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Crafting a television show based on a real person is always a challenge. It’s nearly impossible to include every crucial moment from their life. When the person is God incarnate, however, the task becomes even more complex. After all, Jesus accomplished an extraordinary amount in His thirty-three years.
The director must not only ensure the show is historically accurate, but also be careful not to offend viewers.
Jesus of Nazareth first premiered in 1977 and quickly became the most beloved Bible story adapted for the screen. With an all-star cast of disciples and Romans, it is regularly shown over the three days of Easter and has even become a tradition during Christmas and Easter in various countries.
Given its widespread popularity, we thought you might enjoy some fascinating, though trivial, facts about your favorite show about a historical figure who is also the Son of God.
10. Jesus Wore Makeup
When producer Lew Grade was on the hunt for the perfect actor to portray Jesus, his wife suggested Robert Powell due to his 'mesmerizing' blue eyes.
To make Powell's eyes stand out, the makeup team was instructed to accentuate them. They applied a fine line of dark blue eyeliner to his upper eyelids and a thin white line on the lower lid to enhance their appearance.
The result was a striking effect that made his piercing blue eyes even more intense, giving him a gaze so captivating that it seemed worthy of the Messiah.
9. He Never Blinks
Director Franco Zeffirelli envisioned a distinct and unique portrayal of Jesus, differentiating him from the other characters. He aimed to create an aura of mystery around Jesus by showing him as someone who could peer into the hearts of those he encountered. One of the ways he achieved this effect was by instructing actor Robert Powell not to blink.
This technique turned out to be a surprisingly powerful tool, tapping into the subconscious of the audience. The lack of blinking often goes unnoticed during the film, but once it's pointed out, it's almost impossible to ignore.
Powell's portrayal, with his unblinking wide eyes, gave Jesus an air of sincerity and otherworldliness, though it also carried an unsettling edge. Notably, the young Jesus blinks twice when in the Temple, while the adult Jesus remains still, never blinking throughout the film—except in one brief moment after his death. As his body rests in the Virgin Mary's arms, he involuntarily blinks when someone walks by.
Zeffirelli's interpretation of Jesus bore a striking resemblance to a Borgia.
What is the reason behind the common depiction of Jesus as a Caucasian man with long brown hair and blue eyes?
While the actual historical figure of Jesus was likely far removed from these depictions, the traditional representations of Christ have long adhered to these familiar images.
One key reason Robert Powell was selected for the role of Jesus was his uncanny resemblance to the widely accepted portrayal of Christ, which many believe was modeled after Cesare Borgia, who, in his day, was renowned as the most attractive man alive.
Leonardo Da Vinci's Salvator Mundi (pictured) is widely thought to have been based on the controversial Borgia. This is curious, given that Borgia’s actions during his lifetime were far from Christlike, despite his status as the son of a Pope. Da Vinci's painting portrays a more delicate-looking Jesus, donning elegant Renaissance attire and long, flowing brown curls.
This image became deeply ingrained in the minds of religious artists, making the Borgia-inspired Christ the standard representation. This worked in Robert Powell's favor, as well as for audiences. Other actors considered for the role included Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino. Although both are exceptional performers, they would have strayed far from the traditional image.
7. Jesus was a Droog
*Jesus of Nazareth* was initially envisioned as a three-part mini-series, though it has been broadcast in several different segments over time. Anthony Burgess, the renowned novelist behind *A Clockwork Orange*, was the screenwriter for Part One.
Similar to Zeffirelli, Burgess was a devout Catholic who eagerly embraced the opportunity to tell the story of Christ's life. However, his involvement was limited to just the first part. He was dismissed after being caught writing a review of his own novel, which had been published under a pen name.
Burgess later confessed that he had become disillusioned with book reviews, believing that no one truly read them. To test his theory, he began writing absurd reviews about other authors' works, expecting some sort of backlash, but no one ever seemed to respond.
When his own novel was published, he took the chance to review it as well. The review, however, was not particularly kind. In it, he criticized his book as obscene and advised readers not to bother with it. It was all in good fun until another journalist revealed his identity, leading to his dismissal both from *The Yorkshire Post* and *Jesus of Nazareth*.
6. Jesus Ate Only Cheese
To prepare for his role, Robert Powell went on an intense diet to appear gaunt and emaciated during the crucifixion scenes.
In a bid to lose weight rapidly, he chose to skip the loaves and fishes, instead eating only cheese. That must have been tough, but perhaps even harder for the thieves who were crucified alongside him.
