ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Charles Herold (cherold) The message of Godspell is basically, hey kids, Jesus is a groovy cat who wants you to treat people good. This was my idea of Jesus as a pre- atheist kid: not the miracle Jesus, or the gory bleeding Jesus, or the Jesus sending folks to hell, or the Jesus that requires nothing except unfailing belief, but that fellow who talked about the Good Samaritan and not throwing the first stone. I'm also a fan of hippies and prefer the folk-rock of Hair to the traditional Broadway of Rogers and Hammerstein, and I had the original cast recording as a kid and was a big fan. So really, this movie is the sort I would expect to like.The movie is wonderfully joyous, with a talented cast prancing and singing and running and painting their faces. It's fun, although it also can feel a little like something you'd get from a Christian group doing skits at the local high schools.One of the movie's great strengths is its New York locales. The movie begins with a bunch of young, multi-racial folk living their frustrating city lives only to be visited by someone bringing a message of joy. Then they run through the fountains and take over the vacant lots and, now ironically, sing "All for the Best" on top of the World Trade Center.The movie finds many imaginative ways to tell bible stories, including using old silent movies, but this is still basically a movie in which people tell bible stories, one after the other. There's little in the way of story or character, so the whole thing begins to feel like a review. For a while my attention flagged, although the darker last third revived me somewhat.The music is terrific, including Day by Day and the honky tonk Turn Back Oh Man (but not, alas, Learn Your Lessons Well, which was cut), and the cast - pulled from early stage productions, is talented and fun and attractive, even if the funny voices occasionally seem overdone.Overall, this is a tremendously fun movie. I may not believe in hippy Jesus anymore, but I still like the fantasy.

classicalsteve If you turned to a channel broadcasting "Godspell", and you had never seen it before, it might take you a few minutes to understand what is going on. This is exactly how I was introduced to Godspell back in the 1980's. At first glance, "Godspell" might appear like some crazy sequel to "Hair", involving young actors in hippie-like garb dancing and singing around New York. The original was a university thesis project in which the Gospel parables and some of the narrative story of Jesus of Nazareth are presented in a style conducive to New York improv theater. The original was predominantly improv-like acting with a few songs. Eventually, Stephen Schwartz entered the picture and added songs creating a musical, and it became an off-Broadway hit musical 1971-72. This film adaption was produced shortly thereafter in 1973 with some song changes.Unlike its counterpart "Jesus Christ Superstar" with which it has been endlessly compared, "Godspell" is less about the story and controversy of the life of Jesus of Nazareth and more a demonstration of select parables with a little bit of Jesus' narrative story at the beginning and the end. The original concept and subsequent plays and musicals were the brainchild of John-Michael Tebelak designed to speak to the crowd of college-age youth of the 1960's and early 70's about aspects of the gospels. "Godspell" is a "hip" alternative to the rather stuffy sermons orated by many-an Evangelical pastor since the 19th century, using vaudeville-like and silent-film pantomime and improvisation to demonstrate many of the parables.The film begins with a voice singing "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord", and the characters who will become "the disciples" leave their respective places of work in New York (somewhat similar to the accounts in the Bible) and follow the voice. Interesting to note, in this interpretation there are males, females, African-Americans, even a Latino or two among the disciples, unlike other presentations in which these characters are often played by Whites of European descent. They come to a fountain in Central Park where the original singer, representing John the Baptist (David Haskell) in the River Jordan, is the "caller". They splash around in elation, now all singing "Prepare Ye...", which represents the baptisms. In the distance, a lone figure in curly hair appears in the distance. After the disciples run off, he comes over, receives John's baptism, and then dons suspenders and a shirt with a Superman-like "S" on the front. It becomes obvious this character represents Jesus (Victor Garber).The characters then demonstrate the different parables. Only in a few scenes are parts of the life of Jesus acted out, such as Jesus' Baptism, the overturning of the moneychangers' tables, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Interestingly, the events depicted in "Godspell" as if happening in Central Park by hippies are corroborated by scholars as being most likely historically true. Most of the songs are quite memorable, with the stand-out being "By My Side" (the only one not by Schwartz) which leads into the final sequence of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. The most memorable sequence is probably the Cruifixion in which Haskell who played the Baptist at the beginning now plays Judas Iscariot. Jesus and the disciples sing the Finale: "God I'm Bleeding". The film ends with "Long Live God" counterpointed with "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord".A very remarkable film and experience. While the rhetoric is certainly derived as a faith-inspiring experience rather than historical controversy, such as in "Jesus Christ Superstar", I find the whole concept and execution of "Godspell" surprisingly moving. It never comes off preachy. It presents the story and parables as a series of vignettes which quickly make their points before moving onto the next one. Each character representing each of the disciples has their own eccentricity. One of which always makes me simultaneously happy and sad is a young woman with a little puppet. Jesus says good bye to both during the Last Supper sequence. If you're seeking a faithful rendition of one of the Gospel Accounts, this won't be for you, but if you're open to a different take on the New Testament, you'll feel inspired by the end.

