Ruby Gentry

I saw this when I was very young and it was quite risqué for 1952. Jennifer was beautiful and very seductive. The thought of a woman being shown on the screen engaged in seduction was far from the norm for my family. I went with my friend and was afraid to tell my Mother. I need to rent this and see if it still holds up after all this time. I'm sure Jennifer will as she was a wonderful actress. I love Charlton Heston because is a journeyman actor but he bugs me. He always seems to be the same person. Karl Malden is an actors actor and never gives a bad performance. The setting was typical of that time, poor girl seduces rich boy. The other one was rich girl falls for poor boy. Sure never happened in my life. What I remember most though was the music as It is so plaintive.. I have it downloaded and it is one of my favorites.

With this I've started my tribute to Charlton Heston – being also one of six planned first viewings. The film isn't one of his most renowned efforts (coming also very early in his career), in spite of director Vidor's involvement; nonetheless, it's typical of the latter (whose twilight years were marked by a mostly lean period in his career) – a fairly risible romantic melodrama of the kind D.W. Griffith was making forty years earlier and which were concurrently being revitalized in the works of Tennessee Williams! RUBY GENTRY actually looks back to an earlier Vidor title involving a forbidden liaison sparking notoriety, death and revenge – DUEL IN THE SUN (1946), with which it shares leading lady Jennifer Jones – but, at least, that one was backed by Technicolor, an epic scope and a willing all-star cast; this, on the other hand, is unconvincing and rather half-hearted – though leading to a similarly absurd climax (with Heston and Jones attacked by the latter's religious fanatic brother). Following the death of his invalid wife (Josephine Hutchinson), meek but wealthy Karl Malden (who comes off best out of the main trio of stars) allows himself to be hitched by the tomboyish and backwoods Jones; the latter had herself been spurned by well-bred Heston, who prefers to marry into money for the sake of his dream project. However, the two lovers can't stay apart for long and the two men have a big fight over her at a party (which, curiously enough, takes place off-screen). The newlyweds set out to sea the next day in order to make up, but he's thrown overboard in an accident and drowns; the locals give Jones the cold shoulder (again, much of their abuse is intimated rather than shown), but she finds herself all of a sudden the beneficiary of Malden's vast fortune (owning shares in or else being owed by, it seems, the majority of the townspeople!); the last straw arrives when she willfully destroys Heston's irrigation enterprise. Ultimately, as I've said before, the film is shamelessly overstated – but, alas, not particularly entertaining: while the talent is clearly there, it's generally operating below-par.

In Braddock, North Caroline, the free-spirited and poor Ruby Corey (Jennifer Jones) is a sexy woman in love with Boake Tackman (Charlton Heston), who belongs to a former wealthy family that lost their land that is flooded. Ruby has lived during high-school with the wealthy businessman Jim Gentry (Karl Malden) and his wife Letitia Gentry (Josephine Hutchinson) that had unsuccessfully tried to teach etiquette to Ruby. Later she returned to the house of her father Jud Corey (Tom Tully) and her pious brother Jewel Corey (James Anderson) in the swamps. When Boake decides to marry the rich Tracy McAuliffe (Phyllis Avery), Ruby is courted by Dr. Saul Manfred (Bernard Phillips) but accepts to marry Jim that has recently widowed. The population of Braddock does not accept the marriage of Ruby and Jim. Then, Ruby dances with Boake in a club and Jim has a fistfight with Boake and calls Ruby a tramp. On the next morning, Jim apologizes with Ruby and they go sailing. However there is an accident and Jim drowns in the sea. Ruby is accused by the population of murdering Jim and she decides to revenge, using the money she inherited from Jim and foreclosing on the debts of the hometowns. But Ruby is still in love with Boake and her behavior will lead them to a tragedy. "Ruby Gentry" is a melodramatic romance directed by King Vidor, the master of this genre. The melodrama is excessive, with a wild young woman in love with a popular young man in a conservative town. Her revenge against those that blame her is great but the conclusion is silly. Rubby working as a skipper of a fishing boat does not make sense for a woman with her strong personality (and money). My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "A Fúria do Desejo" ("The Fury of the Desire")

