The Last Temptation of Christ is a 1988 epic religious drama film written by Paul Schrader and directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Andre Gregory, Harry Dean Stanton and David Bowie.
The film is an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis' controversial 1955 novel of the same name.
Plot[]
Jesus (Willem Dafoe), a humble Judean carpenter beginning to see that he is the son of God, is drawn into revolutionary action against the Roman occupiers by Judas (Harvey Keitel) despite his protestations that love, not violence, is the path to salvation. The burden of being the savior of mankind torments Jesus throughout his life, leading him to doubt. As he is put to death on the cross, Jesus is tempted by visions of an ordinary life married to Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey).
Cast[]
- Willem Dafoe as Jesus
- Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot
- Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene
- Harry Dean Stanton as Saul/Paul of Tarsus
- David Bowie as Pontius Pilate
- Steve Shill as Centurion
- Verna Bloom as Mary, mother of Jesus
- Roberts Blossom as Aged Master
- Barry Miller as Jeroboam
- Gary Basaraba as Andrew
- Irvin Kershner as Zebedee
- Victor Argo as Peter
- Paul Herman as Philip
- John Lurie as James
- Michael Been as John
- Leo Burmester as Nathaniel
- Andre Gregory as John the Baptist
- Tomas Arana as Lazarus
- Alan Rosenberg as Thomas
- Nehemiah Persoff as Rabbi
- Peter Berling as Beggar
- Leo Marks as Voice of Satan
- Juliette Caton as Girl Angel
- Martin Scorsese (uncredited) as Isaiah