THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
26—Friday, June 22, 1973
ADAM'S
RIB
'Jesus Christ Superstar' Film Branded Anti - Semitic
expression of contempt is
(Continued from Page 1)
"The priests are repre- quite unwarranted. T h e
sented as sinister - looking, priests clearly took Jesus
leering personages, dressed most seriously, because — as
in forbidding black garb, the gospel (John 11:49-52)
with weird, onion-shaped explains and the film itself
black hats. In one of the (in the sequence 'This Jesus
opening scenes and several Must Die') spells out—they
times afterward, they are feared that the success of his
seen standing, vulture-like, seemingly subversive move-
on a scaffold. The two chief ment would bring down the
priests, Caiaphas and Annas, wrath of the Roman occupy-
speak in menacing or bully- ing power upon the nation as
ing tones; the rest sound like a whole . . . "
fools. None looks even re-
Strober is especially re-
motely priestly, or like a sentful of the role assigned
community leader whom in the film to Pilate. He
people could accept as such; states:
none sounds as if he could
"If the film weights the
be possibly acting in good scales against the priesthood
faith.
over and above what the
Uniformly, the priests' N e w Testament accounts
lines 'are in keeping with warrant, it lightens them be-
their appearance. In an early yond all the evidence for the
scene, an addition to the or- other chief agent in the trial
iginal text, Caiaphas and of Jesus: the Roman gover-
Annas outline the plot to de- nor, Pontius Pilate.
stroy Jesus, impressing the
"The very staging and cos-
viewer with their own and tuming make plain that Pi-
their colleagues' evil char- late is to serve as a noble
acter .. .
foil for the evil priests.
"In the gospel accounts, Whereas they are garbed
Matthew 21:15-16 states that
the chief priests were 'indig-
nant' about the reception ac-
corded Jesus, and Luke 19:39
reports that 'some of the
Pharisees' asked him to re-
buke his disciples; but the
ominously in black, he comes I of Herod's entourage — a I
on in a gorgeous maroon collection of types so weird
costume, with a wreath and inhuman that the viewer
around his head. Whereas could not possibly identify
they shout, he speaks softly. with them. The contrast be-
His words and demeanor be- tween these various unbe-
speak reason, patience and lievers and Jesus' disciples,
in appearance and demeanor,
compassion.
"The film casts Pilate as is heightened far beyond
be held primarily responsible
for Jesus' death.
"In assigning the chief re-
sponsibility for Jesus' death
to the Jews in general, the
FOR PARTIES
trial scene follows the stereo-
typic imagery of a certain
strand of Christian tradition,
and misses the spiritual
a rather weak but well-mean- dramaturgic necessity into meaning of the Passion, as
upheld by most Christian
ing man who sympathizes outright dehumanization."
Strober's analysis also ex- scholars today. By and large,
with Jesus from the moment
he meets him and is kept poses the Judas treatment. Christian belief is committed
to the view that the responsi-
from helping him only by the He states:
"Among the persons con- bility for the Crucifixion lies
demands of the Jewish mob.
When first seen, in the scene, nected with the trial of Jesus, with humanity -at large. When
'Pilate's Dream,' he sings: Judas -Iscariot receives in- guilt is simplistically attrib-
"I dreamed I met a Galilean, ordinate attention. He has uted to a single group, this
* STEAKS
the longest part of all except deep meaning is lost."
A most amazing man,
Strober's conclusions to his
for Jesus, and his role is
* SEAFOOD
He had that look you very
report contain a powerful ap-
inflated
qualitatively
as
well
rarely
find,
477-2686
as quantitatively. In his open- peal for action against the
The haunted hunted
7 MILE S
ing number, "Heaven on anti-Semitism inherent in the
kind .. .
MIDDLEBELT
The New Testament Their Minds," he sings: 'And production. He states:
"In the last decade, many
knows of no such dream of remember I've been your
Christians
— Catholics and
(Jesus')
right
hand
man
all
Pilate's. The nearest thing
Protestants, churchmen and
to it in the gospel is a brief, along.'
"In reality, the New Testa- laymen — have concluded
Ur
rather cryptic reference to a
ment
hardly mentions Judas that the notion of Jews as
dream by Pilate's wife. Ac-
FRESH
0 r--)
cording to Matthew 27:19, prior to the incident concern- `Christ killers' must be fund-
FISH
she sent a message to her ing the jar of ointment (Mat- amentally re-examined. The
FLOWN
c
husband in these words: thew 26). He is not among traditional early Christian
IN
'Have nothing .to do with that the select group of disciples idea that Jewry is collec-
4011
righteous
man, for I have who are with Jesus during tively responsible for Jesus'
DAILY
PO RT THREE
roRT
suffered much over him to- events such as the transfig- death is now widely regarded
uration .(Matthew 1 7 : 1 - 8 ; as historically and spiritually
day in a dream.'
