The Story of Ruth

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The Story of Ruth
The Story of Ruth original theatrical release poster.jpg
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by Henry Koster
Written by Norman Corwin
Based on Book of Ruth
Produced by Samuel G. Engel
Starring Stuart Whitman
Tom Tryon
Peggy Wood
Viveca Lindfors
Jeff Morrow
Elana Eden
Narrated by Eduard Franz
Cinematography Arthur E. Arling
Edited byJack W. Holmes
Music by Franz Waxman
Production
company
Samuel G. Engel Productions
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 17, 1960 (1960-06-17)
Running time
132 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.93 million [1]
Box office$3 million (US/Canada rentals) [2]

The Story of Ruth is a 1960 American historical romance film directed by Henry Koster, shot in CinemaScope and DeLuxe Color, and released by 20th Century Fox. The screenplay, written by Norman Corwin, is an adaptation of the biblical Book of Ruth. The film stars Stuart Whitman as Boaz, Tom Tryon as Mahlon, Peggy Wood as Naomi, Viveca Lindfors as Eleilat, Jeff Morrow as Tob, and introduces 19-year-old Elana Eden as Ruth.

Contents

Plot

At approximately 8 years old, Ruth is sold by her father, as his strongest and prettiest daughter, to a priest of Chemosh, to be trained in the service of the Moabite deity. Months later, deemed the most attractive and unblemished candidate, Ruth is selected from a lineup of child priestesses in training to be sacrificed during the annual ritual to Chemosh. As soon as she is selected, a large blemish appears on Ruth's arm, and she is deemed unsuitable. Another child is sacrificed in her place.

Years later, Ruth is a favored priestess serving as spiritual teacher of a young Moabite girl, Tebah, being prepared for that year’s sacrifice to Chemosh. Unhappy with the ritual crown created for Tebah, high-priestess Eleilat, along with Ruth, instruct Mahlon, a Judean artisan, to revamp the crown with jewels and glitter. Mahlon delivers the crown to Ruth at the temple, and he begins to question her about the existence of Chemosh. Ruth starts out mocking Mahlon’s “invisible god,” but ends up becoming intrigued and doubtful of her religion as time draws near for Tebah’s sacrifice. Ruth ultimately falls in love with Mahlon and disgraces herself at Tebah’s sacrifice by screaming in horror as the child is ceremonially stabbed on an altar by the high priest. Ruth flees but is captured and punished.

The Moabites blame and condemn Mahlon, his father Elimelech, and brother Chilion for Ruth’s heresy. Chilion and Elimelech die in the prison, while Mahlon is condemned to the quarries for life. Ruth comes with mercenaries to free Mahlon, but he is mortally wounded as he flees the quarry. He marries Ruth in a cave soon afterwards, and promptly dies. Naomi (married to Elimelech), Orpah (married to Chilion), and Ruth are now widowed. Orpah returns to her Moabite family, and Ruth chooses to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem, famously proclaiming "Whiter thou goest, I will go.”

Moab and Judah are ancient enemies, and Ruth is initially met with hostility. Upon arrival, they witness Boaz, a close kinsman of Elimelech’s, punish a Moabite who has poisoned a water hole by forcing him to drink the poisoned water. When Boaz learns that Naomi has returned, he sends provisions to them, respecting his obligation as a kinsman. Believing Boaz to be fiercely anti-Moabite, Ruth compels Naomi to refuse the provisions. Captivated by Ruth’s beauty, Boaz arranges for another kinsman, Tob, to take Boaz’s provisions to Naomi and Ruth. Tob initially doesn’t want to oblige, but after seeing Ruth, Tob agrees to Boaz’s arrangement, taking credit for generosity. A wise Naomi is skeptical of Tob’s uncharacteristic caring. Meanwhile, Boaz visits Naomi and Ruth to convince them to accept his help. After Boaz assists Ruth against a mob of hostile women at a well, Ruth becomes aware of his noble nature. Eventually, Boaz and Ruth fall in love, but Tob claims his right under the laws of God to marry Mahlon’s widow as closest kinsman.

Two Moab agents arrive in Judah seeking Ruth. Pretending to be from Reuben, they claim to have witnessed Ruth worshipping Chemosh in secret at Naomi's farm. As a member of the Council of Elders, Boaz must sit in judgment of Ruth. At trial, Ruth admits to having been a Moabite priestess who last participated in ritual sacrifice only months before, shocking those in attendance—including Boaz, who does his best to defend her. The Moabite agents are exposed as false witnesses when Naomi asks them to name the 12 tribes of Israel and Ruth asks them to recite the Ten Commandments, which they cannot do. Nor will they bless Jehovah and curse Chemosh, as Ruth challenges. Ruth is acquitted.

