Rating: G
Genre:
Musical
Release Date: 04/04/2000
SubTitles: English/Espanol/Por/KO/TH
Dubbed: English
Sound: 1
Run Time: 103 Minutes
Flags: Questionable for Children
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
Directors
David Greene and
John-Michael Tebelak collaborate with composer
Stephen Schwartz to bring his wildly successful Broadway
musical,
Godspell, to the big screen. Told almost entirely in song,
Godspell presents the gospel of St. Matthew updated to New York City of the late '60s/early '70s, featuring
Jesus Christ as a wandering minstrel dressed like a circus clown. By blowing on an instrument that reaches only the ears of a select few around the bustling city,
John the Baptist (
David Haskell) summons nine simpatico hippies to a fountain in Central Park, where they revel in the waters of their baptism. When
Christ (
Victor Garber) joins the group, the free-flowing fraternal love solidifies into a desire to spread the word of God around the city. Outfitting themselves in a nearby junkyard that bursts with color, the lively group makes its way around a sparsely populated fairy-tale version of the city, re-enacting Biblical parables with great enthusiasm and flamboyance. Opting for a lighter yet more devout approach than its thematically similar
Jesus Christ Superstar,
Godspell features an equivalent number of hummable hit songs, notably
"Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord)," "By My Side," and
"Day by Day." ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide