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Masada is a 1981 American historical drama television miniseries aired on ABC under the tentpole ABC Novel for Television. The screenplay by Joel Oliansky is based on Ernest Gann's 1971 novel The Antagonists. A dramatization of the historical siege of the Masada citadel in Roman Palestine by legions of the Roman Empire in AD 73. A siege that ended when the Roman armies entered the fortress, only to discover the mass suicide by the Jewish defenders when defeat became imminent.
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Episodes
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- E1 Part INext upApr 5, 1981 · 95 min
Synopsis
Negotiations between Roman leader General Cornelius Flavius and Jewish rebel leader Elezar ben Yair leads to the inevitable standoff on Masada.
Guest stars: Christopher Biggins (Albinus), Warren Clarke (Plinius), Ken Hutchison (Fronto), Heinz Bernard (Elder), Denis Quilley (General Marcus Quadratus), Anthony Valentine (Merovius, Head Tribune), Michael Elphick (Vettius), Michael Schneider (Surgeon)
- E2 Part IIApr 6, 1981 · 96 min
Synopsis
The Jewish rebels, safe and watered atop their mountain stronghold of Masada, goad the sun-tortured Roman army below. Meanwhile, two angry Centurions plan a revolt against their haggard leader.
Guest stars: Warren Clarke (Plinius), Ken Hutchison (Fronto), Reuven Bar-Yotam (Butcher), Heinz Bernard (Elder), Denis Quilley (General Marcus Quadratus), Anthony Valentine (Merovius, Head Tribune), Jack Watson (Decurion), Michael Elphick (Vettius)
- E3 Part IIIApr 7, 1981 · 95 min
Synopsis
Tables turn for the Romans, constructing the weapon to reach Masada and, now led by brutal Roman upstart Falco, who had usurped power from Flavias, the Jewish rebels' wits are tested.
Guest stars: Christopher Biggins (Albinus), Warren Clarke (Plinius), Ken Hutchison (Fronto), Reuven Bar-Yotam (Butcher), Heinz Bernard (Elder), Jack Watson (Decurion), Nick Brimble (Milades), Derek Newark (Engineering Officer)
- E4 Part IVApr 8, 1981 · 97 min
Synopsis
The Romans utilize their formidable weapon to reach the top of Masada, and the final battle is underway.
Guest stars: Christopher Biggins (Albinus), Reuven Bar-Yotam (Butcher), Derek Newark (Engineering Officer), Richard Basehart (Modern-Day Narrator (voice, uncredited))
Cast & crew
Created by Joel Oliansky
Peter O'TooleGeneral Cornelius Flavius Silva
Peter StraussEleazar ben Yair
Barbara CarreraSheva
Alan FeinsteinAaron
Giulia PaganoMiriam
Anthony QuayleRubrius Gallus
Paul L. SmithGideon
David WarnerSenator Pomponius Falco
Clive FrancisAttius, Head Tribune
David OpatoshuShimonRichard PiersonEphraim
Joseph WisemanJerahmeel, Head EsseneVideos
Trailers
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Reviews · from TMDB members
CinemaSerfMar 27, 2022
I remember watching this mini-series on the BBC and throughly enjoying every minute (I was 14!). It marries historical fact, legend and drama creating a cracking action adventure that sees nine hundred Jewish people take refuge in the eponymous and impregnable mountain fortress, fleeing the brutal regime of the Vespasianic legions under the command of Peter O'Toole's ("Silva"). The other principal casting maybe isn't the best - Peter Strauss didn't work for me at all and the… Read more
seriously wooden Barbara Carrera also stretches the imagination just a tad, but the pace of the story builds well as the besieging Romans face all the desert environment and the Jewish freedom fighters can throw at them. There is an inevitability about it - the engineering prowess of the army soon starts to sound a death knell for the brave souls gathered above, and there are some strikingly brutal examples of just how ruthless the occupying forces could be - a whole new set of uses for catapults, for example. A solid cast including Sir Anthony Quayle, David Warner and Dennis Quilley give the proceedings extra gravitas and O'Toole manages to resist any temptation to ham it up delivering a strong, considered, performance as the reasonably minded general/governor who has long since tired of fighting never ending wars. It takes 6½ hours, give or take recaps etc., which might explain why it is rarely seen nowadays, but it is a taut and compelling grand scale historical epic that is well worth sticking through (and visiting should you ever get the opportunity).