Jesus of Nazareth
"The Extended Version"
"Jesus of Nazareth" Alternate Versions Lengths and History
"Jesus of Nazareth" premiered on 27 March 1977, on the RAI 1 Italian channel and was first aired in the United Kingdom on 3 April 1977, on the ITV Network & on NBC in the United States. The mini-series ran on NBC as "The Big Event" in two three-hour installments with limited commercials on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Several scenes were cut for the first airing. When the film proved to be a blockbuster in the ratings, the network allowed the filmmakers to complete their initial vision by adding several scenes back in for its 1979 re-run. That's when the film was broken up into four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode.. The Judas/Zerah scene and the begining of the Last Supper was not shown in 1977, but was part of the official version shown in 1979, and was shown each time since on NBC and on home video. Both were shown in 1979. So, even though that was a repeat, it is considered the "official version" and the longest cut shown on TV in the U.S.to my knowledge. However in 1990 the film was re-broadcast on NBC in three installments of two and three hour episodes.
The VHS 3 video tape CBS/FOX 376 minute version came out in 1986 as one whole movie with one set of credits.When the miniseries was first transferred to VHS on 3 tapes on the CBS label in 1986,(Originally MagneticVideo in 1980 ) it was 6 minutes shorter duration at 376 minutes long. What was left out were a few short snippets of footage,and the scene where the child Jesus listens to Joseph explain on how a ladder can reach up to heaven, climbs up a ladder and looks out over the village from the vantage of the roof.
In 1994 The UK Precision/Polygram video featured the 360 min version and was released on 4 tapes. Oddly, when the miniseries found its way on to DVD in Europe, it was also this version. Initially, the British issuance 360 minutes truncated about twenty minutes of footage. Eventually, the British produced what was referred to as a Complete Edition, but which actually runs at 370 minutes due cut scenes. Notably the scene in which Zerah meets with Judas a second time to convince him to hand Jesus over to the Sanhedrin is missing along with the beggining of the the Last Supper scene.
In 1999 the Artian's LIVE Home Video VHS uncut 382 minute version was released presented as one whole movie with one set of credits on 3 videotapes. This is the longest version available on VHS and is the Complete miniseries.
Jesus of Nazareth
Release Date: 2-15-2000
Artisan Entertainment (USA) The uncut DVD 382 minute version was released in the USA and presented as one whole movie with one set of credits just like the VHS version on 2 discs. However the dvd is not remastered, it is just a port of the VHS and is very grainy and dark. Colours looked almost sepia in some scenes. Artisan just ported it over to DVD with 2 extras Living in bible times and cast and crew information. Just as the Artisan's VHS, this is the Complete Uncut miniseries.
Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus de Nazaret)
Release Year: 2002
Zima Entertainment (MEXICO) This Mexican dvd import is basically the U.S. Artisan Complete uncut 382 minute version. It has one set of credits and is presented as one whole movie on 2 discs. Being an identical copy of the Artisan dvd, this port is not remastered and is very grainy and dark but is the uncut version. Extras are Living in bible times and cast and crew information.
(Language: English & Spanish, Subtitles: Spanish, Running Time: 382 Minutes)
Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus de Nazareth)
Release Year: 2004
Carlton International Media (FRANCE) The French dvd is also the U.S. Artisan Complete uncut 382 minute version port with the exception that it is presented as 4 parts each with its on set of credits on 2 discs. Being an identical copy of the Artisan dvd, this picture quality is not remastered but is the 382 minute uncut version. Etras are Living in bible times and cast and crew information. (Language: French, Running Time: 382 Minutes)
Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus de Nazare)
Release Year 2004
Optima VVS Inc (PORTUGAL) The Portuguese dvd is the copy U.S. Artisan Complete uncut 382 minute version once again.
It has one set of credits and is presented as one whole movie on 2 discs. Etras are Living in bible times and cast and crew information.(Language: Portuguese, Running Time: 382 Minutes)
Ιησούς από τη Ναζαρέτ (Jesus of Nazareth)
Release Year 2006
Filmax Home Video Sogedasa (GREECE) The Greek dvd picture is also the same uncut Artisan Port on 2 discs but with the exception that it is presented in 2 parts with its own set of credits. Part 2 begins with Jesus walking towards the hill to deliver his sermon on the mount while the credits role. Etras are Living in bible times and cast and crew information.