moonspinner55 "Godspell" (a play on the word 'gospel') lived in the shadows--as an off-Broadway musical, a roadshow production, and as a motion picture--of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar". It doesn't help that the pocket of post-flower power young people who make up the cast are outfitted like happy refugees from a carnival: thrift-shop chic with vaudevillian makeup (it smacks of preciousness, and perhaps an old fogy's idea of being 'alive' and free). It's The Gospel According to Matthew as a Rock Musical (what a come on!), and yet the music isn't rock: it's ersatz folk. The real star of this movie-adaptation is New York City (looking beguilingly nonthreatening); cinematographer Richard Heimann gets some stunning shots of the Big Apple that are (as seen today) both wistful and vulnerable: lonely skyscrapers with only one another for company. The cast has been encouraged to play-up to the camera--to exaggerate, both comedically and dramatically, their actions and responses--so that audiences will respond only to what's in the moment. This may be why the picture barely leaves a trace of itself in the memory. "Day by Day" was the sole hit from the stage show, and no wonder: the rest is a whirling-twirling blur. ** from ****

johnstonjames for anyone that knows and loves 'Godspell', they know it to be truly inspirational and a joy. to others it's just a bunch of Christian gibberish with a bunch of corny pop tunes. even though i really love this film musical i can understand the latter somewhat. even for Christian gospel, 'Godspell' is pretty watered-down and inordinately wholesome and harmless. usually that approach seems cornball to me most of the time, but not here. especially when associated with a certain amount of piety. a truly pious person shouldn't ask for too much controversy or decadence in entertainment.'Godspell' is also a nice and friendly way to approach the gospel and teachings of Jesus without being too intimidating or scary. Gibson's 'Passion' teaches novices that sacrifice is a bloody, violent, horror show straight out of 'Texas Chainsaw'. Pasolini's 'Matthew' is way too dry and cerebral and feels like a lecture at some commie kingdom hall. even the musical 'Superstar' can feel a little too somber at times. 'Godspell' is one of those experiences, like 'Technicolor Dreamcoat', that makes the gospel seem friendly and fun, and inspiring in a positive way. let people discover the scary side to Christianity once they become more initiated and stable with it. i mean you don't want to creep anyone out when they're right out of the gate.the music by Stephen Schwartz is lyrical and lilting and of his usual top-notch accomplished quality. not to mention just plain cute and fun.the ensemble cast led by 'Annie' star Vic Garber is funny and lively with lots and lots of creative and inspired injection. their creative enthusiasm effortlessly sustains a full length work like this.the photography of New York city remains some of the most beautiful cityscape panoramas in film. even by the standards of today.i can't imagine anyone, especially Christians, being offended by any of this. i can understand if you're not a Christian and can't stand gooey wholesomeness like this, but if you are a Christian and you get uptight with this, then you probably should lighten up a little and join the human race.a wonderful experience for all that are interested in the gospel. i couldn't recommend this more. just great.