Search - The Story of Ruth on DVD

Okay, but not the Bible

Steve Ink | San Jose, California United States | 03/07/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Story of Ruth, the movie, adds a great deal to the biblical story of Ruth and changes some of the biblical narrative. I understand why there are additions to fill in some of the gaps, but I have never understood why writers and directors want to change the biblical story. For instance, Boaz's rival wants Ruth in this film. In the biblical story it appears his rival want's land, but is very willing to give up the land when he learns it comes with Ruth. The film shows Jewish disdain for Ruth because she is a Moabitess. Even Boaz initially shows disdain in the film. There is no such showing in the biblical story. Boaz appears gracious from the beginning in the Bible.



That having been said, the film is still worth watching and does capture the essence of the biblical story of Ruth."

A great film of a great Hollywood period!

Daniel G. Madigan | Redmond, WA United States | 03/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Story of Ruth was released in 1960 and I remember seeing it on a wide wide screen, curved, and in stereophonic sound; it was glorious, as were all Cinemascope films.This film is not the Bible, but a meditation on it, factual, no, but it gets the point of The Book of Ruth across.The best bits are a very moving perfromance by Peggy Wood as Naomi, and some stylish acting by Elena Eden and Stuart Whitman.The Wood scenes are excellent, and Naomi's prayer is quite striking, all filmed in a small house in earth tones...very good. Peggy Wood's many scenes of emotional upheaval are instances of excellent screen acting.The Moabite scenes are crazy, as is all of that Chemosh stuff, but this film has great appeal...for die hards only, and especially for cinemascope afficionados of yore who can re-imagine it all even on the tiny screens we must put up with now, TV and movie alike. Buy and enjoy. Still not letterboxed."

Good TV watching

Neil | Tennessee | 09/07/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this movie just last night on AMC. There are two ways to look at this movie: Scripturally and story-wise.Scripturally the movie is not that good. There is a lot of license with Scripture (not surprising considering how small the book of Ruth is). But the license isn't really congruent with revelation. For example, this movie makes Ruth out to be a high priestess of chemosh and married for about 1/2 second to a Jewish man just before he dies. Boaz is a bitter man who makes a Moabite man drink poisoned water. The roles of kinsmen-redeemer is not even close to accurately portrayed. These things were done to try to make the movie have additional action, but detracts from the very real story. Also, here Naomi does not change her name, Moab tries to track Ruth down and kill her, and so on and so forth.From a story perspective, the story is your classic structure. Boy meets girl, girl is coy, boy gets into trouble, girl rescues, boy says sappy stuff, girl falls in love, boy dies, girl moves on, girl meets new man, girl marries new man. And the actors do a good job with this standard plot line. For a movie made 41 years ago, it's still enjoyable watching. The production is pretty good and the acting is good. The sets remind you of Ben-Hur. The pacing of the story is standard for a movie made at that time, kinda slow (for today's tastes).Overall the movie is fun to watch as long as you can overlook the Scriptural errors."

Inspiring Story of a Woman's Devotion!!

Gregory Nyman | Winchendon, MA United States | 07/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stuart Whitman, Jeff Morrow, Peggy Wood, and Elana Eden star in this screen version of the story of Ruth.Ruth is a young Moabite woman who was raised from childhood to become a priestess and revere a pagan idol, but when she meets Mahlon the Judean (Tom Tryon), she's deeply affected by his belief in a merciful God who demans no human sacrifices, so she marries Mahlon, and when he dies, she renounces her own culture to remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi (Wood).Now she comes into Judea, where she meets Boaz (Whitman), and the story begins anew. There is a wonderful depiction of loyalty, romance, faith, and devotion, and although the film is 132 minutes, it seems so short once you get into it.Highly recommended, and the whole family with enjoy it."