Joseph

When I first saw this adaptation in the early nineties, I was very pleased indeed at how great care was taken to stick closely to the narrative in the scriptures. Only one event was taken out of order. When Joseph revealed himself he openly forgave them, this happened after the death of Jacob when his body was taken to Canaan for burial, his brothers expressed fear that Joseph would take his vengeance once Jacob had died. That's when he made the statements made right after he revealed himself in the show. It didn't take away from the enjoyment of the show. However I believe budgetary issues might have prevented the land and houses of Egypt not being painted and more colorful. The Egyptians were well known to be colorful. They painted everything they built almost. Great presentation. All the acting were spot on. Great production.

accuracy and a great cast. wise manner to present a classic story and carefully recreation of atmosphere . an episode of Bible who escapes from religious movies clichés for a real admirable style to introduce the viewer in a world well-known who becomes new at whole. the levels of story, the faith of Joseph, the nuances of performances, the image, locations, music all, each gives soul to events in a special manner. it is an universal story, one of mankind cultural history and that soul who becomes present in each scene transforms the Joseph adventure in a touching discovery. result - a historical movie more than biblical. but more useful for its pure virtue of admirable work of a brilliant artistic team.

Competently made Biblical production dealing with revelant epic deeds narrated in the Old Testament. It is a luxuriously mounted production that gives a feeling of religious spectacle. Biblic story of Joseph: Paul Mercurio, and his 10 envious siblings. Covering Jacob, who long time ago was blessed as successor by Isaac posing as Esau, his sons and especially Joseph. He was sold to slavery by his jealous brothers Reuben, Zebulon, Simeon, Judah .. They had a real jealousy of his skills and of being their father's favorite. As they take him, seize, tear off his coat and throw him into a dry well. The following day, he is given to traders on their way to Egypt . At a popular market, Joseph is sold as a slave to Pothipar, the Pharaoh Prime Minister : Ben Kingsley . His prophetic abilities and highly productive work win his master's trust and he is appointed as a major servant. One day, he is seduced Pothiphar's tempting wife : Lesley Ann Warren , but Joseph rejects her . The scorned woman seeks vengeance and acussing him of violation. He is imprisionated and at the jail prophetizes the future of two locked powerful men who served the Pharaoh . Later on, he is called by Pharaoh himself : Stefano Dionisi , to interpret his twisted dreams . As Joseph describes the famous dream of seven thin cows that eat seven fat cows. Then Joseph predicts the dream in which 7 years of plentiful harvest, Egypt will suffer 7 years famine .Later on, Pharaoh Ramses I appoints Joseph as the main Chancellor. Biblical history miniseries formed by two long episodes , shot in enough budget imitating the American Colossal, but made in Italian style. This Old Testament story is decently told , taking parts here and there of the notorious historical happenings . It contains great production design, spectacular scenes and famous as well as charming actors. The movie gives engaging messages about fraternity, compassion, forgiveness, love, brotherhood and redemption. Paul Mercurio gives an acceptable acting as the good son whose ruthless brothers become increasily resentful of their dad's preference of Joseph, carring out a merciless revenge . Martin Landau gives a good interpretation as Jacob who married Rachel well played by Alice Krige .Support cast is frankly fine, such as Dominique Sanda, Ben Kingsley, Warren Clarke, Lesley Ann Warren, Renato Scarpa, Peter Eyre, Oliver Cotton, Arthur Brass, and Monica Bellucci as Pharaoh's wife, among others. It packs an impressive and rousing musical score by Marco Frisina supervised by Ennio Morricone. And a colorful, brilliant cinematography by Raffaele de Mertes, shot on location in Morocco. The picture was compellingly directed by Roger Young. Roger is a good artisan, usually filming for TV and occassionally for big screen. He has shot various miniseries which have been a joy of his long career. He filmed several episodes of the prestigious Bible series, such as Jesus, Moses, Paulus of Tarso, Salomon, Barrabbas and Joseph. Rating 7/10. Better than average. Well worth seeing. This story has been previously adapted as follows : Joseph and hid Bethren 1961 by Luciano Ricci, Irving Rapper with Geoffrey Horne as Joseph, Finlay Currie, Robert Morley, Terence Hill, Belinda Lee, Helmut Schneider. In the beginning 2000 by Kevin Connor with Eddie Cibrian as Joseph, Christopher Lee as Pharaoh Ramses, Steven Berkoff as Puthiphar, Amanda Donohue as his wife.

