Jesus of Nazareth
"The Extended Version"
Question
Why do you have different versions and add things every year.
Answer
It has been a work in progress. Sometimes I have felt somethings were lacking albeit perhaps a few seconds but nonetheless it was always my intention to perfect it as much as possible. (March 2024 is the final version if God allows it)
Question
Are they paying you to do this or why do you do this.
Answer
No I am not being paid nor would i accept it. it has been my desire to enjoy the life of Christ and this film is the one that as a child gave me comfort through it all.
Question
Are you going to continue to add more scenes.
Answer
As of March 2024 (colour & sound were also revised) I feel I have finished i hope. I will not be adding more scenes as it is well over what I thought I would do since beginning this project in 1999 in vhs format and then started on it again on dvd/bluray in 2012.
Questions
How do I go about in buying this from you
Answer
It is not for sale. it is free. As I have stated in the subscription section. once you watch this extended version, email me a review of what you though so I may post it here and i will send you the 7 dvds as Digital files to download and stream to your device.
Question
Why was the Garden of Gethsemane scene extended longer.
Answer
Zeffirelli stated in his book that many scenes were trimmed due to time constraints. The garden scene seemed rushed considering how much time the Last supper and crucifixion were given. It was not until i saw these pictures here that it was confirmed that The agony in the garden was trimmed as in the pictures you can see Christ awakening the disciples. This is a very important scene since Christ's final night suffering was very powerful due to his disciples falling asleep in his greater time of need.
Question
How did you get so much information on Jesus of Nazareth, when did you start?
Answer
I started collecting old newspapers from libraries in 1999 and books on the film, any article that was available pre internet I tried to get a hold of as well as looking for lost footage in VHS video tapes and recorded reruns on tv.
Question
Why don’t you make a bookmark minute wise and disc where the new scenes are?
Answer:
Although it would be useful yes, I believe it would take away from the experience as is when one is looking, waiting for something rather than just enjoying it as it occurs. I was not going to even say which scenes they were as it would truly be unexpected experience but I thought that would be unfair to anyone. Nonetheless a bookmark is included after a review is submitted.
Question
I saw the extended version a year ago...why did you wait until now to include the wedding at Cana and those other miracles?
Answer (in 2018)
Although I had considered it complete, i always wanted to include the wedding at Cana. however it seemed out of place since i did not see room for it chronologically in the film being Christ' first miracle since the scene after the rejection of Nazareth led straight to the walk with Jesus and his newfound disciples to Capernaum. However, I came about this publicity still of Mary and Jesus that inspired me to finally undertake the hard labour and commence on what I consider now the final version.
Question
The temptations in the desert, what pictures did you find to make the scene accurate?
Answer
Here are a few I found in William Barclays book and more eventually in the internet and in Zeffirelli's book that described how the scene originally was. The pictures show a very difficult ordeal for Christ during the 40days and nights therefore it was a difficult task to try and replicate it.
Question
Is the whole movie 465 mins, 7 hours 45 mins or is that including the preview and recaps also? the uncut Artisan dvd was 382 minutes so just to know.
Answer
The recaps from alll 4 parts combined are 6 minutes while the previews are 4minutes. That would be a total of 10 minutes for all 4 parts in clips. As for the film itself all 4 parts of the film from credits to end would be a total of 459 mins, 7hours and 39 minutes long.
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Film: 7hours 35minutes
Preview & Recaps: 10 minutes
Total feature running time
465 minutes, 7 hours 45 minutes
Question
I think the original cut is what the Franco Zeffirelli wanted to show and nothing more. I think this extended version drags the film and i think it butchers the original. Why bother with the new scenes?
Answer
Part of this question was answered under the News/Product page under the reason behind the extended version. but to highlight the question, Zeffirelli in his book mentions that he wanted to include more footage of Jesus' ministry even that of imperial Rome before Christ's birth but due to Tv limitations at the time since the film was already past the 6 hour mark, he had to withdraw. A little known fact is that its original premiere in 1977 was 2 nights of 3 hours with commercial so alot of footage was cut and not shown. It was not until 1979 re run that the miniseries was extended to 8hours over 4 nights and almost all the footage was reinserted minus the temptations in the dessert.
