Barabbas

Barabbas is a 1961 religious epic directed by Richard Fleischer, a joint Italian-American production adapted from the 1950 novel of the same name by Swedish Nobel laureate Pär Lagerkvist. It was the second screen version of the book, following Alf Sjöberg's Swedish adaptation in 1953. Christopher Fry, Nigel Balchin and Diego Fabbri were among the screenwriters, while Dino De Laurentiis produced the film.

The story expands on the life of Barabbas, the man released in place of Jesus in the biblical Passion narrative. Anthony Quinn stars in the title role, alongside Silvana Mangano, Katy Jurado, Arthur Kennedy, Ernest Borgnine, Vittorio Gassman and Jack Palance. Shot in Verona and Rome, the production became known for its gladiator battle staged in a Cinecittà mock-up of the Colosseum and a crucifixion sequence filmed during an actual total solar eclipse. In Italy it received three Nastro d'Argento nominations.