Tob refuses to give up his claim to Ruth, despite her informing him that she loves Boaz. Naomi suggests to Ruth a way out of her obligation to marry Tob. At their wedding ceremony, Ruth informs Tob in front of the guests that she sought out Boaz where he was sleeping at the harvest festival. Humiliated, Tob renounces Ruth. Boaz then declares he will marry Ruth, and both declare to the officiating elder that only vows of love passed between them. They are married, becoming the progenitors of a great king and a messiah.

Cast

Production

In 1957, Simon Windelburg was announced as the film's screenwriter. [3] Michael Kanin and his wife, Fay Kanin, who were later hired to write the screenplay, wrote treatments for the film. [3] Frank G. Slaughter wrote a screenplay based on his 1954 novel The Song of Ruth: A Love Story From the Old Testament. [3] Norman Corwin wrote an entirely new screenplay after summer 1958. [3] Corwin submitted his final draft of the script on September 1, 1959. [3] Production began in late November 1959 and ended in mid-February 1960. [4]

Casting

Susan Strasberg, a contender for the role Ruth, [5] was tested in September 1959. [6] Other actresses who tested for the role were Susan Kohner, Tina Louise, Diane Baker, and Millie Perkins. [7] Israeli actress Elana Cooper and Swedish actress Ulla Jacobsson arrived in Los Angeles in September 1959 to test for the role. [7] Myrna Fahey, who had recently signed a contract with 20th-Century Fox, was also tested. [8] In October 1959, Cooper was cast as Ruth, changed her name from "Elana Cooper" to "Elana Eden," and signed a "term pact" with the studio. [9] [10]

Elana Eden as Ruth Elana Eden in The Story of Ruth.jpg
Elana Eden as Ruth

This is Elana Eden, whom Buddy Adler, Henry Koster, and I have selected to portray the coveted title role in The Story of Ruth. Elana Eden comes to us from the Holy Land following worldwide search in which literally over a score of young, talented actresses were tested. Elana is a graduate from the renowned Habima Theatre. She was chosen by us because we feel she possesses the necessary qualifications for this exacting role and because of her natural qualities, which most faithfully exemplify this beloved biblical heroine.

—  Samuel G. Engel, in a 7-minute preview of the film

Stephen Boyd was first cast as Boaz but later turned down the role and said: "I think the picture would be much better without me." [11] Boyd later played Nimrod in John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966), another biblical epic released by 20th-Century Fox. Stuart Whitman replaced Boyd as Boaz in December 1959. [12]

Helen Hayes and Irene Dunne were offered the role of Naomi before Peggy Wood was cast. [13] [14]

Release

On June 17, 1960, The Story of Ruth premiered at the Paramount Theatre in New York City [ citation needed ] and on June 30, 1960, in Beverly Hills at the Fox Wilshire Theatre.[ citation needed ]

Home media

In 2006, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released The Story of Ruth on DVD with special features, including a preview, a trailer, and several Movietone News shorts concerning the film.[ citation needed ]

In 2013, the DVD was re-released with new cover art but the same features as the 2006 release.[ citation needed ]

Critical response

Director Henry Koster, producer Samuel G. Engel, and cameraman Arthur Arling on the set of The Story of Ruth. Henry Koster, Samuel G. Engel, and Arthur E. Arling on the set of The Story of Ruth.jpg
Director Henry Koster, producer Samuel G. Engel, and cameraman Arthur Arling on the set of The Story of Ruth.

The Story of Ruth received favorable reviews upon release. Variety called it "a refreshingly sincere and restrained Biblical drama, a picture that elaborates on the romantic, political and devotional difficulties encountered by the Old Testament heroine". [15]

Daniel A. Poling, editor of the Christian Herald, described the film as "[g]loriously cast and faultlessly directed". [16]

Time considered the film "commendably unepic". [17]

Carl Lane, writing for the Evening Independent , praised Elana Eden's performance:

"...a flesh and blood Ruth of passion and compassion, of tenderness and dignity, a woman of whom the viewer tells himself on leaving the theater: 'This is Ruth as she must have been. She could have been no other.'" [18]

Poling believed Eden's portrayal of Ruth was "worthy of an Oscar", [16] and Variety described it as "a performance of dignity", as she projects "an inner strength through a delicate veneer". [15]

Peggy Wood's performance also received high commendation from critics. Variety noticed her "excellent characterization of Naomi" and acknowledged that her "timing is always sharp". [15] Lane thought she: "..creates an unforgettable character. Patience, faith, wisdom, all mature within her as the story progresses." [18]

Of both performances, Boxoffice wrote:

"This personal and human tale benefits by the realistic portrayals of the beautiful Israeli actress Miss Eden and the mature Miss Wood, who play together with touching affinity." [19]

Awards

The Story of Ruth won:

Cultural references

The story was adapted as a comic book, "Dell Four Color #1144 (September 1960)". [23] [24]

In Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning fantasy drama The Shape Of Water (2017), the Amphibian Man, spellbound, watches The Story Of Ruth in a poorly attended cinema after having escaped from an apartment above.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

The Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings (Ketuvim), of the Hebrew Bible. In most Christian canons it is treated as one of the historical books and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moab</span> Ancient kingdom East of the Dead Sea

Moab is an ancient Levantine kingdom whose territory is today located in southern Jordan. The land is mountainous and lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by numerous archaeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over an unnamed son of King Omri of Israel, an episode also noted in 2 Kings 3. The Moabite capital was Dibon. According to the Hebrew Bible, Moab was often in conflict with its Israelite neighbours to the west.

