About The Movie:

Actors: Richard Harris, Barbara Hershey, Maximilian Schell, Vittorio Gassman, Carolina Rosi

Directors: Joseph Sargent

Richard Harris portrays old Abraham as the fallible human being that he surely was. Barbara Hershey (Sarah) is equal to the challenge of becoming a woman who, even in her advanced years, maintains a beauty which can entice a Pharaoh of Egypt.

The research production crew of Abraham certainly did their homework. As an ancient Sumerian, Abraham was part of a thriving and wealthy culture, which invented everything from schools, to surgery, to a codified law system. They were even the formulators of astrology, which the film skillfully sites as Abraham draws the signs of the zodiac in the sand for Isaac to learn. Probably an offensive moment to Biblical purists, but nevertheless–realistic and accurate.

The Mesopotamian custom of producing a son through the wife’s handmaid is handled with accuracy and tact. Relevant in light of today’s Arab/Israeli conflict is the fact that this custom produced the Arab race extant today, while the children of Sarah’s son Isaac became the Hebrews.

Another piece of excellent background the film delivers, is the covenant-making ceremony in the presence of the king’s ‘Divine Right’ to rule. The scene in Haran is exceptionally well done–right down to the Sumerian’s penchant for bargaining.

The animal sacrifice is handled with welcome reserve. So too, is the custom of midwifery, and how grief-stricken Sarah must’ve felt if she-childless, indeed did deliver so many children.

If there is any complaint with the film, one might be the portrayal of Isaac as a young teen when he was being prepared as a sacrifice by his father. Isaac was no doubt somewhat older than this according to Biblical chronology.

I shall long remember the reaction of my students to this impending sacrifice–especially from those who did not know how the story would end!

Another complaint might be the Pharaoh showing Sarah a pyramid, as if this was a new thing in Egypt. In reality, by Abraham’s time, the main pyramids were several hundred years old.

In summary, this version of the Abraham is right up there with the best of the films in this genre (see my other reviews). I feel only the Joseph story is better.

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