The turbulent life of a female sea captain is revealed. Jennifer Jones does quite well in the meaty leading role of Ruby, a swamp girl from the Carolinas who infiltrates an indifferent high society after marrying wealthy businessman Karl Malden. However, that marriage was just a convenience for this hellcat, who has pined her whole life for intrigued childhood hunting pal Charlton Heston, himself a recent newlywed to a girl who hails from the right side of the tracks. Silvia Richards' screenplay, which originated from a story by Arthur Fitz-Richard, is alarmingly direct, cutting right to the action despite a few well-placed flashbacks. Still, the narrative is somewhat confused (who's telling this story? If it's supposed to be Bernard Phillips' smitten doctor, he isn't around a whole lot). Jones sidesteps camp (just barely) with some enjoyably wild behavior in the film's second-half, and yet this portion of the movie doesn't quite fit comfortably alongside the rest--it plays almost like an unrelated episode. Director and co-producer King Vidor's strongest work comes in the earliest sequences, which have a well-wrought sense of character and pacing which the finale tends to lack. **1/2 from ****

Wow, what a trashy movie! This is NOT necessarily meant as a criticism, as the film makers were obviously trying to make an overwrought and sexy soap opera-style film. Subtle this is not--and if you like films like PEYTON PLACE or A DUEL IN THE SUN or TV shows such as "Dynasty" or "Falcon Crest", then you may enjoy RUBY GENTRY. Ruby (Jennifer Jones) is a sexy southern girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She's in love with one man (Charlton Heston) but her heart is broken when he marries another simply because this other woman offers him an advancement in society. On the rebound, Ruby marries a nice and very wealthy guy (Karl Malden). However, at a big social event, Ruby shows a lot of attention to her old beau and people begin to talk. Now Ruby did NOT cheat on her husband and there is no indication that she didn't care for him--but people talk. And, when the husband dies accidentally in a boating accident, people suspect Ruby killed him. In fact, they are vicious towards her. So, in a wonderful turn of events, the now wealthy Ruby sets out to use her husband's money to destroy the town. Later, she works her best to try to win back her old beau--even though he is already married and seemed like a jerk. I am not sure why Miss Jones did these sort of movies. Despite becoming famous for playing the angelic lead in SONG OF BERNADETTE, she went on to play quite a few slutty characters--such as in this film, DUEL IN THE SUN, INDISCRETION and MADAM BOVARY. Frankly, I didn't like her in these films and preferred her other roles--mostly because she wasn't all that convincing in these sort of films. RUBY GENTRY is a bit better than these other films, but it still is far from her best work. I think part of this is just because she just didn't seem slutty enough and seemed more suited to films such as PORTRAIT OF JENNY. She looked rather sweet and such roles would have worked better with actresses who specialized in these sort of films like Lana Turner or Joan Crawford. The other problem is that although I enjoy a good potboiler, these films of Miss Jones weren't particularly good films--especially DUEL IN THE SUN and INDISCRETION. Why her lover, David O. Selznick, pushed her into these roles is beyond me. Despite these complaints, there was quite a bit to like about RUBY GENTRY. The idea of a poor girl becoming rich and using this new wealth to destroy the town that persecuted her is great. Too bad, then, that after doing so much to get revenge that the film become bogged down with the silly affair with Heston late in the film. The affair made little sense and tended to deflate the juicy plot. And, sadly, almost as soon as the affair began, the film just ended very abruptly! The film is a real mixed bag. It's a decent time-passer soap but could have been so much more.

Once again, JENNIFER JONES has problems while stirring up raging hormones in every man within sight, even when she's married to a respectable but boring middle-aged man (KARL MALDEN), because they all know she's still lusting after the man who got away (CHARLTON HESTON). This is such over-baked, melodramatic corn that you can almost visualize it better as a silent film with tacky sub-titles while a woman with heaving bosom goes to pieces over a man she can't have because she is considered by the townsfolk to be an unworthy tramp and beneath the station of a well-to-do aristocrat. But the soundtrack isn't silent and does produce a haunting melody, "The Theme from Ruby Genty" which was very popular at the time of the film's release. That and the pulp fiction quality of the film, directed in over-the-top manner by King Vidor, gave it a camp quality that had people comparing it to "Duel in the Sun". It's strictly a minor melodrama with an overwrought Jennifer doing another interpretation similar to her Pearl Chavez.

