Line #4 Film/Jesus1979


1	[[quoteright:246:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jesus1979_4041.jpg]]
2	''Jesus'', also known as ''The Jesus Film'', is a 1979 film dramatization of the life of UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} as found in Literature/TheBible. It stars Creator/BrianDeacon as Jesus.
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4	Unlike previous Jesus films like ''Film/TheGreatestStoryEverTold'', ''Film/KingOfKings'' and ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'' which take an AdaptationDistillation or AdaptationExpansion approach to all Literature/TheFourGospels, the film is based on the Gospel of Luke. The events, structure, dialogue and narration are taken virtually word-for-word from Luke using the Good News Bible translation, also known as Today's English Version.
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6	[[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/movies/baptism-by-celluloid.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Allegedly]] the [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3076809.stm most-watched and most-translated]] film of all time, due largely to its global translation and distribution by Christian [[TheMissionary missionaries]]. Indeed, it was intended as a Christian missionary tool from the start. But because missionaries usually show the film to people free of charge, accurate figures for total viewings are pretty much impossible to come by, so don't expect to see the film on "Most Watched Films" lists alongside ''Film/GoneWithTheWind'' and ''Film/{{Avatar}}'' any time soon.
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9	!!Tropes found in this work include:
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11	* AdaptationDistillation: Of the Gospel of Luke.
12	* AdaptedOut:
13	** Since the film focuses on Luke, details only found in the other Gospels in the Bible are omitted. This includes the visit of the Wise Men (Magi) following Jesus's birth and the crown of thorns Jesus wore at his crucifixion. Bits do creep in like Levi the tax collector being identified as the apostle Matthew (only in the Gospel of Matthew).
14	** Not everything from Luke is shown, like the genealogy of Jesus. ''Film/TheVisualBibleMatthew'' and ''Film/TheGospelOfJohn'' are later, similar films which do show every bit of a particular Gospel, also to the point of omitting details from elsewhere.
15	* BibleTimes: Well, of course.
16	* CrucifiedHeroShot: A ForegoneConclusion.
17	* TheFilmOfTheBook: Of ''[[Literature/TheFourGospels The Gospel of Luke]]''.
18	* InformedAbility: Pontius Pilate is said to be a vicious governor but he seems more perplexed than vicious.
19	* MessianicArchetype: Jesus is the Messiah, or Christ.
20	* PassionPlay: As a direct adaptation of one of the Four Gospels, the film ends with an account of Jesus's crucifixion.
21	* TheQueensLatin: The film used British actors for the main roles and recruited extras on location but dubbed their voices over with British people.
22	* ReCut: A rarely screened 4-hour version of the film does exist (copyrighted 1976 instead of 1979), where the actors are dubbed in period languages like ''Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist'' decades later, yet almost always overdubbed by a narrator reading the King James Version (instead of Today's English Version) throughout the entire thing. Both versions are officially available for streaming elsewhere.
23	* SameLanguageDub: See above. Brian Deacon is reportedly the only actor in the movie to speak in his own voice. This is apparently due to [[ExecutiveMeddling the producer not liking the high-pitched Israeli accents]] of the local actors hired for small parts and as extras.
24	* SecondhandStorytelling: After Jesus comes BackFromTheDead, some of his appearances are mentioned but not depicted: the appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, which the Gospel relates as it happens, and the appearance to the apostle Simon (Peter), which the Gospel doesn't.
25	* SeparateSceneStorytelling: The parable of the GoodSamaritan.
26	* ShownTheirWork: As he is led to be crucified, Jesus only carries the cross beam not the whole cross, and later the nails are driven into his wrists, not literally his hands. This is considered to be more historically accurate than traditional Christian iconography of the sequence.
27	* TimeSkip: Jesus is shown at 12 years of age in the Temple and then it transitions to Jesus getting baptized at around 30.
28	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Judas Iscariot disappears after he betrays Jesus. This is accurate to the Gospel of Luke, but its sequel Literature/ActsOfTheApostles says he died in a fall, [[LudicrousGibs spilling his guts]]. (The Gospel of Matthew however says [[DrivenToSuicide he hanged himself]].)[[note]]Some reconcile this by assuming his dangling corpse fell and then burst open.[[/note]]
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Context Film / Jesus1979