MARY AND JOSEPH
US, 1979, 150 minutes, Colour.
Blanche Baker, Jeff East, Stephen Mc Hattie, Colleen Dewhurst.
Directed by Eric Till.
Mary and Joseph is subtitled A Story of Faith. This is a very American telemovie. It was directed by Canadian Eric Till, who directed some features in the '60s and '70s including Hot Millions with Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith. However, he has made most of his films in Canada and has worked principally for television.
Blanche Baker (daughter of Carroll Baker) and Jeff East portray the teenage Mary and Joseph - in a very American fashion. However, this has some appeal for teenage audiences who feel that this kind of portrayal goes far beyond the Gospels and makes Mary and Joseph real characters. While they seem the equivalent of soap opera, they are characters that teenagers can understand and appreciate.
The film has lavish backgrounds, invents a great deal of material including having Joachim, Mary's father, caught up in the anti-Roman politics of the time and crucified. Joseph is wealthy; the Romans kill his father and take his property and so he eventually joins with the Zealots (led by Stephen Mc Hattie).
There are some interesting insights into the biblical background - for example, Mary accused by the religious elders of Nazareth and her being stoned because she was assumed to be an adulterous and this was the application of the law. The annunciation scenes are done with lights and voices (in the manner of Franco Zeffirelli Jesus of Nazareth) but there is still an unreal and artificial tone about them.
Adults would not find this a particularly helpful movie - but it has received a rather warm response from some much younger audiences.
1.The impact of this biblical saga? Its American tone? For American audiences? Non- Americans responding to the Bible as dramatised as American?
2.The accents, the biblical tradition of lavish sets, costumes and re-creation of the period? The Cecil B. de Mille tradition? The invention of stories and background for both Mary and Joseph - beyond the gospel information?
3.The parallels with American soap opera? Teenage role models? The use of gospel incidents? Interpreting new events according to the mind of the gospel? The parallel with the early church and the apocryphal gospels inventing incidents about biblical characters?
4.The situation in Palestine at the end of the pre Christian era? Roman domination and Roman presence in Palestine? The prosperity of Galilee? The Roman occupation, seconding of land, execution of citizens? The atmosphere of Nazareth, the religious leaders and their sternness? Middle-class life, homes? Work, the carpenters? The Zealots and their recruiting? The violence, the persecutions and executions? The Jewish origins of Mary, Joseph and Jesus?
5.The character of Mary, the teenager, her place at home? Her love for her parents? The details of her life, religion? With the girls of the town? The meeting with Joseph, attracted to him? The build-up to the betrothal? The pathos of Joachim's death? The annunciation experience - the light, the voice of the angel? Her prayer? Sense of divine mission? Her pregnancy, the reaction of the town - even to the condemnations and the attempted stoning? Joseph and his bewilderment, his return and her joy? His having to appreciate her condition in faith? Mary's going to visit Elizabeth, Elizabeth's pregnancy, the birth of John the Baptist? Mary's participation in the family events? Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem, travelling and its difficulties? Signing of the census, going to the inn? No room, the stable? The birth of Jesus - natural and supernatural? A credible portrait of Mary for a TV audience?
6.Joseph and his background, his wealth? The death of his father, the role of the Zealots, his listening to Simon's speeches? The attraction to Mary, the betrothal? His apprenticeship, the tradesman teaching him, his supporting him in his courting of Mary? His reaction to her pregnancy, loss of faith? His leaving, the experience of Simon and the Zealot war, the violence and death? His disillusionment? His return? The joy to see Mary? His decision to accept her condition? The dream and the angel's voice? Sharing her journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus?
7.The picture of Simon and the Zealots, the justness of their cause, their fanaticism? Speeches, executions, violent battles?
8.Joachim and Anna, ordinary citizens, their bringing up of Mary? The reasons for Joachim's death?
9.The carpenter, his working with Joseph, support of him, training him?
10.Elizabeth and Zachary, Zachary's lack of faith, Elizabeth, her age and the joy of her pregnancy? Zachary and his prayer in the temple? Mary's visit, the joy of the birth of John the Baptist?
11.The magician, his being in the marketplace, Mary's delight - and later meeting him in the journey to Bethlehem?
12.The biblical themes, the Hollywood treatment? A story of faith?
