[1] It was written by Anatole de Grunwald based on the 1947 play Now Barabbas by William Douglas Home.

The film features one of the earliest screen performances by Richard Burton and was an early role for Kenneth More.

The title refers to Barabbas, a Biblical character who was chosen over Jesus by the crowd in Jerusalem to be pardoned and released.

Kathleen Harrison and Leslie Dwyer provide the comic relief and their awful small boy is a gem.

Ably directed by Gordon Parry, this film version of William Douglas Home's play argues against the death penalty, but had the development of a homosexual relationship cut by the censor.