Jacob (film)

Not to be confused with Jacob (short film).

Jacob
Directed by	Peter Hall
Screenplay by	Lionel Chetwynd
Based on	Giacobbe by Francesco Maria Nappi
Produced by	Lorenzo Minoli
Starring	Matthew Modine Lara Flynn Boyle Sean Bean Giancarlo Giannini
Cinematography	Ennio Guarnieri
Edited by	Bill Blunden
Music by	Marco Frisina and Ennio Morricone
Distributed by	TNT
Release date	December 4, 1994 (1994-12-04) (U.S.A.)

Jacob is a 1994 German/Italian/American television movie directed by Peter Hall starring Matthew Modine, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Sean Bean. It is based on the novel Giacobbe by Francesco Maria Nappi, which is in turn based on a biblical account from the Book of Genesis about Jacob.

Plot

Jacob defrauds his twin brother Esau and flees. In Haran he gets to know his cousin Rachel, and falls in love with her. Years of hard work later he marries Rachel and reconciles with his brother Esau.

Cast

• Matthew Modine – Jacob
• Lara Flynn Boyle – Rachel
• Sean Bean – Esau
• Joss Ackland – Isaac
• Juliet Aubrey – Leah
• Irene Papas – Rebeccah
• Giancarlo Giannini – Laban
• Christoph Waltz – Morash
• Christoph M. Ohrt – Beor
• Philip Locke – Diviner
• Daniel Newman – Reuben
• Cecilia Dazzi – Bilhah
• Yvonne Sció – Judith

Production

Jacob is based on the novel Giacobbe by Francesco Maria Nappi, which is in turn based on a biblical account from the Book of Genesis about Jacob.[1][2] The screenplay was written by Lionel Chetwynd.[2]

It was directed by British director Peter Hall,[2] whose daughter, Emma, played the child Joseph.

The movie was shot in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco,[3] by LUBE Productions, LUX, Beta Film, Rai Uno, and Turner Pictures.[4] Cinematography was by Ennio Guarnieri.[2]

Music was by Marco Frisina, with Ennio Morricone as consultant,[4][5] while Bill Blunden edited the film.[2]

Production design was by Enrico Sabbatini.[4]

It was one of a series of films produced for the TNT television network in the U.S. called the Bible Collection.[6][3] Gerald Rafshoon was executive producer.[4]

Release

The film premiered at the Banff Theatre in London in December 1994,[3] and was broadcast on television on December 4, 1994.[6]

It was released on DVD by Turner Home Entertainment in 2005.[2]

Critical reception

Reviewer Peter Chattaway wrote that the film "suffers from a pedestrian script and really bad casting", in particular Matthew Modine and Lara Flynn Boyle as lovers.[6]

American filmmaker John P. McCarthy wrote in Variety in 1994: "This sure-footed TNT original has class to spare. Although more spice would be nice, "Jacob" delivers the biblical goods in a modestly compelling package". He praises "Marco Frisina's exceptional score".[4]

Christian website Movieguide reports that the film is "well made, both in cinematography and pacing, keeping the audience's interest effortlessly. The script is realistic, as is most of the plot. The acting is decent but not exceptional".[7]

See also

• Bible Collection

References

1. Nappi, Francesco M. Giacobbe. ASIN 8839603816.
2. "Jacob" (library catalog entry). UW-Madison Libraries. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
3. "Jacob: A TNT Bible Story". The Compleat Sean Bean. December 26, 2000. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
4. McCarthy, John P. (November 28, 1994). "Jacob: A Tnt Bible Story". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
5. "The Cinema Paradiso of Ennio Morricone's sacred compositions". Catholic World Report. October 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
6. Chattaway, Peter T. (June 30, 1996). "Review: The Bible Collection (dir. Various, 1993-1995)". FilmChat. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
7. "JACOB Review". Movieguide. April 18, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

External links

• Jacob at IMDb