Good start, but then it gets ruined

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

In the period from the 1940s to the 1960s there was on Hollywood the craze of making biblical epics, and while some they are lavish (like David and Bathsheba or Samson and Delilah), others, like this, are humble but pleasant to watch! And this one in particular is faithful to the Bible.The movie is based on the Biblical book of Ruth, and it's divided in three parts. In her youth Ruth is portrayed as a pagan idolatress that believes in the blood-thirsty God Kemosh, but she meets Mahlon, a young artisan, and his family, and soon she becomes doubtful of her religion and begins to believe in a God of peace. When the high Priest discovers it, arrests Ruth, Mahlon, and his family. While Mahlon is forced to work at the quarries, Ruth tries to make him free, but he is killed by a guard. So she goes to Bethlehem with Naomi (Mahlon's mother) and falls in love with Boaz, an handsome landowner that let her work in his wheat fields. But soon Boaz's brother tries to capture Ruth's heart, and after some discussions, she finally declares her feelings for Boaz and marries him.I loved this movie so much, and I explain the reasons: the scenery is wonderful, the soundtrack by Alfred Newman is majestic. And the actors, although not great ones, gave great performances here; Stuart Whitman is excellent as Boaz, and it's one of his best leading man roles; Tom Tryon is also convincing as Mahlon, the Judean that converts Ruth to a better religion and monotheism, and Peggy Wood is great as Naomi, Mahlon's mother that is also a spiritual guide for Ruth.This is maybe one of the best bible-based movies ever made in Hollywood! A must-see and I give this 8 out of 10!

A Samuel G. Engel Production. Copyright 1960 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening simultaneously at the Paramount and the Normandie: 17 June 1960. U.S. release: June 1960. U.K. release: 24 July 1960. Australian release: 3 November 1960. 11,836 feet. 132 minutes.SYNOPSIS: In the ancient land of Moab, a young girl named Ruth is trained to be a high priestess to the stone god who demands the sacrifice of innocent children. But when she meets Mahlon, a young Judean goldsmith, and learns of his faith in a merciful god of spirit, she begins to doubt her own beliefs and eventually flees from the Moab altar during a sacrificial ceremony. Mahlon is blamed for her heresies and sentenced to slave labor in the great stone quarries. Though Ruth arranges for his escape, he is mortally wounded before they can reach safety. Before he dies, however, he takes Ruth as his wife and she vows to remain always with his mother, Naomi. The two women cross the River Jordan to Naomi's former home where Ruth meets two of her late husband's kinsmen, Tob and Boaz, both of whom long to marry her. But, because of Judean law, Ruth is obliged to wed Tob, her dead husband's next of kin. On their wedding day, however, Ruth speaks her heart and publicly declares her love for Boaz. Tob relinquishes his claim and Ruth is free to marry Boaz. As they wed, the prophet Jehoam proclaims that Ruth's future grandson will be the father of David, the King. NOTES: First of only two movies and four TV appearances for the actress billed here as Elana Eden. Negative cost: $5 million. VIEWERS' GUIDE: Strictly for adults with the patience of Job.COMMENT: There have always been writers like Bernard Shaw and Eric Linklater who thought it smart to turn historical and bible stories on their heads. Take the tale of Samson, for instance. Instead of portraying him as a strong man, make him a puny weakling. Instead of a patriotic Jew, turn him into a treacherous Philistine. This isn't just clever character metamorphosis, it's also a means of fitting into your story those incidents that seem out of place or inconsistent or otherwise difficult to explain. For example Samson's vicious actions like killing thirty men to strip them of their clothes, or torturing foxes, or burning down grain fields, vineyards and olive orchards. But there seems little excuse for meddling with the story of Ruth. It's not only one of the most beautiful books in the bible, it's also one of the shortest. A simple story of a gentile girl's faith and fortitude, of her love, trust and obedience. Now what does Hollywood do with this inspiring little history? It turns the whole tale upside down by casting a Jewish girl as the foreigner, and a whole tribe of gentiles as the Jews. It makes the innocent young heroine a trainee high priestess of the hideous idol that feasts on the blood of children. Skipping over equally ridiculous but less abominable alterations, it then works up a love interest between the heroine and "Tob", an interest that never existed on either side. In place of a simple, direct, warm love story, we get a stupid triangle situation.Okay, let's not be too critical. Let's just look at the movie as pure fantasy. Yet even in this realm the movie fails to impress. The script moves too slowly, the acting is generally awkward, the direction often clumsy and flat-footed.

This story, unlike many other Biblical epics, almost does justice to the Biblical account of the Book of Ruth. And the liberties taken with the Bible have to be forgiven. It is after all, a movie and dramatic liberties have to accepted - as long as they are done in a tasteful manner. This is one such case.You can't improve on God's take of the human existence but this one almost made it. A very moving and lovely musical score, not the traditional trumpet glaring of a Roman gladiator stadium - but full of peace, inspiration, and love.The screenplay is full of dramatic statement, point-counter-point, and leaves the audience panting for more. The background is set expertly of a Moabite (present day Jordan) priestess although not overly exaggerated. What follows after wards, with the return of the two women to Judea, and from that point on is fairly adhering to the Biblical account.Stuart Whitman is Boaz to the "nth" degree although sometimes he does look kind of dumb in not knowing what to do. Peggy Woods rises to the occasion and truly deserved an Oscar at least for best supporting actress in this role. What a veteran.Who obviously was not a veteran yet rose to the top as star of the movie was the beautiful Israeli actress Elana Eden. Serving at the time as an Israeli machine gun expert in the Israeli army, she won a contract with 20th Century Fox for several movies and TV parts. They were too few and after around 1967, she just disappeared, (perhaps voluntarily), from Hollywood.Her acting ability in this movie was more than adequate and in fact, outstanding. Her beautiful dark eyes used to enhance her dramatic ability when the scene called for it was in constant play between her eyes and those of Peggy Wood expressing concern and love for one another. There were really few words from Ruth in Judea except perhaps one of the most beautiful words ever uttered and used in marriage ceremonies throughout the world...Where ever you go I will go... And your God shall be my God... Bravo Elana. And God bless you all who participated in this treasure of a movie.

*Some spoilers*When I was a kid my mom stumbled across this little gem at the video store and I have loved it ever since. This priceless little saga is based on the biblical heroine, Ruth, and with a dash of imagination, an attractive cast, and excellent writing you get real treat indeed. Ruth, a Moabitess, (remarkable performance by Elana Eden;her only film appearance)begins a friendship with Malone, a Jew, and in doing so she begins to accept his strange beliefs and fall in love with him. She embraces his faith and gives up everything for them and her love for Malone. It is at his death however, (she weds him seconds before he dies) she begins to know his mother, Naomi (Peggy Wood, really shines in this role) and then she goes back with her to Naomi's native land, Jerusalem. Ruth never really had a mother and begins to love Naomi as her own mother. Things really heat up, when Ruth meets two kinsfolk of Naomi's; Toab and Boaz (Walt Whitman was just great)just shortly after their arrival. The two men then vie for her. In the meantime, she also must face the prejudices of the people and she's also(little does she know) being persued by Moabite soldiers who are coming to take her back to Moab to be punished. Plenty of action, suspense and romance. This movie is very entertaining and I cherish it to this day.