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?
I like Paul Newman, I admit. But my husband keeps saying that I shouldn't avoid his salad dressing because he gives his money to charity. I've explained to my darling husband many, many times that there's lots of charities to which I would never contribute. Not willingly. I went to his website to get a list and there was none there. I don't like the fact that his wife is involved with NARAL. I don't want a penny of my money ever going to that organization.
A great scene:Well, Bowen, I see you're going to be getting rid of some Jews for us?
-Yes, sir. Shipping them back to Hamburg. -That's where they belong.
It's a German matter. Let the Germans handle it.
Apparently the general's had second thoughts.
Why do you question these orders?
I didn't question. I just wanted to check with headquarters.
Countersigning is not the responsibility of junior officers.
The acceptance of responsibility...
...is what makes senior officers out of juniors.
-Let them through. -Yes, sir.
Should have started this policy two years ago.
I don't care about the Jews one way or the other.
-But they are troublemakers. -No question about it, sir.
Get two of them together, you've got a debate...
...and three, a revolution.
Yes. And half of them are Communists anyway.
Yes, and the other half pawnbrokers.
They look funny, too. I can spot one a mile away.
Would you mind looking into my eye? It feels like a cinder.
Certainly.
You know, a lot of them try to hide under Gentile names.
But one look at that face, and you just know.
With a little experience, you can smell them out.
-I'm sorry, I can't find a thing. -Must've been my imagination. Thanks.
Whatever one might think of the story told in "Exodus," you've gotta admit that it's got some of the most awesome music ever. I recently bought a video of the movie, and I still tear up when I hear that theme music. I first saw the movie when I was a kid, over 40 years ago.
I also forget the part about a young Adam Sandler making a hilarious cameo as the drunken Irgun member who accidently drinks all the moltov cocktails. Non-stop laughs.
At any rate, the Hollywood of the 40's and 50's was run by men who were grateful for the opportunities America had given them, who were patriotic, and who were loyal to the United States, even if they didn't agree with everything. Quite a contrast with today, isn't it??!!??
I heard an interview with his daughter, Nell, a few years ago. She's involved in the Newman food business, too. At the time, she was starting her own line. When asked where the money earmarked for charity would go, she said "Litigation". I assumed that meant lefty lawyers working for liberal causes, so I never bought any of her stuff.
I realize Paul has a camp for handicapped kids, funded from the sale of his foods, but (since I found out about his fiduciary relationship with "The Nation") I choose to buy other things at the supermarket.
I remember the book more than the movie. I haven't seen the movie in probablly 20 years.
. . . the Jewish state was ruled by puppet kings of the Romans, the Herods. When the Jews revolted in 66 AD, the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD). The Bar Kokba revolt between 132 and 135 AD was also suppressed, Jericho and Bethlehem were destroyed, and the Jews were barred from Jerusalem. The Roman Emperor Hadrian determined to wipe out the identity of Israel-Judah-Judea. Therefore, he took the name Palastina and imposed it on all the Land of Israel. At the same time, he changed the name of Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. The Romans killed many Jews and sold many more in slavery.
Thank you. We'll get the film and watch it.
You cannot imagine how radically America changed in the period from 1960 to 1970. I was in high school and college during those turbulent years, and I watched in amazement. The left, which entered that period with some sense of embarrasment about its support of Soviet Russia, at first seemed to enthusiastically support civil rights. By 1970, however, the left seemed to relish any kind of civil disorder, no matter the cause, and actively worked for American defeat in Viet Nam.
As a college kid, I entered the arena of ideas with an open mind, but I finally got sick of getting a reply of "Well, you're just a ..." every time I asked an honest question of one of our campus lefties. The way I was raised, an 'ad hominem' attack was an admission that the other party had gotten the best of you. These people weren't "for" anything, they were just "against".
Looking back on it, I swear it's almost like some virus got loose in the country. The kind of sick fixation of hatred of Israel, Christianity, patriotism, and President Bush that we see displayed every day from the left represents symptoms of that very malignant disease.
Yes a bit cheesy BUT not in a bad way.
The film got the essentials of the story right.
Ok I was told wrong Col Marcus is buried at West Point not in Israel.
Did you just buy the DVD off Ebay? Just curious. I just sold a copy on Ebay. May be a small world?? I viewed the movie sometime ago and I have to admit it is one of the few where I remember small details about the movie that have been stuck in my mind for a long time. To me, it was a very great movie. Some parts remind me of America's initial struggle for independence. I like the part where they learned how to keep time with the clicks.
I saw the movie when it first came out. I was taking piano lessons at the time and decided to learn the music. If you are going to play the piano, you might as well play music that is stirring, uplifting, and strong.
Well, sort of, except Newman's father was Jewish.
"Danged" if that doesn't bear repeating. Thanks for this.
No. I rented it from Netflix.
He wasn't trying to be funny, he just got the movie wrong.
In the movie "Cast a giant Shadow" discussed above, many movie stars, including Sinatra and John Wayne, play small parts.
During the War of Independence, when they ran out of armaments, Israeli pilots actually tossed bottles out of planes hoping the sound it made at it fell to Earth would scare the Arabs on the ground.
There is a scene in CAGS where Sinatra plays one of those pilots going up with only seltzer bottles. Just before he is shot down by an Armed Egyptian plane in defiance he shoots the seltzer at the plane.
they did love this country and were grateful....RIP
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