The Story of Ruth
| The Story of Ruth | |
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Original theatrical release poster
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| 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 |
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Production
company |
Samuel G. Engel Productions
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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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 19-year old Elana Eden as Ruth.
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.
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