Now Barabbas | |
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Directed by | Gordon Parry |
Written by | William Douglas Home (play) Anatole de Grunwald |
Produced by | Teddy Baird Anatole de Grunwald |
Starring | Richard Greene Cedric Hardwicke Richard Burton Beatrice Campbell |
Cinematography | Otto Heller |
Edited by | Gerald Turney-Smith |
Music by | Leighton Lucas George Melachrino |
Production company | Warner Brothers-First National Productions |
Distributed by | Warner Brothers |
Release date | 24 May 1949 |
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Now Barabbas, also known as Now Barabbas Was a Robber, is a 1949 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Richard Greene, Cedric Hardwicke and Kathleen Harrison.[1] It was based on a 1947 play of the same title by William Douglas Home. The film features one of the earliest screen performances by Richard Burton and was an early role for Kenneth More.
The title refers to Barabbas, a Biblical character who was chosen over Jesus by the crowd in Jerusalem to be pardoned and released.
A set of self-contained stories about a group of men in jail.
The film was shot at Teddington Studios.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The characters are finely drawn with true insight into character. The portrayal of the prison chaplain is worth seeing as an example of how necessary tact is and how delicate the problem of religion in times of stress. The warders' flashes of kindness under gruff exteriors make good propaganda for prison officials. All parts are well played and the direction is more than excellent. There is no "sob-stuff", but there is plenty of pathos tinged with real fun. Kathleen Harrison and Leslie Dwyer provide the comic relief and their awful small boy is a gem. The photography is good and the story well knit together. It is essentially an interesting film whether from a social or entertainment point of view."[2]