(Language: English, Subtitles Greek, Running Time: 382 Minutes)
Prior to 2006 there were 4 versions of the Jesus of Nazareth mini-series. The original 371 minute version on Tv, the CBS/FOX 376 minute version, a 360 minute UK version, and a 382 minute uncut version which is the one that was released in the United States back on 2-15-2000 on DVD and then re-released on DVD in the USA back on 8-20-2002. From there other countries recieved the same port of the Artisan dvd until 2006.
However from 2011 to the present there have been more versions released.
As for TV Station Broadcastings, TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) airs it every Easter and Christmas as part of thier movie lineup. The version they broadcast is the 371 minute German Bluray Version.
Jesus Von Nazareth (Jesus of Nazareth)
Release Year: 2011
Koch Media ITV (GERMANY) The German Blu-ray of Jesus of Nazareth has a running time of 371 minutes (presented in four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode. What is confusing is that the German Blu-ray is listed to have a running time of 391 minutes, but Blu-ray.com says the German Blu-ray has a running time of 386 minutes. That is because of recap and previews that the programme length is longer. Also the German Blu-ray version is on 4 25GB single layer Blu-ray discs instead of using 2 50GB dual layer Blu-ray discs. Another issue with the German release appears to be a lower quality HD transfer. Although vibrant and great in most scenes, there are scenes where the colours sometimes looking really washed out. (Language: English and German, German Subtiles)
Jesus de Nazaret (Jesusof Nazareth)
Release Year: 2011)
Zimaent Estudios (MEXICO) The Mexican version is listed as 382 minutes which would be the same length as the uncut DVD USA version. The problem is that the Mexico Blu-ray version is really the 371 minute version of the mini-series instead of being the true 382 minute uncut version. As in the German version because of the recap and previews the programme length is longer. The Mexican version is on 2 50GB discs (four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode.)There is an improvement over the German version, which was inconsistent in picture quality. The parts that were washed out in the German Blu-Ray are corrected in this version. This version looks completely HD restored (Language: English and Spanish, Spanish Subtitles)
Gesu di Nazareth (Jesus of Nazareth)
Release year: 2012
Radiotelevisione Italiana (ITALY) The Italian 5 disc Director's cut of Jesus of Nazareth was released at 377 minutes.This version does contain the two missing scenes of Zerah and Judas and the beggining of ther Last Supper. Suprisingly the first Sermon on the Mount is cut and I can only speculate why. It goes from Judas meeting the Zealots to Judas approaching Jesus. Whether it was Zeffirelli's own decision or not, it does speed up the flow of the story albeit removing such an important scne seems off. This feature is shorter than the Artisan dvd. There is an much longer conversation of Pilate and Zerah during the flogging and Barrabas being freed scene not seen in any other version included among the Deleted Scenes on the Extras Discs. The package also includes interviews with Zeffirelli and others who participated in production, as well as production stills, and genuine TV Trailers (British TV Trailers, not the faux trailer that Artisan's DVD American Edition included) (Language: Italian)
Jesus de Nazaret (Jesus of Nazareth)
Release Year: 2013
Divisa Filmax Video (SPAIN) The Spainish Version with V2.0 is printed on the disc label and case contains the two missing scenes of Zerah and Judas and beginning of the Last Supper which are cut in all versions. The scenes were apparntely just inserted from the Artisan U.S. dvd as the quality is not HD as the rest of the film. It is very noticible during the scene of Zerah and Judas and the beginning of the Last Supper where the colours are almost sepia and then when HD resumes during the second part of the Last Supper where it has almost greenish tones. (This scene is colour corrected in the Extended Version) This Blu ray is the complete uncut 382 minute version as in the U.S.dvd so that is great as compared to rest missing these 12 minutes of footage. The Spanish Blu-ray is on 2 50GB discs (four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode.) The Spanish version is an improvement over the German version, which was inconsistent in picture quality. As far as Blu Rays the Spain and the 2015 Australia Bluray are the only full 382
minute uncut version exactly as the the U.S. Artisan dvd. (Language:English and Castilian, Castilian Spanish Subtitles)
Jesus of Nazareth
Release Year: 2013
Carlton international (UK) The Region 2 Carlton DVD released in the UK is substantially cut and runs at 270 minutes. The Dutch DVD release (also Carlton Region 2) has a running time of 365 minutes (the 399 minute running time stated on the cover is a misprint).The British Edition is shorter because of scene cuts. The early 2000's version has the "missing" Zerah/Judas/Last Supper section, however the re-issued version pictured above does not.