Every time this 1995 version of Joseph's profound story is on TV again, I watch it. I'm mesmerized by the beautiful Soul of Joseph as depicted by the really likable Paul Mercurio. He brings Joseph's kind and courageous spirit to life. Also excellent is Ben Kingsley, Martin Landau, Leslie A. Warren. This film is thoughtful, beautifully photographed and directed. For me it is essential viewing for audiences who want accurate Biblical stories, as well as for those who simply like well-produced movies. Joseph truly has a character to aspire to as followers of the deeper nature of humanity, and his characterization is both believable and amazing in this rendition. Because it isn't certain who really made this story work, I have to give everyone in the production credit.

Movies like this one almost constitute an Italian TV genre.They are modest budgeted biblical stories,made interesting by ,of course,the quality of the source,and by the cast as well.Joseph (1995) (TV)is not Italian;it's directed by Roger Young,written by Lionel Chetwynd (the author of Peter Hall's Jacob ,as well) and finely,maybe sumptuously, incredibly subtly performed by artists like Ben Kingsley,Martin Landau ,Lesley Ann Warren,Dominique Sanda, Alice Krige and Valeria Cavalli.The Italian element is nonetheless present--the cast includes Monica Bellucci and other Italian actors in small roles;the score is Italian,and many members of the crew. Joseph (1995) (TV) revealed to me Kingsley's non--negligible talent and instantly turned me into a fan of his;I remember I have found something about him in an old almanac, and I was gathering every information available about this unbelievably subtle and endearing actor.His role showed a finesse that it is not so uncommon in some TV productions (I think mostly about Volonte in the TV Charterhouse;or about some roles in the LA PIOVRA series--performed by giants of the screen).In Europe,such finesse is appreciated in the TV movies. As an artist, Kingsley is, much like Landau, uneven; GANDHI is an execrable movie. Even if generally crushed by too bad scripts (and/or by crap roles), Kingsley is nonetheless uneven himself. Often uninspired, maybe bored, even inept. Yet he could have had his share with the best; as I remarked him in this Biblical story, it seemed to me he was one of the supplest and imaginative and delicate—that gleam of tenderness and kindness of his ….As a weird ,peculiar looking Egyptian, he gives a gentlemanly performance. He puts and gives some real understanding of a life context. I have never found again this beauty of performance; was he an one—shot actor?

Joseph is an excellent dramatisation of the Biblical story. It's a tale best known in popular culture today as the basis for the Lloyd Webber musical, but I found it refreshing to sit down and watch a thorough and accurate account of the story as it was in the Bible, and without all the glitzy silliness that Webber brought to the table. The production values and script are as great as ever for this series, with the Moroccan locations perfectly standing in for Canaan and Egypt (the depiction of the famine in particular is terrifyingly realised). What stands out most, though, is the calibre of the cast in this one. Ben Kingsley far and away steals the show as the complicated Potiphar; he's a man you could easily hate when he first shows up, but there's much more to him than that. Kingsley isn't the only winner here. Martin Landau, as the ancient elder Jacob, is also outstanding, adding real heart to the production. Lesley Ann Warren is sexy and delicious as Potiphar's scheming wife. Paul Mercurio (STRICTLY BALLROOM) makes a charismatic Joseph, even if he didn't entirely lose his Aussie accent, and it makes you wonder what happened to him.