BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

The Story of Ruth

Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Viveca Lindfors, and introducing Elana Eden

  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Date: Friday, September 28, 2007
  • Place: HBLL Auditorium, 1st Floor; Admission is free; arrive early for seats.


About the Event

The classic biblical account of the conversion of Moabitess Ruth to the God of Abraham and her journey with her mother-in-law Naomi to the land of Judah, where she faces persecution and also discovers her new love. The literate script by Norman Corwin is complemented by the nuanced performance by Israeli actress Elana Eden as Ruth. Future novelist Tom Tryon appears as Ruth’s first husband. Veteran Broadway actress Peggy Wood, who plays Naomi, said “When I read Norman Corwin’s script, I was all the more eager to do the picture. He and producer Engel and director Henry Koster, have such a right conception….Thank heavens, they haven’t fancied it up like most biblical films. I feel they followed the true context of the biblical chapter. Even the additions and amplifications are logical rather than pretexts for spectacularizing the story.” Director Henry Koster’s papers are housed in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections. The new print from 20th Century Fox will be shown in its original widescreen format and introduced by Schawn Belston, head of the studio’s Film Preservation department on this return visit to Brigham Young University. 20th Century Fox. 1960. Color and CinemaScope. 132 mins. Director: Henry Koster.
Special thanks: Schawn Belston, 20th Century Fox.

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