Saturday, July 17, 2021
The Story of Ruth
- Commentary: Yes, if you read this journal (and, if you do, you're the only one other than me who does, I think), I know you've seen this movie listed in another, frankly, miscellaneous area, when I was considering giving it to the library the year after my mother died. But, I didn't. In fact, since then, I've watched it more than I've watched many movies I've owned since before my mother's death.
As a reminder, and in the interest of historiography, let me repeat what I posted previous to mom's death and then, again, some months later when I was considering passing the movie on:
"Again, another Bible movie that I haven't yet written up and that Mom saw, a couple of times, but I was too busy to pay it much attention. I need to watch this one before I let it go. It was one of Mom's favorites. I wonder if I can guess why when I watch it.
Update 4/2/09: I ... watched this movie last night and, although I find its 1960 Bible Movie smoothness irritating and temple priestess gowns for Biblical times being cut like late-1950's-early-1960's ball gowns hilarious, the story is interesting, informative and it fits fairly nicely into the Bible Story Collections that I'm keeping (for the time being, anyway). I also like the ending genealogical recap which connects Ruth and Boaz to the House of David: Ruth and Boaz begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David (who, by the way, begat Solomon). It is frequently a story's trajectory to (and from) the House of David that recommends it to the Abrahamic God story tradition. One of the reasons I find many of these videoed stories so interesting is that they easily clarify biblical ancestry and land movement among Abrahamic populations."
I watched this movie, again, a few weeks ago, just for fun. It's a great way to spend a couple of rain-soaked afternoon hours, or an evening when you're at odds with the idea of doing or watching anything "meaningful". Stuart Whitman is fun to watch. He swaggers through this movie as though it's a western. Elana's unusual beauty, is, of course, captivating. The relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law (perfectly played by Peggy Wood) is sweet and realistic. The mother-in-law's machinations in the service of finding Ruth a husband are interesting and devious.
Both Elana Eden and Peggy Wood had continuing careers as actors, Wood's being quite a bit more hefty than Eden's, but Eden was a busy Israeli soul her entire life, if not on screen, then in real life, dying at the age of 81. Peggy Wood acted right up to her death in 1978 at the age of 86. Stuart Whitman, as well, was busy in acting all his life, right up to his death at the age of 92 in 2020.
Including the priestesses gowns, the movie has a decidedly early 60's edge all the way through, although the clothing for those of lesser means was appropriately drab and, for the women, shapeless. The movie was well liked by critics at the time, well attended, and even won some awards.
And, yes, I'm keeping it. I'm telling you, if I can figure out a way to take my movie collection beyond the grave with me, that's what I'm planning to do. This movie will be among my after-death treats.
I want to include a link to one more review from Three Movie Buffs because it nicely enlarges and balances the review linked to the title of this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Elana Eden Ruth Peggy Wood Naomi Viveca Lindfors Eleilat Tom Tryon Mahlon Les Tremayne Elimelech Ziva Rodann Orpah Stuart Whitman Boaz Jeff Morrow Tob
The Wikipedia write-up for this movie is here.
Release Date: 1960
Directed by Henry Koster.
Labels: bible-movies1, historical4, period6, popcorn-and-soda6, romance4