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Mahlon and Chilion or Kilion were two brothers mentioned in the Book of Ruth. They were the sons of Elimelech of the tribe of Judah and his wife Naomi. Together with their parents, they settled in the land of Moab during the period of the Israelite Judges. On foreign soil, Mahlon married the Moabite convert Ruth while Chilion married the Moabite convert Orpah.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth (biblical figure)</span> Protagonist of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible

Ruth is the person after whom the Book of Ruth is named. She was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite, Mahlon. After the death of all the male members of her family, she stays with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and moves to Judah with her, where Ruth wins the love and protection of a wealthy relative, Boaz, through her kindness. She is the great-grandmother of David.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth 2</span> Book of Ruth chapter

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth 1</span> Book of Ruth chapter

Ruth 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, part of the Ketuvim ("Writings"). This chapter contains the story of how Elimelech, Ruth's father-in-law, driven by famine, moved into Moab, and died there ; Naomi returning home, Ruth accompanies her ; They came to Bethlehem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth 3</span> Third chapter Book of Ruth in Hebrew Bible

Ruth 3 is the third chapter of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, part of the Ketuvim ("Writings"). This chapter contains the story of how on Naomi's advice, Ruth slept at Boaz's feet, Ruth 3:1-7; Boaz commends what she had done, and acknowledges the right of a kinsman; tells her there was a nearer kinsman, to whom he would offer her, and if that man refuses, Boaz would redeem her, Ruth 3:8-13; Boaz sends her away with six measures of barley, Ruth 3:14-18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth 4</span> Book of Ruth chapter

Ruth 4 is the fourth chapter of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, part of the Ketuvim ("Writings"). This chapter contains the story of how Boaz goes up to the city gate, calls his kinsman; inquires whether he would redeem and marry Ruth, Ruth 4:1-5. He refuses, Ruth 4:6-8. Boaz, with the people witnessing and congratulating, buys the inheritance, and marries Ruth, Ruth 4:9-12. She gave birth to Obed the grandfather of King David, Ruth 4:13-17. The genealogy from Perez (Pharez) to David, Ruth 4:18-22.

References

  1. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN   978-0-8108-4244-1. p. 252
  2. ↑ "Rental Potentials of 1960". Variety. January 4, 1961. p. 47. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Story of Ruth". American Film Institute . Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Story of Ruth (1960) - Original Print Info". TCM . Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Davis, Ronald L. (2005). Just Making Movies: Company Directors On The Studio System . Univ. Press of Mississippi. p.  21. ISBN   9781617033643.
  6. ↑ "Strasberg 'Ruth' Test". Variety . August 31, 1959.
  7. 1 2 "Testing for 20th's 'Ruth'". Variety . September 3, 1959.
  8. ↑ "'Ruth' Test For Fahey". Variety . September 15, 1959.
  9. ↑ "'Ruth' For Elana Eden And Term Pact At 20th". Variety . October 5, 1959.
  10. ↑ Parsons, Louella (October 4, 1959). "Louella Parsons in Hollywood: Unknown Hits". The Milwaukee Sentinel . Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ Johnson, Erskine (December 10, 1959). "Stephen Boyd's Top Assets: Knows Mind, Has 'Wallop'". Ocala Star-Banner . Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Camera Angles". Schenectady Gazette . December 18, 1959. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Erskine (October 2, 1959). "Hollywood Today: Stella's Southern Accent Last Down Here In South". Ocala Star-Banner . Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ Parsons, Louella (November 1, 1959). "Louella Parsons in Hollywood: Irene Dunne Role". The Milwaukee Sentinel . Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 "Review: 'The Story of Ruth'". Variety . December 31, 1960. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Poling, Daniel A. (February 2, 1961). "The Story of Ruth". The Kiowa News. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  17. ↑ "Cinema: Time Listings". Time . July 18, 1960. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  18. 1 2 Lane, Carl (July 7, 1960). "'The Story of Ruth' Admirable Milestone In Movie Presentation". Evening Independent . Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  19. ↑ "Feature Reviews: The Story of Ruth". Boxoffice . June 20, 1960. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  20. ↑ "'Ruth' Wins Award". Motion Picture Daily. 88 (7): 3. July 11, 1960.
  21. ↑ "National Pre-Selling". Motion Picture Daily. 88 (27): 4. August 9, 1960.
  22. ↑ Parents' Magazine Coveted Award to "The Story of Ruth". Movietone News
  23. ↑ "Dell Four Color #1144". Grand Comics Database.
  24. ↑ Dell Four Color #1144 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original )
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