The Bible (1966)

THE BIBLE  (1966)  ¢ ¢ 1/2
    D: John Huston
    George C. Scott, Ava Gardner, John Huston,
    Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd, Richard Harris,
    Stephen Boyd, Franco Nero, Peter O'Toole
John Huston, who never was one to shy away from a literary adaptation, takes on the book of Genesis, from the creation through Adam and Eve, the Tower of Babel, Noah's Ark and the story of Abraham. It's a literal interpretation and a solemn, often ponderous film, despite its all-star cast. You'd never put it in a class with Huston's best work, but as a collection of stories that place men and their dreams at the mercy of the universe - God, in this case - it stands with the rest. Old John has a good time playing Noah, in a segment that's mostly comic relief. The rest of the actors look pretty stiff, including George C. Scott, whose lustful offscreen pursuit of Ava Gardner did not endear him to Huston.