"Out of this slim material, ;Mark 9:28), and he is never untenable; it is accordingly
the play fabricates a scene singled out for special in- being discarded from church
which at once puts Pilate in struction, as is Peter (Mat- teaching and preaching and
from individual belief. In tak-
thew 16:18-19).
the most favorable light.
ing a new view of the events
Unusual 8 Exotic Seafood,
NEIGHBORHOOD
"In what follows, Pilate re-
"It is undoubtedly signifi- of the Passion, Christians
Polynesian Food 8 Cocktails
Americana Complex I, II, III peatedly demonstrates h i s cant that, in the film as in have gained a new, deeper
sympathy for Jesus. At one the Broadway opening, Judas understanding of Judaism in
Greenfield Rd., N. of 9 Mile
BANQUETS, PARTIES , '
point while conducting the is played by a black man, and Jesus' day and today.. As
358.1414
358-3920
Italian-American Cuisine
ALL OCCASIONS
trial, he walks over to him that he is represented as a never before, they are com-
18211 JOHN R.
Wed. MATINEES ALL
and gently attempts to make victim of Jewish perfidy, a ing to respect the integrity
Telegraph & Long Lake Rd.
THEATERS-1 Show only
Bet. 6 & 7 Mile Rds.
(Formerly Devon Gables)
him respond . . .
cat's -paw for Jewish inter- of the Jewish people and the
at 1:00-81
645-5050
"The entire portrait of Pi- ests. In the scene 'Damned continuing validity of Juda-
869-567 4
late, designed to minimize for all Time,' a Jewish priest ism.
AMERICANA I
his role in Jesus' trial and holds out a bag of money for
Exclusive Showing!
"Judged against this new
death and thereby maximize
"THE DAY OF THE JACKAL" that of Jesus' Jewish antag- Judas to take; but as Judas enlightenment, the film
reaches for the money, the 'Jesus Christ Superstar' is
onists, is wildly unhistorical, priest drops it to the ground nothing less than a catas-
AMERICANA II
deriving from the cliches of with a contemptuous smirk. trophe. Every device of
Gene Hackman, Al Pacino
traditional anti-Jewish Pas- One wonders in what way cinematic art is here pressed
"SCARECROW" (R)
sion plays rather than from this detail might activate into service to spread the old
the New Testament. All seri- certain stereotypes in falsehood, of the Jews' "col-
AMERICANA III
ous scholars today agree, on Americans' minds.
lective responsibility" f o r
The One & Only Julie Andrews in
the basis of 'Roman and other
"Judas is also the focus of Jesus' death. In the 'Produc-
you are wasting time
"SOUND OF MUSIC" (G)
sources, that Pilate actually one of several scenes in tion Notes' prepared to in-
reading this, exciting food and
was an exceptionally harsh which 1st Century and 20th troduce the film, Universal
beverages await you at
12 Mile-Coolidge
Trader Vic's in the Detroit Hilton—
governor even by the far Century elements are Pictures refers to Norman
LI 24330
BERKLEY
Phone 965-7800.
from lenient standards of Ro- strangely mixed, suggesting Jewison's 'unique vision.'
Washington Blvd. at Grand Circus Park
Held over 3rd & last wk.
Michael Caine & Laurence Olivier man occupation government. that the `guilt' of the Jews One may well ask what is
He was notorious for his in Jesus' time somehow car- unique, or new, about ex-
"SLEUTH" (PG)
arbitrary executions, and was ries over into the present. In ploiting a tradition that has
Wk. Nights, Fri. 7:00 & 9:25
eventually recalled to Rome his despair, Judas is shown scarred Jews and Christians
Saturday Eve. Re-open 6:45
Shown 7:00, 9:25
to be tried for oppression.
fleeing into the desert, where from the time of the Church
OUR FAMOUS SUNDAY ONLY
Sunday Open 1:45, Shown
"Quite apart from Pilate's tanks and low-flying military Fathers through the Middle
2:05, 4:30, 6:55, 9:20
Starts Wed. "SOUND OF MUSIC" character, the New Testa- aircraft threateningly bear
SPECIAL DINNER
Ages to the era of Auschwitz.
