Jesus Christ Superstar (film) who had played Jesus is missing. A shepherd and his flock cross the hillside beneath the empty cross ("John Nineteen Forty-One"). During filming of "Fiddler on the Roof", Barry Dennen, who played Pilate on the concept album, suggested to Norman Jewison that he should direct "Jesus Christ Superstar" as a film. After hearing the album, Jewison agreed. The cast consisted mostly of actors from the Broadway show, with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson starring as Jesus and Judas respectively. Neeley had played a reporter and a leper in the Broadway version, and understudied the role of Jesus. Likewise, Anderson understudied
Something to Believe In: Is Kurt Vonnegut the Exorcist of Jesus Christ Superstar? is basically that of universal reconciliation, that Christ died for all persons, everyone will get into heaven when they die, and not merely those who are "saved." The title of the book is an amalgam of the name of the author Kurt Vonnegut, whom Short knew personally; the motion picture "The Exorcist"; and the play (and subsequent movie) "Jesus Christ Superstar", commenting on their references to religion. The book looks into the ways in which popular culture at any particular time, tends to change the face of God and how people see Him. One of the arguments Short makes is