Jesus of Nazareth (mini-series) - Official Press Release for Shout!'s '40th Anniversary Edition'

NOTE: the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB) listing for this mini-series explains that the previous DVD release was the same edit as the original 1977 broadcast cut of the production. In 1979 the show was re-run, with deleted scenes added back in. Shout! Factory has publicly confirmed that their release, whose press release is below, will be the original 1977 broadcast version. Our thanks to reader Alain a Grenier for tipping us off about this information.

One of the most magnificent mini-series ever created, the life of Jesus is majestically and movingly portrayed in Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth, an unforgettable portrait of the life of Jesus. Beginning before the Nativity and extending through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus Of Nazareth brings to life all the majesty and sweeping drama of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels. On February 23rd, 2016, Shout! Factory will release this powerful adaptation of the Gospels on both Blu-ray and DVD, with the Blu-ray edition boasting a newly-restored print and brand new bonus features including a new interview with actor Michael York and a new interview with author and historian Jean-Pierre Isbouts. Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com.

A star-studded international cast adds depth and humanity to this acclaimed depiction of the life of Jesus (played by Robert Powell), featuring performances by Olivia Hussey (Romeo and Juliet), Ernest Borgnine (Marty), Sir Laurence Olivier (Spartacus), James Mason (North by Northwest), Anthony Quinn (Lawrence of Arabia), Anne Bancroft (The Graduate), Ian McShane (Deadwood), Rod Steiger (On the Waterfront), Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music), Michael York (Cabaret) and more in this rewarding, uplifting and faith-affirming portrayal. Presented with stunning depth, gravity, and emotion and acclaimed by critics and viewers alike, Jesus Of Nazareth remains one of the finest depictions of the story of Christ nearly forty years after its release.