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Summary: The Bible As Film: A Worthy Retelling
Review: 1966: Huston's film covers the first twenty chapters of Genesis- from the Creation, the Flood to Isaac's near sacrifice. With lush cinematography, fine acting and superb music. Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, George C. Scott and Peter O'Toole are among the cast. In the 60's, and in fact years before in the 50's, the bible dramas were quite popular and appealed to many audiences who had undergone war and conflict from home- it was the turbulent 60's after all. The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur were transcendent films only a couple of years before.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.
Rating:
Summary: The movie will GROW on you; give it a chance.
Review: Although some parts of this film are slow, it is still a great movie. I think some of the unemotional acting (not all, just a few scenes) is due to the times--This film was made in 1966--a time when (in my opinion) acting was melodramatic in general. I believe Huston was attempting to give this film a more solemn, perhaps respectful, tone, thus the acting was "subdued". Film and acting has definitely matured, however, I still feel this is a classic. I've even come to enjoy the "slower" moments of the film to reflect on the what it must have been like in ancient times. I give it 5 stars for this reason. I'm glad I bought it before seeing it; I like it the more I watch it.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative
Review: Covering the book of Genesis, this film, which I saw as a kid, is well acted, good special effects and is very factual. Good for a weekend matinee home movie.
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Summary: FIRES BELOW .....
Review: EXCEPT for the MAGNIFICENT score by TOSHIRO MAYUZUMI ... this one does not quite hold up as it was promised. Granted ... it IS different ... lots of hoopla during the filming - after all we would be seeing Adam & Eve [variously] buffish ... BUT the producers must have spend quite a fortune on EYE MAKEUP .... Ye, Gods, even the kids are sporting green or vaguely lavender eye-shadow - as for NIMROD's golden brows! AVA GARDNER does shine as SARAH - unafraid of unflattering lighting or angles, but she was and still is quite special, and GEORGE C. SCOTT does have a few pithy moments .... the make-up though! BRINGING UP THE REAR - so to speak is Peter O'Toole as Triplet, blue-eyed Angels of Wrath [!], Richard Harris - star rising ["This Sporting Life"] as Cain, Zoe Sallis as the 'other woman' in Abraham's life, Stephen Boys [utterly wasted] as Nimrod, John Huston as a bemused, befuddled and bewildered Noah [nice comic turn though], and somewhere in there a Young Franco Nero! COSTUMING is dreadful - pity for this almost completely Italian Production. And the famous SODOM AND GOMORRAH sequence? Pale Fellini or is it George Romero? The styrofoam blasted 'Wife of Lot' - really! WISH the score was available on CD - MAYUZUMI went on to score Huston's "Reflections in A Golden Eye" - somewhat better fare. DVD sound is VERY ODD - stereo? Color is quite washed out too - pity - this one could be wonderfully restored in full 5.1 or even DTS - it is as close to an epic as we'll ever come!
Rating: 
Summary: In a word, boring
Review: From a scriptural standpoint, it isn't too bad. But the production is rather poor, as others in the reviews mentioned. The use of color in the film makes the scenes feel dull. And the acting is rather average. I think this would be a good movie for young children, though. They aren't as critical as we adults and they will probably get more out of it.
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Summary: Wonderful telling of Genessis
Review: I do not understand why most critics have very few good things to say about this movie. Okay, maybe the atmosphere is a little dead at times, and perhaps there could be more dialogue, but overall this is one of the most beautiful biblical stories I've ever seen. A superb cast - including Michael Parks as Adam, Ulla Bergryd as Eve, Richard Harris as Cain, George C. Scott as Abraham, and Ava Gardner as Sarah - bring warmth and sensitivity to the familier stories. John Huston's somewhat comical portrayal of Noah is definitely the highlight of the film. I first saw this movie when I was very young. I now own it and watch it often. The script sounds like it was taken directly from the Bible itself. The opening dialogue is, of course, "In the beginning..." The creation scenes which follow are simply magnificant. And the music which coincides with it is just beautiful. Right now I have that image of the birds in flight and the raging sea waters. The one scene which gets me every time ( and which I keep rewinding to see ) is the scene with Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. The spring of water bursting up through the ground at Hagar's feet is one of the most moving moments in the entire movie. This film is definitely worth seeing. Never mind what the critics say.
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Summary: Good Movie Version
Review: I found this to be a poetic, faithful version of much of the book of Genesis. Much of the narration and dialog are taken directly from the Scriptures. Some of the casting is superb, especially John Huston as Noah, Stephen Boyd as Nimrod, George C. Scott as Abraham, Ava Gardner as Sarah and Peter O'Toole as the angels who visit Abraham. Other lesser known actors and actresses do well also. At times the movie is slow-moving, but that can be a good thing, and I think that many people would find it rewarding if they watch it through. Some scenes are artfully done and stay with me, such as the Creation, the flight of Cain, the Tower of Babel and Abraham's (Abram's) rescue of Lot in battle. The musical score is beautiful also. At least some of the costuming is accurately based upon archaeological and Scriptural evidence.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect
Review: I liked the movie in all parts except for two. I'll start with the positive things. Another reviewer mentioned it was a little slow in the beginning, and that is true, but if you can be patient, you can get into it. The Ark scenes were great -- a little humor never hurt anyone. Sodom and Gomorrah was icky. Probably they did a good job of recreating what it was like, but really, I don't want to see all of that. If a couple quick shots were removed, this scene would be good. Abraham goes on this weird monologue sort of thing, that I didn't really get. I am engineer, so perhaps I just don't appreciate the drama of it.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect
Review: I liked the movie in all parts except for two. I'll start with the positive things. Another reviewer mentioned it was a little slow in the beginning, and that is true, but if you can be patient, you can get into it. The Ark scenes were great -- a little humor never hurt anyone. Sodom and Gomorrah was icky. Probably they did a good job of recreating what it was like, but really, I don't want to see all of that. If a couple quick shots were removed, this scene would be good. Abraham goes on this weird monologue sort of thing, that I didn't really get. I am engineer, so perhaps I just don't appreciate the drama of it.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable film/2 tape series/'92 older videography but good!
Review: I prefer this version of the "Genesis" story over the one in the "Bible Series" called simply "Genesis"...that one, is booooooorrring!!! This version is MUCH BETTER and was much more enjoyable to watch and covered more biblical recounts and stories than the other (competitor video from the "Bible Series".) I agree with other reviewers that the sound and visual quality, in some parts was very poor, particularly in the "Creation part" at the very beginning of the video. Otherwise, I found it thoroughly enjoyable, particularly the Noah's Ark story and how it was portrayed from the building of the ark to the exit of all back to the land. It was neat seeing what I have read in the bible "come to life". Watch, enjoy and share with family! I do feel that you should be a "biblical buff" to truly appreciate/enjoy the film -
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