Exodus

This historical film is based on real events and Leon Uris'novel. By the late 1945, millions of bewildered and homeless Jews people were on the move-across Europe and the Far East. They were looking for somewhere to live and for many of them that meant a new country. Jews demanded a land of their own. Jewish refugees were at a British camp on their way to Palestine. The Jews on board hoped to sail to Palestine in the first 'exodus ship'. Jewish refugees struggle ashore from island of Cyprus. But the ship (led by Jewish leader Paul Newman, helped by an American widow (Eva Marie Saint) will be intercepted. On many of the refugees, by a famine-strike, the conditions were appalling , overcrowded, lacking food and water. The British troops (commanded by Ralph Richardson and Peter Lawford) guard the shipload of Jews in the port, they were rounded up, to be sent to the camp. This is an exodus that succeeded. In Palestine coming so soon after the holocaust, the homeless come home, but these traumatic echoes of Auschwitz and Buchenwald inflamed Zionist feelings. 1946,1947 and early 1948 were a years in which Zionist terrorist was at its height and Independent Israel still seemed heartbreaks away. In 22 July 1946, ninety-one people died when the King David Hotel in Jerusalem was blown up by Zionists. When one of the ringleader (David Opatoshu) of the Zionist anarchist group is placed under arrest, to be taken under close guard to the camp , the movement plans the breakout. The subsequent setting is the strife-ridden area of Palestine between Jewish and Arabs fighting cruelly each other. The state of Israel was born in war and spent its youth struggling for survival. The nearly established United Nations did what it could to help, establishing camps for refugees and the supervision of Great Britain over Palestine . And later a voting that declared the independence of Israel under Ben Gurion (similar role played by Lee J Cobb).

This historical film well written by Dalton Trumbo was efficiently directed by Otto Preminger. Good performances from Paul Newman as an obstinate Israeli leader, Ralph Richardson as a commandant of British forces in Cyprus and Sal Mineo as a young terrorist , the latter won the Golden Globe for support actor. Furthermore , the sensitive and emotive soundtrack by Ernest Gold won Oscar 1960 for Original Dramatic Score . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Sam Leavitt, filmed in Israel and Cyprus with spectacular production design by Richard Day. Over budgeted, as cost more than five million dollars , an incredible amount of money at the time .This chronicle about the post-WWII partition of Palestine will appeal to historical events enthusiasts.