The Story of Ruth (1960) on Netflix
NR19602h 12mDramaHistoryRomance
Sold by her father to a priest of Chemosh, Ruth becomes a priestess. With the high priestess Eleilat she instructs Mahlon, a Judean artisan, to rework the crown for a child's sacrifice.
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Trailer
Plot summary
Years into her service as a priestess of Chemosh, Ruth has become the spiritual teacher of Tevah, a young Moabite girl being readied for that year's sacrifice. Ruth herself was sold by her father to a priest of Chemosh as a child and raised in the service of the Moabite god; chosen once for the yearly rite, she was set aside when a blemish appeared on her arm. Displeased with the ritual crown made for Tevah, the high priestess Eleilat and Ruth instruct Mahlon, a Judean artisan, to rework it with jewels. Mahlon brings the crown to Ruth and asks her about Chemosh. She mocks his invisible god at first, then grows intrigued and begins to doubt.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Story of Ruth (1960)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Stephen Boyd was first cast as Boaz but turned down the role, saying he thought the picture would be much better without him, and Stuart Whitman replaced him in December 1959. Boyd went on to play Nimrod in John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966).
- Israeli actress Elana Cooper tested for Ruth against Swedish actress Ulla Jacobsson and Myrna Fahey, then was cast in October 1959, changed her name to Elana Eden and signed a term pact with the studio.
- Before Peggy Wood was cast as Naomi, the part had been offered to two other actresses, Helen Hayes and Irene Dunne.
- Corwin and the filmmakers decided to concentrate on the character of Ruth; since love "ran too smoothly in the Bible," they added complications and had a free hand in creating Moabite culture.
