In Search of Historic Jesus
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Lee Roddy
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Robert Starling
Malvin Wald
by Lee Roddy and
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Bill Cornford
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
| In Search of Historic Jesus | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Henning Schellerup |
| Screenplay by | Jack Jacobs Lee Roddy Charles E. Sellier Jr. Robert Starling Malvin Wald |
| Based on | In Search of Historic Jesus by Lee Roddy and Charles E. Sellier Jr. |
| Produced by | James L. Conway Bill Cornford Charles E. Sellier Jr. |
| Starring | John Rubinstein Brad Crandall |
| Narrated by | Brad Crandall |
| Cinematography | Paul Hipp George Stapleford |
| Edited by | Kendall S. Rase |
| Music by | Bob Summers |
| Distributed by | Sunn Classic Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $22.4 million[1] or $10.6 million[2] |
In Search of Historic Jesus is a 1979 American documentary film based on Lee Roddy and Charles E. Sellier Jr.'s book of the same name.[3] Released by Sunn Classic Pictures, the film speculates on the historical accuracy of the Biblical depiction of Jesus.
- John Rubinstein as Jesus
- John Anderson as Caiaphas
- Nehemiah Persoff as Herod Antipas
- Brad Crandall as Narrator
- Andrew Bloch as Apostle John
- Morgan Brittany as Mary
- Walter Brooke as Joseph of Arimathea
- Annette Charles as Mary Magdalene
- Royal Dano as Prophet #1
- Anthony De Longis as Peter
- Lawrence Dobkin as Pontius Pilate
- Jeffrey Druce as Thomas
- John Hoyt as Synagogue Man #1
- Stanley Kamel as Andrew
- David Opatoshu as Herod
- Al Ruscio as Priest #1
- Harvey Solin as Priest #2
- Richard Alfieri as Blind Man
- Robert Bonvento as Roman Legionnaire
- Richard Carlyle as Astrologer
- Travis DeCastro as Siloam Pool Man
- Steve DeFrance as 2nd Thief
- John Hansen as Baptised Man
- James Ingersoll as Centurion #1
- Richard Jury as Court Member
- Jenna Michaels as Siloam Pool Woman
- David Nelson as Leper
- Marsha Reider as Martha
- John Mark Robinson as Roman Soldier
- Michael Ruud as John the Baptist
- Dennis Saylor as Judas
- Peg Stewart as Mother of Blind Man
- Jean Stringam as Hebrew Mother
- George Sullivan as Thief #1
- Tiger Thompson as Young Jesus
- Scott Wilkinson as Cassius
- H.M. Wynant Astronomer
- Peter Mark Richman as God (voice)
Production notes
In Search of Historic Jesus was produced by Sunn Classic Pictures, a Utah-based independent film company that specialized in releasing low-budget family films and documentaries. Along with such features as In Search of Noah's Ark (1976) and Beyond and Back (1978), the film was one of a series of releases from the company that attempted to present convincing scientific evidence for Christian theology.[4]
Parts of the film were shot in Heber, Provo, and Park City in Utah.[5]
Reception
Although In Search of Historic Jesus was a major commercial success, the picture met with some negative critical reviews. According to movie historian Leonard Maltin, who declared the film a "BOMB" (his lowest possible rating), "This drivel should have been titled In Search of Morons Who Will Believe Anything."[6]
Produced on a low budget, the movie earned over $22.4 million at the North American box office[1][7] and was the 33rd highest-grossing film of 1979.[8]