Jesus of Nazareth
October 2015
Via Vision Entertainment (AUSTRALIA) The Australian Bluray is the Complete Uncut 382 minute version as is the Spain Bluray and Artisans U.S.dvd with the two missing scenes of Zerah and Judas and beginning of the Last Supper included. Those scenes as with the Spain bluray are not HD as the rest of the film. It is presented as 4 parts with 4 sets of credits, however it is all on 1 Disc only. The picture quality sufferes from this and is too soft with no grain and scenes in low light have a contrast issue just like the German bluray. It must be the same transfer from the German except the 2 scenes added and compressed to 1 disc of 50GB while the Germann was on 4 discs of 25GB each thus having a better resolution than this one.
(Language English , No Closed captioned for the hearing impaired , 382 minutes)
Jesus of Nazareth 40th Anniversary Edition Blu Ray
February 2016
Contrary to what SHOUT! Factory case claims, this is not the complete version of "Jesus of Nazareth". As quoted from Shout! Factory ("Our version is from an HD transfer done in the UK. We checked the video and can confirm that the two scenes everyone mentions are not in our release, sorry.") Once again the 12 minutes featuring the scenes of Zerah and Judas as well as the beginning of The Last Supper are missing. The picture quality is superb as is the audio but having a cut version once again defeats the purpose. Shout! Factory, issuing the North American version, was informed by the fans of this problem and so far, have not done anything to correct it. If you want the complete version, you must acquire the Spanish version V.O. 2 (version corrected with added scenes). That blu-ray is ok for regions A and B. Apparently, the Australian version is also unblocked for region A. As for special features it does contain a 30 minute interview with Michael York called "John the Baptist" and an hour long interview with Best Selling Historian author Jean-Pierre Isbout about the historical time of Christ.
Jesus de Nazaret /Maria de Nazaret ( Jesus of Nazareth)
Spain 2016
This is a two movie bundle and consists of 3 bluray discs. 2discs are the Spanish 382 minute uncut version of Jesus of Nazareth complete with English audio and Castilian Spanish subtitles. The other disc is the 3 hour 2012 German-Italian TV movie on the life of Mary.
Jesus de Nazaret (Jesus of Nazareth)
Spain 2016
This Blu-ray/Dvd combo package consists of 4 Discs. 2 Blu-ray and 2 Dvds both containing Jesus of Nazareth movie. The Blu-ray is the Spanish 382 minute uncut version with 2.0 printed on the disc.. Surprisingly the Dvds are the USA Shout 40th anniversary 371 minute cut version. Same scenes have been edited out with Judas meeting Zerah followed by te beginning of the Last Supper.
Jezus z Nazaretu ( Jesus of Nazareth )
Poland 2016
ITV Studios. The Polish version runs at 371 minutes and is a port of the German dvd that was released on 2011. The Polish version is on 2 discs as opposed to the latter being on 4 discs resulting in a bit more compressed picture quality than the German dvd albeit it is great quality as opposed to other dvds. It is presented as a whole movie with 1 set of credits and no teasers and recaps are present. The same 2 scenes of Judas and Zerah and beginning of the Last supper are missing again. (Language: Polish, Subtitles Polish, Running time 371minutes )
Jesus de Nazare (Jesus of Nazareth)
Brazil 2016
Top Tape Carlton International. The brazilian dvd is an exact port of the 2006 UK Carlton version which is heavily abridged and has a running time of 270 minutes although the cover prints 300 mins in the front and 298 in the back. The picture quality is the same as the 2000 USA Artisan dvd which is very washed out in colour and grainy. It is on 2 discs and presented as one whole movie with one set of credits. Strangely this being the most heavily cut version, it actually includes the 2 famous scenes missing from all the versions save for the artisan dvd, Australia and Spain bluray of Judas and Zerah's meeting and the beginning of the Last Supper.
