The Story of Ruth

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.

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

 * Elana Eden as Ruth
 * Stuart Whitman as Boaz
 * Tom Tryon as Mahlon
 * Peggy Wood as Naomi
 * Viveca Lindfors as Eleilat
 * Jeff Morrow as Tob
 * Thayer David as Hedak
 * Les Tremayne as Presiding Elder
 * 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
In 1957, Simon Windelburg was announced as the film's screenwriter. Michael Kanin and his wife, Fay Kanin, who were later hired to write the screenplay, wrote treatments for the film. Frank G. Slaughter wrote a screenplay based on his 1954 novel The Song of Ruth: A Love Story From the Old Testament. Norman Corwin wrote an entirely new screenplay after summer 1958. Corwin submitted his final draft of the script on September 1, 1959. Production began in late November 1959 and ended in mid-February 1960.

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. "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."

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.

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

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.

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

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 the film "commendably unepic".

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.''"

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.'"

Awards
The Story of Ruth won:
 * The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Best Picture of the Month Award for July 1960. The bronze plaque was scheduled to be presented to producer Samuel G. Engel at the Greater Los Angeles Press Club on July 27, with director Henry Koster and stars Elana Eden and Tom Tryon also present.
 * The Parents' Magazine Family Award Medal for July 1960. The award was described by Movietone News as "one of the most sought-after accolades that can be awarded to film drama". Elana Eden and 20th Century Fox president Spyros Skouras attended the award presentation, which was filmed by Movietone News.

Cultural references
The story was adapted as a comic book, "Dell Four Color #1144 (September 1960)".

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.