All those long hours on set, surrounded by that pungent cheese.
It’s no wonder they all looked so uncomfortable.
5. There’s Just No Pleasing Some People
When Franco Zeffirelli agreed to direct the project, he made it a priority to ensure that the film would be acceptable not only to Roman Catholics, but to people of all religious denominations. He went to great lengths to consult with leaders from various faiths, discussing each scene and every symbol in great detail.
Zeffirelli recognized that it would be impossible to include every event from the New Testament, and he worked hard to reach a consensus on what should be omitted. He also aimed to make the film respectful of the Jewish faith. For instance, although he knew that the Bar mitzvah ceremony was a 12th-century development, he decided to include it, believing it would be familiar to the audience.
Though Zeffirelli was confident that he had received the approval of religious leaders, he was in for a surprise. He explained in an interview that he intended to portray Jesus as an 'ordinary simple man'. Bob Jones III, the fundamentalist Christian and chancellor of Bob Jones University, interpreted this as a denial of Jesus' divinity, and immediately condemned the project as blasphemous, despite having never seen any of it.
His condemnation resonated with his followers, leading to 18,000 letters of protest being sent to General Motors, who had supported the film.
As a result, General Motors withdrew its financial backing for the film.
4. Jesus Of Nazareth Is a Silent Movie
Much of the film was shot on location in Tunisia, where local laws required the use of local people as background actors. Unfortunately, many of them spoke little to no English. Unfazed, Zeffirelli filmed several of the crowd scenes without sound and added it in post-production.
It wasn’t just the extras who were dubbed, though. Lorenzo Monet, the actor who played the child Jesus in the temple, was also dubbed. Monet, who was Italian, had been asked to memorize Hebrew prayers, but ended up mumbling them on camera. As a result, Zeffirelli replaced his lines with a dubbed English version (watch the video clip in item 5 and you'll see what I mean).
Even Robert Powell wasn’t immune to dubbing. When Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king, Jesus answers 'yes,' but his lips are clearly saying something else.
3. Robert Powell Is the New Jesus
Cesare Borgia's likeness was famously used as a model for numerous paintings and statues displayed in churches worldwide. In a similar vein, actor Robert Powell has come to symbolize Christ for many worshippers. However, unlike Da Vinci, who at least altered Cesare's attire and hairstyle, Powell's portrayal is more consistent.
Across many churches, the traditional religious icons have been swapped out for images from the show, featuring Robert Powell with wide, unblinking eyes, and wearing makeup. His resemblance to Jesus has led to cases where he was mistaken for the actual figure in public, which is quite odd.
Not long ago, Robert Powell had to clarify through social media that he is, in fact, an actor and not the Messiah, after people began confusing him with Jesus himself.
2. The Genesis of the Idea...
The concept for the Jesus project was initially proposed to Lew Grade by Pope Paul VI. During a private meeting, the Pope praised Grade's previous show, Moses The Law Giver, and hoped Grade would provide the same treatment to a show about Jesus.
Initially, Grade was doubtful about the project's potential, thinking there would be little interest. However, after consulting Franco Zeffirelli, a devout Catholic, Grade decided that if Zeffirelli rejected the idea, he would abandon it altogether.
The Pope was reportedly thrilled with the outcome, which went on to become a staple of Easter television programming worldwide.
Once the show was finished, Paul VI was treated to a private screening, and afterward, he expressed his approval. He also took the time to personally thank Zeffirelli during a private audience.
1. Judas Is Nice
Judas Iscariot, portrayed by Ian McShane, was perhaps the most controversial character in the production. Naturally, Judas is always a contentious figure—what with his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss and the thirty pieces of silver.
McShane's portrayal of Judas presents a more nuanced character. While he ultimately betrays his master, his motives are rooted in politics rather than greed. He seems to have misunderstood Jesus' message, believing the mission was one of revolution.
Believing that Jesus might simply need a nudge, Judas betrays his friend, hoping it will provoke Jesus to act, resist, and ignite a rebellion against the Roman Empire. Clearly, someone missed the point of the parables.
In Zeffirelli's film, the thirty pieces of silver are given to Judas as a deliberate affront, and the coins are later found scattered beneath his hanging body, symbolizing his ultimate betrayal.
This portrayal of Judas, though making him more sympathetic and easier to understand, was met with disapproval from many fundamentalists.
