Rent Exodus (1960)

Very Good Film - Exodus review by F

Well, I've called it very good which it was for its time. Today in the few good films made the moral and ethical issues of the time of the founding of Israel would have been perhaps represented as less black and white and in more shades of grey.

I rarely find a film is as good as the book and although its a long time since I read Exodus this is certainly true for me in this case. I must admit personal prejudice also played a part in my judgement of the film. Although an agnostic with no Jewish connections , I feel the foundation of Israel was a good decision , a decision in which we Brits. did not play a very noble part, and I have always admired the way Israel has fought to maintain its existence,against heavy odds. I don't want to make this a political review but with 0.06% of the world's population Jews, they or half Jews have won 26% of the Nobel and mathematics prizes awarded. (hope I've got those figures right). In other words they have contributed hugely to the science and engineering which improves all of our lives.

Back to the film . I enjoyed it very much. I'm not a film buff but the quality of the acting I found very mixed, the goodies were just too good to be true , except for Newman and I thought the adaptation of the book was not that brilliant either. About par for Hollywood. That said its a very important film about a subject still relevant today.