The Day Christ Died
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| The Day Christ Died | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | James Cellan Jones |
| Starring | Chris Sarandon |
| Music by | Laurence Rosenthal |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Martin Manulis |
| Production location | Tunisia |
| Cinematography | Franco Di Giacomo |
| Editor | Barry Peters |
| Running time | 142 minutes |
| Production company | 20th Century Fox Television |
| Budget | $2.8 million[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | March 26, 1980 |
The Day Christ Died is a 1980 American television film directed by James Cellan Jones, and produced by 20th Century Fox and CBS-TV. A dramatization of the last 24 hours of Jesus Christ's life, it is based on Jim Bishop's 1957 book of the same name.[2] The book was co-adapted by James Lee Barrett, who, 15 years prior, had scripted The Greatest Story Ever Told for George Stevens.
Bishop, who did not accept the adaptation, had his name removed from the credits. He called the film "cheap revisionist history", and even tried unsuccessfully to change the film's title.[3] The Day Christ Died was filmed in Tunisia, at a cost of US$2.8 million.[1] It was broadcast by CBS-TV on Wednesday, March 26, 1980.[4]
Around the same time that a popular mob hero named Barabbas is arrested and convicted by Pontius Pilate and his lieutenant governor/aide Tullius, Jesus of Nazareth arrives in Jerusalem in time for the celebration of the Passover Seder. The High Priest Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, who oppose and find Jesus to be a menace and danger to their traditions, scarcely bargain with Pilate on how to detain Jesus. This ideas initially goes well with Pilate since he fears a riot from a mob clamoring for Barabbas' release. When Jesus is finally condemned by the Sanhedrin and handed over to Pilate, he uses him as a decoy or alternative to please the Jerusalem populace by acquitting Barabbas and sentencing Jesus to be crucified in his place.
