Watch Story of Jacob and Joseph

The Story of Jacob and Joseph is an epic biblical drama from 1974, directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Keith Michell, Tony Lo Bianco, and Colleen Dewhurst. Based on the Old Testament story of the same name, the film follows the lives of two generations of patriarchs in the Israelite lineage: Jacob and his twelve sons, and Joseph, his favored son.

The story begins with Jacob (Keith Michell), a shepherd and the son of Isaac, who is the son of Abraham. Jacob inherits from his father Isaac the blessing of God's covenant, which promises to make him the father of a great nation. Jacob falls in love with Rachel, the daughter of a wealthy shepherd named Laban, and agrees to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. But Laban tricks Jacob into marrying his elder daughter Leah instead of Rachel. Jacob confronts Laban but agrees to work for an additional seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage.

Jacob has twelve sons, who become the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. But he shows favoritism to Joseph (Tony Lo Bianco), the son of his favorite wife, Rachel. Joseph is given a coat of many colors, which symbolizes his father's affection and stirs jealousy in his brothers. When Joseph has a dream that he will one day rule over his brothers, they become enraged and sell him into slavery.

Joseph is taken to Egypt, where he is sold to Potiphar, a powerful Egyptian official. Joseph rises to become Potiphar's chief steward but is falsely accused of seducing Potiphar's wife and is thrown into prison. In prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of two other inmates and correctly predicts that one of them will be released and the other executed. The prediction comes true, and Joseph is forgotten until Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret. One of Pharaoh's cupbearers remembers Joseph from prison and recommends him to Pharaoh.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream as a warning of a coming famine and advises him to store up food. Pharaoh is impressed by Joseph's wisdom and puts him in charge of Egypt's granaries. When famine hits the region, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food. Joseph recognizes them but they do not recognize him. After testing their loyalty, Joseph reveals himself to them and forgives them for selling him into slavery. He invites Jacob and his family to live in Egypt and gives them the land of Goshen to settle in.

The Story of Jacob and Joseph is a visually stunning film that captures the grandeur and drama of the Old Testament story. The sweeping landscapes of ancient Israel and Egypt are beautifully captured, and the costumes and sets are richly detailed. The film also benefits from strong performances by its lead actors, particularly Keith Michell as Jacob and Tony Lo Bianco as Joseph. Michell brings warmth and humanity to the character of Jacob, and Lo Bianco imbues Joseph with a compelling blend of intelligence, strength, and humility.

The Story of Jacob and Joseph is a timeless tale of family, love, and redemption that continues to resonate with audiences today. The film's exploration of themes such as jealousy, forgiveness, and the power of faith make it a moving and thought-provoking work that is worth watching for anyone interested in the intersection of biblical stories and cinematic storytelling.

Story of Jacob and Joseph is a 1974 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.