paying attention to the video, the only time his vocal performance is noticeably weak is when he’s defending Mary (unfortunately, that’s the part of the segment he _needs_ to really hit it). It’s just…he’s wandering around looking like he doesn’t really _know where he is_…the emoting that he’s doing with his face and body are…dull, and feel kind of like he’s just hitting his mark, rather than actually feeling it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/48 "2012-02-23T15:05:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > And yet it’s not unknown for very successful musicians to take time off from their touring and recording duties to star in films. John Lennon and Art Garfunkel both did this at the height of their popularity. Not unknown… but after 1966, the Beatles didn’t tour any more. So, if John Lennon wanted to do \*\*\*How I Won the War \*\*\*or Ringo wanted to do _ **The Magic Christian,** _, that wasn’t going to cause any tour delays. As for Art Garfunkel, well, things were complicated there. Paul Simon was a brilliant songwriter but NOT a prolific one. There were a lot of long periods when the duo wasn’t touring and when Simon’s Muse wasn’t inspiring him, and Garfunkel was left twiddling his thumbs for months. He may always have had some interest in acting, but I’m sure he took the role of Nately in\*\*\* Catch 22 \*\*\*partly out of boredom and partly to send Simon a message (“I’m not just a flunky who’s going to wait around for YOU”). 1973 was probably Deep Purple’s biggest year, in terms of record sales AND as a concert attraction. A few years earlier OR later, and Gillan would probably have done the movie (assuming it was offered to him). But not in 1973. Not with hundreds of sold-out hockey arenas waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/49 "2012-02-23T15:14:11Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Spelling Ted Neeley’s name wrong (as every second post in this thread does) makes greasy baby Jesus cry. I started it, I guess. My apologies to Mr. Neeley. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/50 "2012-02-23T16:24:49Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I started it, I guess. My apologies to Mr. Neeley. Don’t worry. Teed won’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/51 "2012-02-23T16:30:25Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I just wanted all of you to know that I’ve been singing “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” obsessively for the past two days. > > I never thought I’d come to this! > [@DocCathode](#): > > Last night, I dreamt I met a Gallileean! :eek: Hosanna Heysanna sanna sanna hey… ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/52 "2012-02-23T16:41:36Z")
For you’ll have the power and the glory, forever, and ever and ever… It’s like every song in the thing is a potential damned earworm. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/53 "2012-02-23T16:52:12Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > For you’ll have the power and the glory, forever, and ever and ever… > > It’s like every song in the thing is a potential damned earworm. “Crucifixion” not so much. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/54 "2012-02-23T16:54:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > “Crucifixion” not so much. HAHAHAHAHA! What? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/55 "2012-02-23T16:55:09Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I started it, I guess. My apologies to Mr. Neeley. That’s OK. You even had me doing it too for a while. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/56 "2012-02-23T17:17:22Z")
Josh Mostel has already been discussed, but does anyone else remember that the original King Herod was Michael D’Abo, the old singer of Manfred Mann? His daughter Olivia, of course, is a well known actress in her own rght ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/57 "2012-02-23T18:04:25Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > It’s like every song in the thing is a potential damned earworm. One WHACK Two WHACK Three WHACK … Maybe not that one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/58 "2012-02-23T18:56:00Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > One > WHACK > Two > WHACK > Three > WHACK > … > > Maybe not that one. 🙂 I can never remember the lyrics. I think it’s the accents. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/59 "2012-02-23T19:08:56Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > One > WHACK > Two > WHACK > Three > WHACK > … > > Maybe not that one. 🙂 Are you kidding? That song has the best guitar riff in the entire musical, though even if you don’t like it it’s still an earworm because they repeat it 39 times. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488/60 "2012-02-23T19:31:42Z")
BTW, the JCS album was huge in USSR. It was played everywhere, there were amateur underground productions of it all over the place, and it was spoofed (same music, different lyrics, usually humorous/satiric commentary on various aspects of Soviet reality) a few dozen times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar-1973-film/613488.md?page=4)