ment makes it clear that the down on him. The episode is
"The film is anti-Semitic
IV/TM!' at Miller
Roman authorities played not hung on any Scriptural and demeaning for all that
CAMELOT
the
determining
role
in
the
peg,
and
it
is
not
clear
it was shot in Israel — for
"SOYLENT GREEN"
events surrounding Jesus' whether the tanks and planes all that an Israeli patrol
WK. NIGHTS 7:05, 10:15
SAT. & SUN. 3:00, 6:20, 9:45
death. Jesus himself pre- are meant to symbolize Ro- helped stampede a herd of
dicted that he would die at man might, the power of the sheep, or that some children
"SKYJACKED"
WK. NIGHTS 8:20
the hands of the Romans Jewish authorities, or per- from David Ben-Gurion's ki-
Sandwich Trays and
Tossed Salad,
SAT. & SUN. 1:10, 4:30, 8:00
Catering .for Private
(Matthew 20:17.19; Mark haps Judas' own conscience; butz are among the actors,
Roll & Butter
(Wed. Mat. 1 show at 1—$1
Affairs.
and Dessert
10:32-34; Luke 18:32)."
but it does not seem far- or that the company traveled
ead
mm KAI Paltyloauth Rt a42712-0400
Caricaturing of Temple fetched to suspect that the to Israel on an El Al plane.
scenes is condemned by sequence is, among other Those who choose to profit
188 N. Hunter
"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF"
Strober as follows:
things, a caricature of the from anti-Semitism will have
646-6553
FRI. 7:05 & 10:00
"The Temple sequence re- supposed 'ruthless power' of to reckon with the fact that
Sat. & Sun. 1:10, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05
Open 7 Days a Week
Mon. & Tues. 6:30 & 9:25
veals a scene of frenzy and modern Israel." in a post-Holocaust world any
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Starts Wed.
Strober charges that the trifling with hatred of Jews
chaos, corruption and lewd-
"JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR"
4,04141111101111111***4~4)0641
ness. The holy site is shown film "asserts a collective or Judaism will be resisted.
populated by prostitutes. guilt" and he declares:
The theologian Emil Facken-
drug pushers and sellers- of
"In the scenes depicting heim has said:
machine guns — people the arrest of Jesus and his
" 'There can be, must be
bizarre in dress and comport- trial before Pilate, the re- shall be, no second Auschwitz
ment, with no shred of hu- sponsibility for his fate, anywhere; on this testimony
manity or dignity, and with
was earlier assigned the Jew stakes his own life,
OUR EARLY AMERICAN DINING ROOM never a sign of religious which
to the priests, is shifted to the lives of his children and
feeling. T h e inappropriate the Jewish people. In a dra- his children's children.'
EASTERN SEABOARD NIGHT
-goings-on in the Temple maitic crescendo, the film
"As 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
which, according to the gos- now asserts a collective Jew- makes its way through Amer-
EVERY FRIDAY
pels, Jesus condemned, are ish guilt for the crucifixion. ica's theaters, Universal Pic-
Serving Complete Dinners 12 Moen to 10 a.m.
here fantastically exagger-
Featuring May Seafood Favorites, Including;
"The confrontation begins tures may discover that
Fried
Pon
S.A.,
Nova Scotia Salmon, Riot of
ated, given a gratuitous de- as Jesus is led to Pilate's creations which defame the
Pkiten) and Carriboon Grouper.
monic coloring and pieced house, with the mob crowding Jewish people will not be
out with elements wholly in on him and tossing sar- allowed to stand unchal-
OLD AMERICAN FAMILY
COMPLETE CATERING FOR
DINNER DAY
alien to the time and place. castic questions at him.
LOUISIANA SPECIAL
lenged either by Jews or by
• MI MS • BAR IIITZVAS
"The Temple scene is the
EVERY
SUNDAY
WIRY
SATURDAY
other people of good will who
• BANVIETS • POOLSRE PARTIES
"The,
sequence
showing
the
most striking example of the
Cone to Dinners 12 Noon to 10 a.m.
.1" . Z.; p.m
r11 p„..„
,4".F...6
And AU Occasion
,.1C4
C."1"
and
trial before Pilate leaves no seek to create a world of
Hama Party Arrangemants
in
which
the
film
carica-
way
American Haritogo INtraptts
Stye*
141173.
decency and mutual respect."
1 HOUR DEUVERY
tures persons and groups doubt in the viewer's mind
WITHIN THE HOME
that
in
the
film
—
unlike
the
POI PARTIES 10 05 MORE
DOCARO'S SPECIAL DESSERT BUFFET
who do not follow Jesus or
ALL DINNERS
Every human heart is hu-
ALL TRAYS & BOXES DISPOSABLE
who oppose him. There are stage version — it is 'the
man.—H.
W. Longfellow.
WE ARE SPECIAUSTS IN
to
Jews'
as
a
group
who
are
portrayal
others, notably the
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