MovieChat Forums > Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Discussion > Andrew Lloyd Webber hates the 1973 Versi...

Andrew Lloyd Webber hates the 1973 Version

posted 9 years ago by Opeo
9 replies | jump to latest

I was recently reading an interview with Lloyd Webber when I read this...

"I hugely objected to the original New York production, which was probably the worst night of my life. It was a vulgar travesty," he says, with some force. He is equally vehement about the film, which put a rather fey Jesus in the desert. "I hate the film. I can see what [the director] Norman Jewison was trying to do, but I could never look at it. I don't see how you could do that show as a film anyway."

I can't fathom this, how could he hate the 73' film, it's magnificent and I would argue largely responsible for the amount of success the show has had.

I know he loves the 2012 arena revival but does any body have any links to any other articles where he might have mentioned why he dislikes the the Film so much, or possibly any articles where he talks about what versions he does prefer(God forbid he likes the 2000's version)?

This is the link to the interview if anyone was curious http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/9556486/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-interview-the-second-coming-of-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.html

[–] RosieFeats 9 years ago

I tried the link above but couldn't get anywhere with it. On my latest DVD, there is an in person interview with Rice who seemed perfectly happy with the way the film was done and who was cast in what role, considering they had very little funding available. Both Rice and Webber were on-set so if Webber hated it so much (while so many of us still love it so much to this day) I don't get why he's thumbing his nose at his own huge money making success.

rosiefeats

[–] Opeo 9 years ago

Hey I fixed the link so it should work now, I'm glad to hear at least rice enjoyed the 1973 version.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

I did not know that. Interesting, thanks. I didn't like it a lot when I first saw it. However I just saw it again last night on TCM, and enjoyed it immensely. I give it an 8/10.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

[–] lambiepie-2 9 years ago

I did not know that. Interesting, thanks. I didn't like it a lot when I first saw it. However I just saw it again last night on TCM, and enjoyed it immensely. I give it an 8/10.

I was a little one when this came out and saw it years later on TV and didn't like it either. I was expecting something like "Lawrence of Arabia" and got this bus load of hippies doing a play. But when I got older, I finally understood it and like it a lot. The end is what always gets to me, when they are boarding the bus...I think the whole thing would have gotten to me as well.

"Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!" 🐻

[–] pjglynndoora 9 years ago

Tim Minchin looks like Jesus

[–] puirt-a-beul 9 years ago

I can't fathom this, how could he hate the 73' film, it's magnificent and I would argue largely responsible for the amount of success the show has had.

Every time I hear Lloyd Webber state his opinions (on pretty much anything!) I think he sounds like an utter poser. (I'd use a stronger term, like "merchant banker", but I suspect it would get bleeped out.)

I much prefer the film version to his more recent efforts at revision. His "Arena" version seems a fairly attempt to make the show current and edgy again, with bombastic, overblown arrangements bolted over 70s music that they really don't suit. (I think the show is fine as it is, and in fact my favourite version remains the original studio recording with Ian Gillan and Murray Head. The film soundtrack would come a close second.)

It's Lloyd Webber's show, obviously, and he can do what he wants with it. But if he's going to claim that the newer version, with its try-hard arrangements and truculent, pouting rock-god Jesus, is the way the show "should" be, then I for one am going to question his taste and judgement.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] marktayloruk (2590) 2 years ago

I found the film a disappointment. Preferred the original album.

[–] duckofprey (1557) a year ago

Having loved the original concept album (with Ian Gillan as Jesus) and seeing it on Broadway in its’ first month, I too was extremely disappointed with this film. The modernisation of it with hippies, the clothing tanks etc and tech.

I was very excited about the film because of the director, who had put out the stellar Fiddler on the Roof two years earlier. I was expecting a true period piece for JCS.

I also think Ted Neeley, who yes has a good voice, vocally had the wrong portrayal with the way he sang it. I’ve seen MANY videos of him singing Gethsemane and there isn’t a single one that I like.

[–] pjl69 (2647) a year ago

I tried to watch the film once, never bothered to finish it. And I love the JCS music. I prefer the 2000 stage show, which I have on DVD and blu-ray.