The Story of Ruth

The Story of Ruth
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Henry Koster
Produced by	Samuel G. Engel
Written by	Norman Corwin
Based on	Book of Ruth
Starring	Stuart Whitman Tom Tryon Peggy Wood Viveca Lindfors Jeff Morrow Elana Eden
Narrated by	Eduard Franz
Music by	Franz Waxman
Cinematography	Arthur E. Arling
Edited by	Jack W. Holmes
Production company	Samuel G. Engel Productions
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release dates	June 17, 1960 (1960-06-17) (New York City premiere)
Running time	132 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2,930,000
Box office	$3,000,000 (North American rentals)

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 Elana Eden as Ruth.

Plot

The first part of the film revolves around Ruth, visualized as a pagan idolatress in her youth who serves as the spiritual teacher of a young Moabitess girl, Tebah, who is being prepared to be sacrificed to Chemosh, a Moabite deity. High-priestess Eleilat, along with Ruth, instruct Mahlon, a Judean artisan, to polish Tebah's ritual crown. Mahlon delivers the crown to Ruth at the temple, and he begins to question her about the existence of Chemosh. Ruth becomes doubtful of her religion and ultimately falls in love with Mahlon, sharing an interest in monotheism.

This fictional non-biblical part ends with the sight of the Moabite girl being sacrificed, from which a distressed Ruth flees. The Moabites condemn Mahlon, his father Elimelech, and brother Chilion. Chilion and Elimelech die in the prison, while Mahlon's punishment is to work at the quarries for the rest of his life. Ruth, however, attempts to escape with Mahlon, but he is wounded before he flees the quarries and dies in a cave afterwards, marrying Ruth just prior to his death.

The biblical storyline begins as Naomi (who was married to Elimelech), Orpah (who was married to Chilion), and Ruth are widowed. The second part is based more on the Book of Ruth, although a subplot is added, that of the Bethlehemites' initial disapproval of Ruth's pagan past and Naomi's closest kinsman rejecting Ruth as his wife. As the next of kin after him, Boaz successfully obtains Ruth's hand in marriage. As the film concludes, the final verses of the Book of Ruth are quoted.

Cast

• Stuart Whitman as Boaz
• Tom Tryon as Mahlon
• Peggy Wood as Naomi
• Viveca Lindfors as Eleilat
• Jeff Morrow as Tob
• Elana Eden as Ruth
• Thayer David as Hedak
• Les Tremayne as Elimelech
• Eduard Franz as Jehoam
• Leo Fuchs as Sochin
• Lili Valenty as Kera
• John Gabriel as Chilion
• Ziva Rodann as Orpah
• Basil Ruysdael as Shammah
• John Banner as King of Moab
• Adelina Pedroza as Iduma
• Daphna Einhorn as Tebah
• Sara Taft as Eska
• Jean Inness as Hagah
• Berry Kroeger as Huphim
• Jon Silo as Tacher
• Don Diamond as Yomar

Production

Casting

Susan Strasberg, a contender for the role Ruth, was tested in September 1959. Other actresses who tested for the role were Susan Kohner, Tina Louise, Diane Baker, and Millie Perkins. Israeli actress Elana Cooper and Swedish actress Ulla Jacobsson arrived in Los Angeles in September 1959 to test for the role. Myrna Fahey, who had recently signed a contract with 20th-Century Fox, was also tested. 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.

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." 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.

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

Critical response

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." Daniel A. Poling, editor of the Christian Herald, described the film as "[g]loriously cast and faultlessly directed." Time considered it "commendably unepic."

Carl Lane, writing for the The Evening Independent, praised Elana Eden's performance as "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.'" Poling believed Eden's portrayal of Ruth was "worthy of an Oscar," and Variety described it as "a performance of dignity," as she projects "an inner strength through a delicate veneer." 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." Lane thought she "creates an unforgettable character. Patience, faith, wisdom, all mature within her as the story progresses." 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."

External links

• The Story of Ruth at IMDb
• The Story of Ruth at the TCM Movie Database
• The Story of Ruth at Rotten Tomatoes