The Bible...In the Beginning [VHS]

Making a film about the first book in the Bible, the most mysterious and most alluring, Genesis, must not have been an easy task for director John Huston, nor was it easy enough for actors portraying biblical characters. But this film is exquisite, well-done with fine performances by the actors, most notably Richard Harris as Noah and George C. Scott as Abraham. The actor and actress playing Adam and Eve are just as most of us imagine them to be - gorgeous in the nude, walking around a beautiful, semi-tropical garden and being seduced by the apple in a tree which a treacherous snake deceived them into eating.

The film goes on to describe the biblical scenario established before the Flood, of humankind's lechery and vice in Sodom and Gomorrah, and God's wrath resulting in destruction. Very powerful imagery and very fine interpretation. It is not just a Christian or Catholic film, it is a film worth watching just for the moving drama. After all, life is but a drama, a film of which we all take part of. The music to this film is also very inspiring, although subtle and haunting. "The Bible.. In The Beginning" (as this film is often called) makes a great assignment to watch in a college or high school in which students read the Bible as a form of literature and work of human history, mainly that of the ancient Hebrews.


I Liked This Movie!   October 8, 2005
16 out of 19 found this review helpful

I watched this movie on TV and I thought it was good. All of the actors were very good but I especially liked John Huston as Noah, George C. Scott as Abraham, Ava Gardner as Sarah and Richard Harris as Cain. I think John Huston did a great job directing the movie but he also acted in this movie and I think he was a very Noah. For a Biblical movie I think John Huston's The Bible is pretty low-key and simple rather than a super glossy Hollywood movie and I think some people were maybe expecting that kind of Biblical epic and though those big budget glossy Hollywood Biblical movies are good I enjoyed this more subdued movie and I recommend this movie, especially on DVD!


VERY CLOSE   July 27, 2005
Hayley Jo McGovern (Joliet, IL United States)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

After watching this video I examined the Bible and it is very close to the scriptures in accuracy. It helps give the Bible life so that you can see the reality of creation, and vividly picture these true events that occured thousands of years ago in our history. This is truly a video the whole family can enjoy together.


What would it have been like to have been there???   August 18, 2004
Tim D. (Baton Rouge, LA)
14 out of 17 found this review helpful

John Huston's The Bible...In The Beginning is wonderful movie that captures on film the emotion and drama of the first books of the Bible. From the beautiful images of Adam and Eve in Eden - including the strange shape/figure of the temptor in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - up to Abraham's life everything here rings true. Yes, he doesn't follow the Bible to the letter, but that is a minor criticism since it was the director's intention to tell the story in a realistic and believable manner. One person here said it was "silly" that the temptor of Adam and Eve wasn't in the form of a serpent/snake. Well, I say that it would have been even "sillier" to see a snake moving its jaws and having human speech coming out of its mouth than the presentation in the movie. John Huston's role as Noah is fantastic, being one of the highlights of the film but pay attention to the people playing his sons and daughter in laws and appreciate how well they were.

Though some here say that George C. Scott over acted in his portait of Abraham, I say that you don't have an appreciation of true drama. In fact, those who call the movie slow fail to capture the same thing. This is a dramatic movie, with little in the way of being "exciting." The Ten Commandments is a good movie, but come on! You can't hardly compare the two. Huston went to great lengths to actually present this as if we were viewing the past and to my mind, he succeeded greatly. Yes, John Huston was an atheist but he shows an understanding and deep-seated appreciation for the people and the material that is hard to find in many people who claim to be all about the Bible. It makes me wonder what kind of movie these people would have made had they had the same resources. John Huston was one of the greats and I simply love this movie. If corny, largely ficticious movies are your cup of tea, then stick with the Ten Commandments but if you want intellegent, fine drama you would do very well to give this movie a watch.


THIS IS THE VERY BEST VERSION EVER MADE.   February 19, 2007
JOJO DANCER
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

THE ACTING AND COSTUMES ARE EXCELLENT. THE MUSIC SETS THE MOOD PERFECTLY FOR EACH STORY. THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE GREAT. THIS IS A MUST SEE FOR BIBLE ENTHUSIASTS. THE ACTING IS VERY GOOD. YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE PRESENT WHEN THE EVENTS ARE OCCURRING.