Masada

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Product Details

Director : Boris Sagal
Actor : Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss, Giulia Pagano, Alex Karras, Ken Hutchison
Format : NTSC
Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 9780783222820
Product Group : Video
Release Date : 1999-11-16
Studio : Mca (Universal)
UPC : 096898332132

ASIN : 0783222823

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Essential Video

This 1981 television miniseries, based on Ernest K. Gann's historical novel The Antagonists, is a dramatization of a documented revolt by nearly a thousand Jerusalem Jews against Roman oppressors in A.D. 72 to 73. Following a city-wide siege by Rome's soldiers, Jewish Zealots move into a fortress in the mountains of Masada, from which they present a defense strong enough to convince the enemy to negotiate. Peter O'Toole, in all his golden dignity, plays Cornelius Flavius Silva, commander of the Roman legions, and Peter Strauss is Zealot leader Eleazar ben Yair. Both are outstanding as representatives from each side trying, in good faith, to find a way out of the deadlocked situation. Unfortunately, neither realizes that Rome has no intention of yielding, resulting in one of the greatest tragedies in Jewish history. A strong cast of character actors--David Warner, Barbara Carrera, Timothy West, and Anthony Quayle--is rewardingly watchable, the action and sets are persuasive without overwhelming the story's human dimension, and direction by Boris Sagal (The Omega Man) is crisp and enthralling. This was a pleasure to watch when it was first broadcast, and it holds up very well today. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

As entertainment..... (2008-03-19)

I tried (years ago) to order this item from Reader's Digest, only to have had it cancelled. I was delighted to be able to purchase it at this date. I (and my husband) thoroughly enjoyed it. As a piece of history, I wasn't bothered by it as I did not buy it for that reason. I purchased it to be entertained... and I was. I think Peter O'Toole is a fabulous actor (as were others).

"Or you can choose to take their victory from them...and they will remember you." (2007-09-22)

The two-hour videotape version of the mini-series "Masada" remains in my mind as the greatest single abomination in terms of editing down a mini-series. They did the same thing with "Shogun," which was bad enough, but they had some narration to cover up all their bloody cutting in that instance, and there was nothing to salvage what they did to "Masada." Specifically, they took out all of the debate and rhetoric that led to mass suicide, which was precisely the part I was most interested in seeing again. So I am one of the countless number who were happy to see that the complete 1981 ABC mini-series was finally available on DVD. Watching "Masada" again after a quarter of a century I was surprised to find how much of it I remembered, especially when it comes to Peter O'Toole's mesmerizing performance as Flavius Silva, leader of the 10th Roman Legion and Governor-General of Judea. In Part II, when Silva rises to his feet and critique's Eleazar psychological warfare, I could vividly recall how that scene was inter-cut with others in ABC's previews for the second week of the mini-series. O'Toole was nominated but did not win an Emmy for his performance (but then Robert Duvall did not win for "Lonesome Dove," so I never expect justice when it comes to the Emmys). Peter Strauss plays Eleazar ben Yair, leader of the defenders of Masada, and in the conflict of this story he is the baritone to O'Toole's tenor. The two clash marvelously, and yet it is clear that if the world had allowed them to work together they could have accomplished great things. My first wife was doing her Master's Thesis on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple before Jonestown (she had friends who had joined his church, heard him preach, and knew he was a pathological snake-oil salesman). After Jonestown as the press groped for a reason why hundreds of people would take their own lives in the name of religion, the historical reference of the siege of Masada in 73 A.D., where 936 inhabitants killed themselves rather than be captured and tortured by the Romans. The paradox was how the martyrs of Masada could be heroes while those in Jonestown were delusional. "Guyana Tragedy: Jim Jones Story" aired on CBS in 1980, and ABC showed "Masada" in four parts the following year. Both are riveting in different ways, and produce, as you would expect, diametrically opposed reactions. You will not be surprised to hear that of the two it is "Masada" that is more bearable to watch a second time. The only real slow part of the six hours comes at the beginning of Part III, because nothing really happens as the siege progresses, but that is a necessary lull to set up when Falco (David Warner) takes over the siege and tries his own sick little version of coercion (I have never liked the "look what you made me do" excuse for barbarity). Then we have one of the best scenes, as Silva and Eleazar are both tormented by the sounds of what is happening, and their reactions end up sanctioning Eleazar's leadership. I still find Barbara Carrera's character of Sheva to be largely unnecessary, although she does give Silva somebody to talk to as he gives weight to the voices in his mind ("You're worse than a mirror," he tells her). I also think her response to what happens at Masada to be an unnecessary pain for Silva, whose belief in reason makes the outcome of the siege painful enough (he proves that with his "That is not Rome," speech when he stops Falco). If there is one line I remember from this mini-series it is Silva's, "I should have put the proposition sooner." There are absolutely no extras, and the end of one of the scenes in Part IV ends abruptly, so in the end we really do not have the "complete" mini-series (but better two minutes lost than only two hours left). The cast features Anthony Quayle as the siege master Rubrius Gallus, Joseph Wiseman as the Head Essene Jerahmeel, and big Paul L. Smith as Gideon. "Masada" is not history but drama; who knows if Silva and Eleazar ever spoke to each other, let alone having a clandestine meeting on the slopes of Masada during the siege. Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth Tudor never met, but I know of no dramatist who has avoided putting them into a room together in telling their story. Ernest K. Gann, best known as the author of "The High and the Mighty," told the story of Masada as "The Antagonists," republished in paperback when the mini-series was produced as "Masada: A novel of love, courage and the triumph of the human spirit." Gann put the focus on Silva and Eleazar, and the mini-series rightfully follows his lead. The screenplay is by Joel Olianksy, writer-director of "The Competition," and he certainly gives O'Toole and Strauss plenty to work with (e.g., Eleazar proposes the mass suicide while looking at his wife and son), which explains the results. Equally important, the strategy and tactics of the siege, by definition a relatively long and boring process, are worked out in great detail (e.g., the attackers moving the battle tower into position while the defenders "soften" the gate). Whatever really happened was probably not as interesting, but the results here are impressive even before we get to the mass suicide, which is precisely what the point of telling this story should be.

