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Godspell
I must admit, when I first read about its premise, Godspell had me a bit nervous. The Gospel of Matthew, turned into a musical extravaganza and updated into modern-day New York? This was either going to be so work so well that I would be grinning ear to ear, or it would be so bad that I feared the consequences that it would have on my senses. Truth be told, I was afraid that it would be the latter case, and I sat down to watch Godspell with a cautious, uneasy attitude. Who knew that five minutes into Godspell, I would be grinning ear to ear, and that the grin would not leave my face until long after the film came to an end? What a wonderful, joyful, mesmerizing film this is, filled with catchy songs, a youthful, excited cast, and a deep appreciation for the gospels both as literature and as healthy moral teachings. John-Michael Tebelak adapts from his own stage play, which I have not seen. I would be curious to know the differences between it and the film version (I doubt that the play would have included the New York setting), as Godspell the movie has a freshness and intensity that seems to exist on its own plain. The film begins with glimpses of the busy life of New York City, including traffic jams, people rushing down the streets in a hurry, and the like. This chaotic life in the fast lane is soon left behind, and the film shifts its focus to the life and teachings of Jesus (Victor Garber). Here, he is a bushy-haired youth with a Superman shirt, nifty face-paint, suspenders, and a big sense of humor. After he is baptized by John the Baptist (David Haskell) in a huge fountain in a park, the two men recruit some followers (who all play themselves), and the rest of the film is a delightful trek through New York City, as Jesus teaches his parables through song, dance, play, and humor (“No man can serve God…” WHAT? “…And money.”). There are so many wonderful touches in this film that I’m not sure where to start. The songs are all catchy and simple (particularly “Day by Day” and “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”). If you’re not singing along by the second round of the chorus, then you’re probably dead. I also like the fact that throughout the film, Jesus and his disciples are seemingly alone in New York City. With the exception of the opening and closing scenes, no other people are present. This fact makes the inclusion of society in these bookends crucial and profound, as it shows that these disciples have left society, gone off to learn the teachings of Christ and, having learned, can now return to society as changed people. And against all odds, I loved the overall goofy and spontaneous attitudes that these characters project. Of course their constant one-liners, sound effects, and bad Mae West-impersonations are corny, but didn’t Christ teach that people must become like children to be his followers? Avid church-goers might argue that the cast’s shenanigans prove that they aren’t taking Christ’s teachings very seriously, but by watching their antics and their devotion to Christ, we come to realize that this group takes Christ’s teachings seriously enough to know that they are not required to act serious all the time. The
characters in Godspell can be looked at in two ways,
and both are inspired. On one hand, these people could literally
be Jesus, John, and the disciples, in a story updated to modern
day New York. With this approach, their colorful outfits, face-painting,
and childish antics truly puts into perspective how bizarre and
radical Jesus’ actions must have been in first century Israel,
and yet these people are filled with so much joy and happiness
that, much like in The
Apostle, we find their lifestyle contagious. On the other
hand, I choose to view this film not as a literal update of Christ’s
life, but as a group of radicals living in New York embracing
the teachings of Christ as a lifestyle. As a result, they are
simply playing the life of Christ out to get a better understanding
of his ideas. Either way, the message is the same: Be yourself,
be radical, push the envelope, and love one another. Godspell
is a film breathing with life and joy. Cast: A Columbia Pictures production.
Directed by David Greene. Written by David Greene and John-Michael
Tebelak, from Tebelak’s stage musical. Rated G. Running
time: 103 minutes. Original United States theatrical release date:
March 21, 1973. Questions? Comments? E-mail me: danel_the_tinman@hotmail.com |
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