On R List of Movie Reviews
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Ruby Gentry (1952)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
11/15, 12/21
11/15:
"Hill country liquor, tidewater cooking, and North Carolina women."
So it goes in Ruby Gentry, invoking the feel of melodrama that's associated with Douglas Sirk's pictures.
This is my second Jennifer Jones movie, and after developing a low opinion of her in
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing,
she's much better this time and looks a lot like Elizabeth Taylor.
Jennifer Jones and Charlton Heston are excellent together even if it's unbelievable at first, but the approach they take
starts to make sense as more time is spent in unraveling their characters' conflict. It reminds me of the relationship between
Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights.
On the other hand, Karl Malden is superb. It seems like he worked with just about everybody in Hollywood. King Vidor is to
be commended for his outstanding direction by telling a complicated story in a short amount of time. Chemistry between two
lovers on screen is the hardest thing to achieve, but King sells it well through Jennifer Jones and Charlton Heston.
The last ten minutes, which is essentially the same scene from Gun Crazy, has me realizing
it's film noir after all and also a Southern Gothic movie.
All in all, Ruby Gentry, a sexual picture, slowly wins me over with great performances by Jennifer
Jones and Charlton Heston who were probably at the prime of their physical beauty and energy.
12/21:
Ruby Gentry is among the most overlooked films of the 50's.
It has all: story, writing, acting, lust, passion, intrigue, and revenge. This is Jennifer Jones at her sexiest,
and countering the firecracker is the eternally handsome Charlton Heston. When they are together, their chemistry is
electrifying. Any time Ruby is with the doctor or Jim Gentry, it's obvious that neither is in her league.
But Boake Tackman...oh, boy.
The story is also interesting because a lot of times love is very straightforward and they simply get married. Yet Boake has
other things on his mind, mainly to elevate his social standing. Ruby just can't believe it, and I agree with her. Still, I
don't understand why she consented to marriage with Jim who's a father figure to her and nothing more. Perhaps it's her fault
by playing too hard to get.
All in all, Jennifer Jones and Charlton Heston...what a brilliant pair they make for Ruby Gentry.