Editorial Product Review:Amazon.com:Comparing
Godspell to its near-contemporaries
Jesus Christ Superstar and
Hair is unavoidable, but
Godspell has developed its own unique following. With their thrift-store-meets-circus-performer garb, the characters in David Greene's adaptation of the popular off-Broadway production may look more like the hippies in
Hair than the biblical personages of
Superstar. But
Godspell isn't really about the 'Age of Aquarius,' nor does it adopt a dark or operatic tone towards its subject matter, the Gospel according to Matthew. The mood is, instead, upbeat and uplifting (at least until the crucifixion sequence).
The film opens with youthful city dwellers from various walks of life dropping their activities to follow John the Baptist (David Haskell from the original New York production). They sing ('Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord') as he leads them into a fountain where they are (metaphorically) baptized. There they meet Jesus (Victor Garber). Frizzy hair and mime makeup aside, the handsome young Garber (
Titanic,
Annie) is convincing in his film debut. Once baptized, they follow him around various scenic New York locations, singing and acting out passages from the Scriptures.
The largely unknown cast is talented and charismatic, but the film is only fitfully engaging on an emotional level because only Jesus, John, and Judas (Haskell again) emerge as distinct characters. Stephen Schwartz's pleasing pop-rock score, however, helps to smooth over the rough spots, and Robin Lamont's hit version of 'Day by Day' remains a highlight.
--Kathleen C. Fennessy
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Buyer Reviews
Average Buyer Rating:
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Godspell video
My son needed this for their summer production in high school. He said it was good, and it helped him get a feel for the script that was better than just reading the script.
Customer Rating: 
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Excellent quality
Nothing like re-visiting an old icon
to discover how far we've come in visualizing
scenes and camera techniques...and how
wonderful nostalgia can be.
Customer Rating: -
This movie was as good as I remembered it!
For those of you who like musicals, religious or not, the score to this movie is absolutely incredible!!
I try not to pay too much attention to the artsy-fartsy modern day "imagerie". Even so, seeing the clothes from back then is a real hoot!
Customer Rating: -
Godspell
I was thrilled it arrived so quickly, It is one of the films I enjoyed a lot in my teens. I had no idea that Victor Garber was in it. What a delight to see him in this role.