This is the story of Ruby Gentry, as it is told by the town's doctor. Ruby Gentry was born in the wrong side of the town, she never considered herself a lady, and so nobody else did so. When Boake Tackman returns from North America to his hometown, Ruby Gentry believes that their old passion will keep her dreams alive, and that she will finally win his heart. But Boake (Charlton Heston) betrays her love,and marries a wealthy towngirl. Now Ruby marries Jim Gentry, played excellent by Kard Malden, the richest person in the town, but after some months he dies and the whole town turns against her, believing that she has caused his death. Ruby tries to revenge above all, Boake, but with the help of her fanatic christian brother tragedy comes and Ruby looses everything that she wanted. Jennifer Jones had a big success with this movie, after 5 box-office flops. Its is a well known story, directed very good by Charles Vidor, and supported excellent by Karl Malden. Charlton Heston show the kind of acting that will follow for the rest of his career,and comes out rather convincing. A good film you would like to see again...(but not a masterpiece)

The only reason I rented "Ruby Gentry" in the first place was because the almighty Charlton Heston was in it, but not even he could save it. I got a little suspicious when I saw Jennifer Jones' name in the opening credits. After seeing her awful performance in "Duel In The Sun (1946)" just a few days earlier, I can honestly say she is not one of my favorite actresses, that's for sure. Her portrayal of a Mexican was the most unconvincing I've seen, apart from... well, Charlton Heston in "Touch Of Evil (1958)". Sorry Charlton, but you could never be a believable Mexican. Not even with a little moustache. Anyway, "Ruby Gentry" reminded me a lot of "Gone With The Wind (1939)" for some reason. It's about a woman (Jones) marrying a man (Karl Malden) instead of the bloke she truly loves (Heston). I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so let's just say the movie is not nearly as good as the story and the cast might suggest. Let's go through the flaws, shall we? Firstly, there's Jennifer Jones. Not a very good performance. Second, Charlton Heston's role. Letting him play such a one-tracked character is an insult to the greatest actor of all time. I don't understand how he could choose to do this movie. I don't know. He never gets a chance to prove his might, Heston comes off much better when he plays a more three-dimensional character, like he did in for example "Ben Hur (1959)". Finally, there's the finale. It's so boring and conventional I don't even want to talk about it. Karl Malden, however, does an excellent job, but that doesn't help much. All in all, a movie that had great potential and a promising cast, but I'm afraid they screwed it up big time.

This hormone driven drama should have provided fodder for a good prime time soap opera the way Joan Crawford's Flamingo Road was later turned into one for television. The characters and plot line are right up there with Dallas and Falcon Crest. Jennifer Jones is driving all the men crazy here. First we have Charlton Heston who's the scion of the town's leading family. Good bloodlines, but a cash flow problem. He just wants a roll in the hay with her bad, but marry her and soil the family name, heaven forfend. Then we have Karl Malden, the town's richest man who stayed faithful to and invalid wife, but who also lusts for Jennifer and then marries her before the wife's body is cold. And we can't forget the Yankee doctor who comes to this North Carolina town and takes one look at Jennifer Jones in a tight blouse and he's hooked. Bernard Phillips who plays the doctor is the narrator and it's his eyes from which we see the action unfold. And we can't forget Jennifer's brother James Anderson, a wild religious fanatic who is constantly warning her about the wages of her sins, but there's more than a little hint of some incest he'd like to engage in. Charlton Heston said in his memoirs that he enjoyed working with Jennifer Jones, Karl Malden and the rest of the cast, but David O. Selznick, Jen's husband and svengali was one royal pain. The movie is trash, it don't pretend to be anything else, but it made a mint at the box office. If you liked Dallas, Falcon Crest, Dynasty, etc., you'll love Ruby Gentry.

"Ruby Gentry" is Charlton Heston's only sexy movie. It helped to have Jennifer Jones in it. The movie is about a poor girl from the South marrying a rich man when her boyfriend marries a wealthy woman. It is a good short movie. Some of the scenes get carried away, but the movie is still fun to watch. Karl Malden plays the older husband, who in reality is only a few years older than Ms. Jones, however, it works. The song "Ruby on my Mind" helps make the movie more sensual. This was the director's (King Vidor) second movie with Ms. Jones and he makes this movie move like he did with the long movie, "Duel in the Sun" (1946).