As for butchering the film, the original is usually the butchered version per say. When a studio releases a director's cut of a film, it is usually an extended version of the original as the director intended it to be. Zeffirelli had more footage that did not make it including the beheaded head of John the baptist in the silver patter, Mary's mother's death, more scenes of Jesus' childhood and even more scenes of the Resurrection such as appearing to Thomas (aquired now) and the walk to Emmaus. Hopefully all that footage falls into my hands one day as I am searching for ways to contact RadioTelevisione Italiana to get that footage. Here arew few of those pictures.
Question
For the bonus dvds, where did you find all those interviews and tv programs?
Answer
I searched online to have the most important clipsand interviews I could find. The Hope special included I purchased in 2002 and has been discontinued for years. The "Real Jesus of Nazareth" was Smithsonian Tv Special I also purchased in 2017.
Question: 2022
I thought you were done adding scenes. Its Oct 2022 and you added more this year even the washing of the feet. Why are you still adding and are you ever going to stop?
Answer
I felt inspired it is all I can say. I was finished so I thought but when I read the Bible and the footage is available I guess I let God guide me. Footage is sent to me and believe me many a times I try to ignore doing it because it takes so long. The Lord knows I thought I was done since 2015 except perhaps for colour enhancements. I think this 2024 might be the final cut but God only knows
Question: 2022
i just finished watching it 2 days ago. i liked the new recent scenes of the widow although short but meaningful and the miracle of the man with the withered hand happening the same day as the crippled man on the Sabbath. What made you want to include this lesser known miracle and the widow offering?
Answer
I always thought the widow's offering was a short but important lesson as Jesus was reaching his final conflict with the Pharisees, as for the man with the withered hand I consider it just as powerful as the more known miracles but it was this picture sent to me that made me undertake the labour of completing it.
Question: 2024
Hi I recently saw your extended version and Im a bit torn. Pros is i really enjoyed most of the new scenes, They work well for the most part and they are important miracles from the Bible, the message is there. Cons I am curious about the random shots of sunrise, sunset, or nightfall. The outside exterior shots of Jerusalem as Jesus walks in on Thursday evening was interesting though. Christ is shown walking too many times while the multitude follow him but its an over long walk that eventually leads to a miracle but its almost 3 minutes of screen time of just Jesus walking. That could have bee less. Also right before the Last Supper the new scene of Jesus looking towards Jerusalem saying the hour has come makes sense and is in the Bible but before that 2 disciples walk up a room and then Roman soldiers are shown patrolling Jerusalem while Jews are shown blowing the ram horns. Those snippets i feel are distracting and take away from the pacing. Not criticizing your work more like why id you feel the need to add those particular small scenes. Blessings.
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Answer
Hello. I appreciate your attention to detail and I am not offended at all. i appreciate it these questions. These scenes of Jesus just walking or the exterior shots and every other for me albeit unnecessary perhaps in regards to the film represent my personal desire to feel as if I am part of what is happening. I feel its like having a lens and seeing from afar live to something so simple as Jesus walking towards something miraculous. Sunrise and nightfall what Jesus may have seen as his mortal journey continued. .The scene of the Roman soldiers patrolling the streets of Jerusalem before the Last Supper historically is what was occurring as the Passover time was a very turbulent week in Jerusalem and the Romans were on high alert. This to me adds so much more understanding of the tension Jesus felt during the Last Supper in the upper room while outside danger lurked in the darkness of the streets. When Judas leaves we see Jesus washing the apostles feet and then we see an exterior shot of the upper room while the street now late into the night are seen and only crickets and wolves are heard. How must have Jesus felt knowing after the Supper He would have to walk out there into the night and the darkness that awaited Him. How would i feel if i was there and hearing all that only to learn that now we must follow Jesus into the night. As a viewer it puts me in that spot knowing the environment. So all the previous scenes reflect the same but also for the narrative. Jesus was always walking towards somewhere and that is why before every new scene Jesus is shown going towards everything and Zeffirelli did an amazing job at this, all i have done is try to mimic his story telling style. Remember the scene of Jesus sleeping while Peter and Andrew speak of him in awe. Those small scenes are amazing and place us the viewers in the mist of it. i hope it makes a bit of sense. God bless.
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I would like to mention a fellow Jesus fan as myself who has made a fantastic edit into one whole movie as a single feature-film experience with a running time of 1hour 43 minutes.It has been scaled to 16:9 and reframed, and paced to modern standards, trimmed down from 6 hours to less than 2 - hopefully to reach new audiences. The pacing is similar to the Jesus Film Project but much more powerful and smoother in as the words of Christ can be heard during the transitions of scenes. View it on YouTube by clicking here.
