Posted on 01/02/2006 1:43:27 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl
Believe it or not, I only saw "Exodus" for the first time last night. Wow. I can't believe Hollywood ever had a kind word for Israel, especially considering the current prevailing attitude, as portrayed in Spielberg's "Munich."
"Exodus" was made in 1960, only 12 years after the U.N. voted to allow a separate state of Israel. Somehow, liberal revisionist history had not yet taken over Hollywood and here came a film that made the struggle for an idependent state a righteous battle, not a "mistake" as Tony Kushner, screenwriter of "Munich" has said.
"Exodus" stars the extremely good looking and masculine Paul Newman, who is saddled with the idiotic name Ari Ben -Canaan. The Ari part is fine (it means "lion" in Hebrew), but "son of Canaan?" No Jew has such a name because the Canaanites were idol worshippers and had to be conquered so that the Hebrew people could fulfill the commandment of taking over the land of Israel. Anyway, Newman is intense, driven, and hot as a leader in the Haganah who has to finagle his way past the British army to get Jews into Palestine. Interestingly, Newman refers to himself and other Jews born in Palestine/Israel as "Palestinians." This is historically accurate, but would probably be confusing to many people today who have bought into the arab/muslim claim on this term.
Another main character played by Sal Mineo, joins the Irgun and blows up the King David Hotel, a British military installation. The film makes clear that the British were warned repeatedly that the hotel would be bombed and still did not evacuate. Today, many people bring up this bombing to equate the Jews with the terrorist groups like hamas.
Eva Marie Saint plays the somewhat annoying Presbyterian from America who spends most of the movie not understanding why the Jews would want to go to Israel or fight for it, and even tells Ari (Paul Newman) "can't you just forget about being a Jew for a few mintues?" Then she makes a pass. It's understandable why she would find him so attractive, but why he would like her is a mystery.
The better romance was between Sal Mineo's character Dov Landau and the cute young refugee Karen, played by Jill Hayworth. These two understood each other, having both suffered during the war and now dedicating themselves to being part of the new state.
The film points out the relationship between the grand mufti of Jerusalem and the nazis, and also makes clear that the Jews wanted the arab residents to stay in their homes in Israel, but that the muslim leadership said they could not.
I recommend the film because it is very engaging (even though it's almost four hours!) and it has a lot of factual information going for it-- it was filmed on location in Israel and Cyprus. I've been to the Acco prison and well, the British military would probably like to forget about their ugly history there. Mostly, however, it was good to see something so politically at odds with Hollywood/European current sensibilities. The question is: could a film like this be made today?
What? It sounds like you're saying the only Jews in Palestine before 1948 were British Jews. That would be incorrect.
Israel was created a long time before that, RobbyS.
As mentioned above.
It gives you a glimpse into the past. Not even pre-1948, but when the movie was made in 1960.
In the movie, as in the historical fact, the only people ever called Palestinians are Jews.
Arabs were Arabs.
As late as 1960, this was fact as understood by everyone.
It is disrespectful or just ignorant for some to deny Balfour and Lord Rothschild and Chaim Weizman the credit they are damn sure due for getting the ball rolling.
Israel or Judea or whatever folks want to call it was dead and stinking as a political entity for 2000 years and many wanted to leave Sykes-Picot as it was. This is not to say the Brits were perfect bu they were the first to ackowledge a Jewish homeland....no doubt...though they got nervous a bit later....which is when US pressure came to bear.
Some didn't know Cool Hand Luke was Jewish.....lol....damn I feel old when youngbloods admit that....I've known Paul was half Jewish since Winning....
btw....originally Balfour tried to give them Uganda ...incredible isn't it?....might not have been so bad having Israel in Central Africa except they would have ended up where the South Africans did....which they may do anyhow....if they don't get to breeding more Hebrew kinsmen.
The Soviet support did not begin to change until the mid 60s when they saw the opportunity to disrupt the growing flow of Mideast oil to the west by sponsoring terrorists like Arafat and corrupt totalitarian secular regimes in Egypt, Syria and Iraq, turning all three into client states. Additionally, the Israelis began to move away from overt socialism and embrace a more mixed economy, disappointing Hollywood socialists.
Actually, Stalin turned on Israel and Zionists around 1950, just as he began plotting to tertiate Soviet Jewry by sending it to Siberia.
Every reference to Palestinians refers to a Jew.
And in 1960, when the movie was made, this was understood worldwide. I dare anyone to find a protest to the contrary.
......................................................
Ben Ami is one of the Palestinians who run this camp.
This is the Palestinian commander, David Ben Ami.
This chap Ben Canaan probably wasn't lying when he said he fought with us. Thousands of Palestinians did.
Tell me about yourself. Where do you come from?
I don't come from anywhere. I'm a sabra. A native-born Palestinian.
I know Haganah would call him back, if you would only use your influence. Any girl that falls in love with a Palestinian boy has a long wait coming.
.......................................
So what happened since 1960 to create an Arab "Palestinian" people deserving of their own additional Arab country. An issue that preoccupies the World.
an excellent add to the list and better info than any other MSM outlet
The British reneged on Balfour almost before the ink was dry. They immediately removed two thirds of the area to create Transjordan (now Jordan).
they slammed the gates shut to Jews fleeing Hitler.
The Jews forced the British to leave. By force was necessary. The British are deserving of no credit.
In their spite and hatred of Israel, active British officers led Arab armies attacking Israel in 1948.
P.S. I couldn't see any of the pictures on your homepage.
The USA voted against the establishment of a state of Israel.
I realize that you probably knew that, but it is good to mention it once in a while.
And if you didn't know it, well then, shame on you.
I thank Lord Shaftesbury was among the first of the Zionists. Maybe he was one before any Jew was! That is because most religious Jews thought of the return as happening only when the Messiah came.
Where did you pick that up? The US voted for Israel and was the first country to recognize Israel when she declared her independance.
But that is where it ended.
Knowing full well that Israel was going to be attacked by Arab armies- with British help- the US slapped an arms embargo on Israel.
Americans were prosecuted for attempting to get WWII surplus to Israel.
Aren't books always better than movies? Exodus was an excellent book and movie.
True story: I was working with a young woman and we began talking about Israel, it became apparent she knew nothing of the more recent history of Israel (post WWII). I recommended she rent and view the movie Exodus. She has thanked me numerous times over the years. Shame she had to learn from my recommendations and a movie rather than being taught history in public school isn't it?
Sorry Bro.
The United States voted against the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
On the other hand, the USA was the very 1st country to recognize the new state of Israel.
I like it. Its an excellent movie.
I don't feel bad correcting you because the "correction" is pro USA ;-)
In favour: 33
Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussian S.S.R., Canada, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Ukrainian S.S.R., Union of South Africa, U.S.A., U.S.S.R., Uruguay, Venezuela.
Against: 13
Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen.
Abstained: 10
Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia.
"a major reason America was loved by the world 50 years ago was that Hollywood loved America"
That makes a lot of sense.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.