Wine of Morning
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Wine of Morning |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1955 |
| length | 114 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Katherine Stenholm |
| script | Richard Girvin |
| music | Joseph Schmoll |
| camera | Robert Craig |
| cut | George Jensen |
| occupation | |
| |
Wine of Morning is an American feature film from 1955 and is about Barabbas , who, according to the biblical account , was pardoned by Pontius Pilate in place of Jesus Christ .
The film is based on the novel Wine of Morning by Bob Jones Jr.
action
On a stormy voyage by ship, Barabbas writes a letter to his friend Stephen and remembers his time in Galilee Nazareth .
There he is friends with the carpenter Josef and his son Jesus . One day he meets Irene, the future bride of his friend Stephen, and falls in love with her. At Stephen's and Irene's wedding in Cana , the wine suddenly ran out. Mary asks Jesus for help, who then turns water into wine.
A little later, Joel decides to leave Nazareth and go to Kaparnaum. There he visits his friends Sarah and Jonathan and their son Dismas. Since Jonathan is paralyzed, Joel helps Dismas run Jonathan's business. He meets the ruthless tax collector Levi and bitterly notices the oppression of the Jews by the Romans. While Joel would most like to fight, Jonathan waits for redemption from God.
One day after Dismas enthusiastically watched Jesus cast out demons, he and Joel also bring Jonathan to Jesus. They let Jonathan down to Jesus through the ceiling of the house; Jonathan is healed.
In the meantime, Joel meets the stranger Omah, whose family had been cruelly murdered by the Romans. Omah takes Joel to Jesus; however, to Joel's disappointment, Jesus does not choose him as a disciple. Omah recruits Joel for an underground movement fighting for the liberation of Israel.
In Jerusalem, Joel meets Prince Manean and is trained by him for six months. While carrying out an assignment, he saves the Egyptian dancer Myra from the advances of Manean's servant Toron. Joel and Myra fall in love.
Manean is planning an action against the Romans for the approaching Passover . He gives Joel the name Barabbas when he suggests that the necessary money be stolen from the expected pilgrims. A little later, Dismas also joins Manean's group.
When Toron betrays Barabbas to the Romans, Barabbas escapes and kills Toron. Myra suggests that Manean use Toron's funeral to escape together. Soon Barabbas is wanted by the Romans as a robber. A little later, Barabbas is caught in a robbery; Myra dies.
At the same time, Pontius Pilate Jesus is brought before him as a prisoner who is charged with blasphemy. Pilate find no guilt in him, but the people demand Jesus' crucifixion. Pilate leaves the choice to the people as to whether Jesus or Barabbas should be pardoned on the occasion of the Passover festival; the people choose Barabbas. Finally, Pilate gives in to the people and condemns Jesus; Barabbas' accomplices Gestas and Dismas are crucified together with Jesus. Shaken, Barabbas followed Jesus' crucifixion on Golgotha . Jesus is mocked by those present; only Dismas sticks to him.
After Barabbas' ship is shipwrecked during the storm, Barabbas is brought to Irene, who now has a son named Joel. Irene tells Barabbas about Jesus' resurrection and ascension to heaven . She and Stephen were later baptized; Stephen was stoned to death by the Romans for his belief. Shortly before he leaves, Barabbas confesses to Irene that he once loved her.
In Antioch, Barabbas meets Manean again, who has converted to Christianity; Barabbas also becomes a Christian. On his journey with Paul , Barabbas is arrested and imprisoned. On the occasion of the death of King Herod Agrippa , Barabbas has the prospect of being pardoned.
Production notes
The film was made with the participation of students and staff from Bob Jones University . The basis was the novel Wine of Morning by University President Dr. Bob Jones Jr. from 1950. He had long planned to write a novel about Barabbas , but only found the time to write when he was sick with pleurisy for two months. The novel was completed six months later. The novel was eventually made into a film by Unusual Films; Bob Jones Jr. took over the role of Pontius Pilate .
Wine of Morning was screened at the International Congress of Motion Picture and Television School Directors at the Cannes International Film Festival . It was the first film to win the top four National Evangelical Film Foundation awards .
Wine of Morning was Katherine Helmond's film debut.