(Language: Portuguese and English, Subtitles Portuguese, Running time 270 minutes)
A Nazareti Jezus (Jesus of Nazareth)
Hungary 2016
Carltonb International. The Hungarian dvd is also an exact port of the 2006 UK Carlton version which is heavily abridged and has a running time of 270 minutes. The picture quality is the same as the 2000 USA Artisan dvd which is very washed out in colour and grainy. It is on 2 discs and presented as one whole movie with one set of credits. As the Brazilian version this one also includes the 2 famous scenes missing from all the versions of Judas and Zerah's meeting and the beginning of the Last Supper.(Language: Hungarian, Subtitles Hungarian, Running time 270 minutes)
Jesus of Nazareth 40th Anniversary DVD
USA 2017
Shout! Factory This version is an identical port as its Bluray counter part only on dvd. 371 minnutes
Jesus of Nazareth
Australia 2015
Via Vision Entertainment. The Australian dvd is also an identical copy to its bluray format and is the complete 382 minute uncut version as the Artisan Dvd and Spain Bluray
나사렛 예수 ( Jesus of Nazareth)
Korea 2016
The Korean version runs at 371 minutes and is a port of the German dvd that was released on 2011. This port is on 4 discs and has a very good picture as opposed to other dvds. It is presented as 4 episodes with 4 set of credits but no teasers and recaps are present. The same 2 scenes of Judas and Zerah and beginning of the Last supper are missing again. (Language: Korean & English, Subtitles Korean, Running time 371minutes )
Jesus Von Nazareth (Jesus of Nazareth)
Germany 2016
Koch Media ITV. The German dvd is an identical copy of its bluray port released in 2011 on 4 dvds.
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Jesus of Nazareth 4-DVD Gift Set
France 2017
ITV Studios. This version runs at 371 minutes although listed at 380 and is a port of the German dvd that was released on 2011. It comes on 4 discs resulting in a great quality as opposed to other dvds.. The same 2 scenes of Judas and Zerah and beginning of the Last supper are missing again. it is presented in four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode
Languages: French and English
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Jesus of Nazareth
Sweden 2013
Atlantic Studios. This multiple language dvd is also the U.S. Artisan Complete uncut 382 minute version port with the exception that it is presented as 4 parts each with its on set of credits on 2 discs. Being an identical copy of the Artisan dvd, this picture quality is not remastered but is the 382 minute uncut version. Etras are Living in bible times and cast and crew information. (Languages: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, & Finnish. Running Time: 382 Minutes)
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Jesus of Nazareth
Greece 2017
This newer Greek edition version runs at 371 minutes although listed at 380 and is a port of the German dvd that was released on 2011. It comes on 4 discs resulting in a great quality as opposed to other dvds.. The same 2 scenes of Judas and Zerah and beginning of the Last supper are missing again. it is presented in four parts two-hour installments each with different set of opening and closing credits as well as recaps and teasers per episode
Languages: Greek and English
RCA Selecta Vision 1981 Vintage CED VideoDisc
Jesus of Nazareth
USA 1981
RCA VideoDiscs SelectaVision. This rare jewel was released in summer 1981 as a boxed 4 disc set and originally priced at $99.99 in the United States. The Discs were record size with each side playing 60 minutes and the picture quality was VHS quality. A nice unique feature was that the the 4 discs were all named as episodes. Parts 1 through 4 were called The Promise, The Ministry, The Journey, and The Fulfillment. All 4 discs have opening and closing titles as well. The ill fated CED format was discountined shortly but players do exist and are available. The packaging is very nice as both front and back have many pictures and synopsis per disc. The best part of all was that this record size version is also the complete 382 minute version as oppsed to all others to this day.