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.

Jacob
Directed byPeter Hall
Screenplay byLionel Chetwynd
Based onGiacobbe
by Francesco Maria Nappi
Produced byLorenzo Minoli
StarringMatthew Modine
Lara Flynn Boyle
Sean Bean
Giancarlo Giannini
CinematographyEnnio Guarnieri
Edited byBill Blunden
Music byMarco Frisina and Ennio Morricone
Distributed byTNT
Release date
  • December 4, 1994 (1994-12-04) (U.S.A.)

Plot

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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

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Production

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Nappi, Francesco M. Giacobbe. ASIN 8839603816.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Jacob" (library catalog entry). UW-Madison Libraries. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Jacob: A TNT Bible Story". The Compleat Sean Bean. December 26, 2000. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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.
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