Exodus1960
Exodus (1960)
Exodus Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Ari Ben Canaan
as Kitty Fremont
as Gen. Sutherland
as Maj. Caldwell
as Barak Ben Canaan
as Dov Landau
as Taha
as Mandria
as Lakavitch
as Dr. Lieberman
as Akiva
as Karen
as Von Storch
as Jordana
as David
as Mordekai
as Reuben
as Sarah
as Dr. Odenheim
as Sergeant
as Yaov
as Hank
as Proprietor
as Uzi
as Colonel
as Dr. Clement
as Avidan
as Driver
as Lt. O'Hara
as Mrs. Hirshberg
as Mrs. Frankel
as Novak
as Man
Critic Reviews for Exodus
All Critics (17) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (6)
Exodus, then, sees Preminger's sheer movie-making talent at its most extended. Unhappily, the ability to sustain a large canvas does not necessarily result in a good film.
Watchable mainly for the sheer skill and drive of Preminger's direction, although at 220 minutes even that long outstays its welcome.
In the end, one should take from this picture a shaken feeling of having been through a lot of harsh and ennobling experiences.
Intelligence applied exactly where it is most rare: in the lavish, star-studded epic.
The depiction of the founding of the modern state of Israel requires an epic film but the film takes a number of liberties--to be fair, the book is historical fiction.
Most of the time seems well spent, although Dalton Trumbo's otherwise skilful screenplay includes too many garrulous slowdowns while the characters discuss their conflicting ideologies.
Audience Reviews for Exodus
A wonderful epic that boasts one of the most beautiful scores in the history of Cinema, a gorgeous cinematography that makes the best use of its locations, fantastic performances (Sal Mineo is the highlight) and an incredibly well-written script that still feels relevant today in its message in favor of peace.
Super Reviewer
Starts well with fine performances and a clear and direct plot but loses momentum in second half and becomes somewhat scattered. Ralph Richardson is very good which is customary but when he exits the picture his absence leaves a hole which is never really filled.
Super Reviewer
In "Exodus," Catherine Fremont(Eva Marie Saint) has been searching for a new purpose in life in the days just after the end of World War II after the death of her husband. She unexpectedly finds one after meeting with a friendly British general(Ralph Richardson) who is in charge of detaining of Jewish refugees in Cyprus, wanting to emigrate to Palestine. And after a less than enlightening conversation with Major Caldwell(Peter Lawford), she agrees to take up her old profession as a nurse in the camps, going so far as wanting to adopt Karen(Jill Haworth), an orphaned teenager. But Ari Ben Canaan(Paul Newman) has other ideas for his people, wanting to force the upcoming vote in the United Nations on partition by forcing the British hand. Written by Dalton Trumbo(thereby officially ending the blacklist) and directed by Otto Preminger, "Exodus" is a contradictary, yet sturdy fictionalized epic account of the founding of Israel that is aided by great location filming. It should therefore come as no surprise that one of the major themes is rebirth. Sadly, this also marks the start of Preminger's prestige period which would be the beginning of his creative downfall when what was needed was more of the spirit from his brass balls period, especially considering how much the subject of terrorism comes up which is sadly still relevant. The one thing that might sound weird about a picture like this is that it is actually a caper film, the first the story of the boat Exodus, while the second is even more daring. Both are figurative chess matches while literal ones play out on screen. And Paul Newman is the right actor in the lead, just the wrong performance. What was needed was something on the order of the roguish leader he would play in later films like "Cool Hand Luke" and "Slapshot." Sadly, there is none of that charisma here to differentiate his character's defiance from that of the British soldier's need to mindlessly follow every order. The characters act as if they are already part of history in a wax museum for the most part.
Super Reviewer
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