THE FOURTH WISE MAN
US, 1985, 72 minutes, Colour.
Martin Sheen, Alan Arkin, James Farentino, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, Lance Kerwin, Jerry Houser, Adam Arkin, Ralph Bellamy, Ramon Estevez, Sydney Penny, Charlie Sheen.
Directed by Michael Ray Rhodes.
In 1985, Fr Bud Kaiser, the Paulist producer of the religious Insight programs on television (240 episodes from 1960 to the 1980s) and later producer of Romero and the Dorothy Day movie, Entertaining Angels, made a telemovie about one of the wise men (Martin Sheen) who never got to Bethlehem, The Fourth Wise Man. Based on a story by Henry Van Dyke, The Other Wise Man, it had been made for television in both 1957 and 1960. This version was written by Tom Fontana who had long television experience, especially with Homicide: Life on the Streets. He also wrote the film Judas for Paulist Productions. Director Michael Ray Rhodes also worked for Paulist Productions and made Entertaining Angels. Martin Sheen portrayed the earnest young Magus, Artaban, and Alan Arkin was his continually complaining servant, Orontes. Veteran Hollywood actors (and Sheen’s sons Ramon and Charlie) filled out the cast.
The film is a Jesus film. He is the goal of the Magi’s journey. His message is put forward. He is glimpsed with Mary and Joseph going into Egypt as Artaban and Orontes arrive in Bethlehem unaware that the King they seek has just passed them. Later, Jesus will appear – at a distance for the way of the cross and the crucifixion. His words from the cross will be heard but, more importantly for the story, he will appear to Artaban. The voice of Jesus is provided by James Farentino.
Artaban is presented as a Christ-figure. Already on the way to Bethlehem, he stops to aid an injured stranger (echoes of the Good Samaritan). He shields a young mother in Bethlehem, saving her child by giving one of the jewels that he had in his possession after selling everything he owned to seek the Lord (and one of the jewels is a pearl of great price). Artaban and Orontes spend years in Egypt searching for the King. Orontes even sets up a man to claim that his four year old son is the child they are looking for – but the father is not too good at remembering the details of the gifts they received from the Magi. Waylaid by villagers who are thieves and prostitutes, Artaban helps a sick girl, tries to heal a blind boy but does not. A day with the villagers turns into a week, months, 30 years. The unwilling Orontes writes letters to Artaban’s Magus father commenting on what life has been like and the decisions of his son.
Artaban also stays to help the villagers become self-sufficient, irrigate, grow and harvest crops and even start again when jealous neighbours set the crops alight.
When the blind boy visits Jerusalem, he encounters the crowd hailing Jesus with palms. He learns what Jesus does and he himself is healed (offscreen). He takes the news to Artaban. Even Orontes, when he hears that Jesus is to be executed, goes to the village to tell Artaban. Together they try to enter the praetorium but are refused – only to hear the sound of the scourging and the mocking soldier talking about Jesus’ ‘coronation’. Artaban collapses. He still presses on, following Jesus carrying his cross, glimpsing him at a distance. But, even then, he cannot reach Calvary. The daughter of a merchant Magus who has visited Artaban in the village to tell him of his father’s death, is now bankrupt because of the destruction of his ships. He is killed and his daughter taken for sale to repay the debts. Artaban buys her freedom with his pearl. He hears Jesus’ words of abandonment and then his committing himself to God in death.
Artaban is dying, a sense of failure in his mission. At this moment, Jesus himself appears (seen only from the back as in Ben Hur). He reveals himself to Artaban who is sad that he has no more gifts to offer Jesus. The screenplay has Jesus speak the words of Matthew 25 about feeding Jesus, clothing him and visiting him in prison. Artaban is astonished and declares that this did not happen. Jesus tells him that this is his gift, himself, because when he did this for others, he did it to Jesus himself. Artaban joyfully repeats this for Orontes – and dies happy. And Orontes goes back to the village to continue to help.
1.The impact of this biblical fable? For all audiences? Christians? Non-Christians?
2.The production by the Paulists? The Catholic perspective? The long television experience of the writer and the director?
3.The Middle East and Israel? Re-creation of atmosphere, the desert, the villages, Jerusalem? The costumes and décor? The musical score?
4.The title, audience familiarity with the story of the Magi? Imagining another member of the Magi? His journey? His not finding the King until he died? The moral of the story?
5.Persia, the Magi, the various leaders, the meetings, the prayers, the study of the stars? Artaban and his discovery of the star, interrupting the service, his patient father, the leader? His deciding to sell everything and go on the journey to find the King? His father and his concern? His father sending Orontes?
6.The character of Artaban, the back-story of his marriage, his wife and children killed in the fire? Selling all his possessions? Getting three jewels to support him on his journey as well as to give to the King? Taking Orontes with him? A lifelong journey? Orontes and his continued writing letters to Artaban’s father – the wry comments, his discomfiture, keeping the Magi abreast of what was happening?
7.The journey, the hardships in the desert? Their meeting the man who was ill, Artaban caring for him, Orontes wanting to move on? Giving him the bread and water? Arriving late for the Magi? The decision to pursue them to Israel, buying the camels, going on the caravan?
8.The encounter with the brigands, their being taken, the village? The people and their being thieves, prostitutes? The blind boy, the sick girl? Judith and her persuading Artaban to help? His attempts to help Passhur? Helping the girl? Staying on an extra day? The pleas for Artaban to help with the sick? Orontes and his desperation? Time passing? The fact that Artaban spent thirty years with the villagers?
9.Their reputation, his urging them to become self-sufficient, his deciding to help them, the irrigation? The harvests? The jealousy of the townspeople and their setting the fields alight? The decision to start over again? Orontes and his desperation, his absences?
10.Passhur going into Jerusalem, the encounter with Jesus? The palms and the rejoicing, the message about Jesus? The healings, Passhur regaining his sight? His return to the village? The impact on Artaban? Artaban’s age, illness?
11.Orontes in Jerusalem and his learning that Jesus was to be crucified? Going back to Artaban? Artaban going to Jerusalem with Orontes, seeking out Jesus, at the palace, their being kept out, his collapse? His hearing the scourging, the soldier and his comment on the coronation? Artaban and his consciousness, determination to follow the Way of the Cross?
12.On the road to Calvary, the encounter with Shimir? Her father, the Magus, his going to the village to meet with Artaban, admiration for him, the news of the death of his father? A merchant – and the news of his ships failing, his creditors? Shimir and her being arrested? The encounter with Artaban, his giving his pearl (which Judith had kept over the years) for the redemption of Shimir? His looking at the cross and Jesus dying? Hearing the voice of Jesus, feeling abandoned and committing his life to God? The lightning, the aftermath of Jesus’ death?
13.Artaban’s return, collapse, dying? Jesus appearing to him, the words from Matthew 25 about doing things for brothers and sisters and their being done for Jesus? The consoling words, Artaban saying he had not given his gifts, Jesus reassuring him that he had? His death?
14.The impact of this variation on the Gospel story? The appearance of Jesus? Jesus’ message – put into practice by Artaban?
