In Search of Historic Jesus

In Search of Historic Jesus is a 1979 American documentary film based on Lee Roddy and Charles E. Sellier Jr.'s book of the same name. Released by Sunn Classic Pictures, the film speculates on the historical accuracy of the biblical depiction of Jesus.

In Search of Historic Jesus
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHenning Schellerup
Screenplay byJack Jacobs
Lee Roddy
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Robert Starling
Malvin Wald
Based onBook
by Lee Roddy and
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
Produced byJames L. Conway
Bill Cornford
Charles E. Sellier Jr.
StarringJohn Rubinstein
Brad Crandall
Narrated byBrad Crandall
CinematographyPaul Hipp
George Stapleford
Edited byKendall S. Rase
Music byBob Summers
Distributed bySunn Classic Pictures
Release date
  • August 1979 (1979-08)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$22.4 million[1] or $10.6 million[2]

Production notes

edit

In Search of Historic Jesus was produced by Sunn Classic Pictures, a Utah-based independent film company that specialized in releasing low-budget family films and documentaries. Along with such features as In Search of Noah's Ark (1976) and Beyond and Back (1978), the film was one of a series of releases from the company that attempted to present convincing scientific evidence for Christian theology.[3]

Parts of the film were shot in Heber, Provo, and Park City in Utah.[4]

Reception

edit

Although In Search of Historic Jesus was a massive commercial success, the picture met with some negative critical reviews. According to movie historian Leonard Maltin, who declared the film a "BOMB" (his lowest possible rating), "This drivel should have been titled In Search of Morons Who Will Believe Anything."[5]

Produced on a low budget, the movie earned over $22.4 million at the North American box office[1][6] and was the 34th highest-grossing film of 1979.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "In Search of Historic Jesus, Worldwide Box Office Information". Worldwide Box Office. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  2. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 291. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  3. ^ Beyond and Back, AMC Movie Guide. AMC via Internet Archive. Archived July 14, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  4. ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: a history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
  5. ^ Maltin's TV, Movie & Video Guide
  6. ^ "In Search of Historic Jesus, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "Top Grossing Films of 1979". Listal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
edit