Godspell Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Godspell Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 24, 2020

It all started with an idea from writer John-Michael Tebelak, who wanted something more than the usual when it came to a celebration of faith. He dreamed of a way to reinvent such love, to give the story of Jesus and his teachings a different spin, helping to reach a new audience understandably bored with the rigid ways of Christian storytelling. Tebelak eventually teamed with composer Stephen Schwartz, coming up with “Godspell,” a musical that proved its worth during its 1971 off-Broadway debut, even inspiring a 1972 production with a cast that included Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, and Andrea Martin (Paul Shaffer was the musical director). While enjoying popularity and profit, it didn’t take long for the show to hit the big screen, with 1973’s “Godspell” hoping to share its unique take on faith and love with a larger audience. It’s a film that’s eager to please, with director David Greene working to retain the theatrical presence of the material while unleashing it on New York City, setting his cast free to romp around hop spots as they emphatically deliver a hippie gospel for a new generation of believers.

The ideas driving “Godspell” are found in the Gospel of Matthew, with Jesus (Victor Garber) arriving in New York City to share his teachings with his apostles. John the Baptist (David Haskell) has gathered the group, presenting Katie (Katie Hanley), Merrell (Merrell Jackson), Joanne (Joanne Jonas), Robin (Robin Lamont), Gilmer (Gilmer McCormick), Jeffrey (Jeffrey Mylett), Jerry (Jerry Sroka), and Lynne (Lynne Thigpen). Eager to be part of the Jesus movement, the gang hangs on his every word, working out the details of his parables as they confront their own issues of faith, hitting the streets to act out the stories and get in touch with their feelings as the Son of God inches toward his destiny.

“Godspell” is loosely plotted, basically nothing more than a greatest hits of bible stories handed to a collection of young people opening themselves to the possibilities of Jesus. To increase the theatrical nature of the material, Tebelak turns the characters into clowns, heightening their innocent spirits and musical theater elasticity, with John the Baptist recruiting the team from all around NYC, blowing a shofar to send a special message to those willing to listen, separating them from extreme urban frustrations. “Godspell” isn’t a Biblical movie, but it uses the book for teaching purposes, with Jesus looking to share his view of humanity through the gospel, giving the writing a formal foundation, while the rest of the endeavor tears off into multiple directions, becoming a tour for Jesus and the apostles as they act out the particulars of the parables.

New York City actually plays a major role in “Godspell,” and part of the film’s appeal is the chance to explore empty areas, as the producers managed to clear out populated sections of the town to build a playground for the characters. There’s definitely a time capsule aspect to the viewing experience, which finds the gang jumping around Central Park, visiting Lincoln Center, dancing around signage in Times Square, and even reaching the top of the World Trade Center during one precarious musical number. Greene labors to push “Godspell” beyond the stage, handing the production an open-world feel that’s fantastic, giving the actors environments to interact with, adding liveliness to their performances. Even if one doesn’t respond to the picture, the images presented here are memorable, lifting the movie up when it needs the boost.

The songs in “Godspell” have their purpose, telling stories within stories, going beyond the bible to explore human connections. The endeavor produced one big hit with “Day by Day,” and there’s a reason for that: it’s a fantastic song. It’s memorable, offering a group effort, and it’s returned to on more than one occasion in the film. The rest of the numbers have their intermittent appeal, but Schwartz can’t replicate his home run, keeping consistency elusive as the material finds a few clunkers, especially when it aims for a sillier level of engagement. Thankfully, nothing stops the cast from giving it their all, offering broad work that fits Greene’s bright vision for “Godspell,” committing wholeheartedly to the experience, which does wonders for the endeavor.

Godspell Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Making its Blu-ray debut, "Godspell" is offered with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail is satisfactory, presenting a textured look at the cast and their distinctly early '70s appearance, with bursting hair and fibrous clothing. Makeup is appreciable as well. The New York City locations are dimensional, gifting those interested in taking in the empty metropolis a chance for a few pauseable moments. Colors remain in line with the cinematographic demands of the day, offering a cooler palette for the concrete jungle, while personal style choices and clown-ish touches bring out stronger primaries. Greenery is appealing. Delineation isn't problematic. Source is in strong shape.

Godspell Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles the essentials of "Godspell" without pronounced issues, but IMDB lists a 4-track Stereo track for the feature's theatrical release, and that's not offered here. Perhaps there were restoration issues, but what's on the disc has its power, giving emphasis to musical numbers, which register with clear vocals and instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are equally distinct, handling performance choices and thespian emphasis, which there is plenty of here. Atmospherics aren't prioritized, but some sense of urban life and changes in location are noted.

Godspell Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Lee Gambin.

• Audio Interviews (conducted by Gambin) include composer Stephen Schwartz (45:52), producer Edgar Lansbury (18:10), and actors Robin Lamont (32:52), Kate Hanley (38:28), and Jerry Sroka (32:34).

• Audio Contribution (7:46) is an addition from Carol De Giere, author of "The Godspell Experience" and a biography of Stephen Schwartz. The interviewee shares the history of "Godspell," song choices, filming locations, casting highlights, and her favorite scenes.

• Behind the Scenes (5:06, SD) is a vintage promotional reel that highlights the shoot at Lincoln Center, offering brief glimpses of BTS footage of the production in motion. Time is also spent at the world premiere of "Godspell" at Lincoln Center, watching crews set up the movie screen and greeting red carpet arrivals, and some post-screening partying is included.

• A Teaser Trailer (:57, HD) and a Theatrical Trailer (4:22, HD) is included.

Godspell Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Godspell" isn't for everybody, and it's far from a masterpiece. Greene is clearly working with a limited budget, reducing the scale of the picture at times, getting away from the bigness that keeps the viewing event interesting. Pacing is throttled at times, and the general move to deal indirectly with the story of Jesus weakens the any pass at a narrative drive, making the feature seem scattershot. Still, there's a lot of life in the movie, which has amassed a large following that's incredibly passionate about the work. There are plenty of highlights to be enjoyed in "Godspell," including the sight of a screen Jesus wearing an afro, a bootleg Superman shirt, and suspenders. That's almost worth a recommendation alone.