Exquisite (2004-06-07)

Beautifully told, haunting drama of the historic battle of the Romans against the Jews. Do not think you understand Jonestown or Waco until you have a thorough understanding of what happened at Massada. The Jews were neither foolish nor insane, but proud and unwilling to submit to what they considered to be an illegitimate authority. Do not weigh this historic battle lightly. It continues to this day.

One of the best movies ever made (regardless of medium) (2004-04-11)

It is amazing to watch this miniseries today considering the fact that it was made for TV - if it wasn't for its length, it would be an Oscar-bound theatrical offering. The acting and writing in this movie is astounding, especially the scenes between O'Toole and Strauss (those scenes give me goose bumps!) I've watched this movie at least 5 times, despite the fact that I know the less-than-cheery outcome; in this case, the journey *is* the reward! Buy it!

first rate period piece (2004-02-13)

I have watched the full mini-series version several times and still find it quite interesting to watch each time. While the show producers probably hoped to make a series like this to show the courage and will to live and die free as free people for the Jews, more I watched, more I think how great Rome was and how deservingly she earned her right to ruled not only the Holy Lands but the known world around her. It almost funny that in this series, the Romans were the one who had to go through the trials and tributions. Jews on the top had it easy, kicking back and really didn't do much outside of the personality problems. The Romans on the other hand, had to suffered the wind storms, heat, water and supplies problems, dealing with slaves, the burden was on them for the most of the show, not on the Jews. The determination and skill shown by the Romans in this mini-series showed how great they were and in some way, showed how small the Jews were in comparsion. Roman legionaires may have been impressed by the Jews who killed themselves but like all good soldiers, they must have felt happy that they did since they and their comrades won't have to suffer possible death and injuries in the fight. The mini-series was about a war between two different cultures - almost like watching the hapless Indians trying to hold on to their lifestyle against the unstoppable whites, Jews were doom from the beginning and the mini-series, ironically speaking, showed us why it was so.

I thought Peter O'Toole was superb as a war weary Roman commander while Peter Strass who kind of disappeared after this show played a worthy nemesis if not a respectful one. Most of the cast were superb and it was good to see Anthony Quayle used so effectively here. If Masada was geared to rise sympathy for the Jews fighting for freedom against the Romans, it also rise a great deal of admiration for the Romans in their determination to shoulder all the weight to conquered and overcome.

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