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Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Richardson, Peter Lawford, Lee J Cobb ... see more see more... , Sal Mineo , John Derek , Hugh Griffith , Gregory Ratoff , Felix Aylmer , David Opatoshu , Jill Haworth , Marius Goring , Michael Wager , Martin Benson , Paul Stevens , Betty Walker , Martin Miller , Victor Maddern , George Maharis , John Crawford , Samuel Segal , Dahn Ben Amotz , Ralph Truman , Peter Madden , Joseph Fürst , Paul Stassino , Zipora Peled , Philo Hauser , Alexandra Stewart , Michael Wynne

Produced and directed by Otto Preminger, Exodus is a 212-minute screen adaptation of the best-selling novel by Leon Uris. The film is concerned with the emergence of Israel as an independent nation in... read more read more... 1947. Its first half focuses on the efforts of 611 holocaust survivors to defy the blockade of the occupying British government and sail to Palestine on the sea vessel Exodus. Paul Newman, a leader of the Hagannah (the Jewish underground), is willing to sacrifice his own life and the lives of the refugees rather than be turned back to war-ravaged Europe, but the British finally relent and allow the Exodus safe passage. Once this victory is assured, 30,000 more Jews, previously interned by the British, flood into the Holy Land. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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71% liked it

3,943 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

12 critics

Unrated, 3 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Otto Preminger, Preminger

Release Date: December 15, 1960

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DVD Release Date: October 15, 2002

Stats: 213 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (213)

  • jjnxn
    August 14, 2010
    jjnxn
    Starts well with fine performances and a clear and direct plot but loses momentum in second half and becomes somewhat scattered. Ralph Richardson is very good which is customary but when he exits the picture his absence leaves a hole which is never really filled.
  • sanjurosamurai
    December 21, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    this four hour epic chronicles the lives of jews in palestine in the aftermath of WW2. this is a great film with some of the most philosophical and thought provoking diologue one could hope to find in the movies. complete with hunger strikes, political bombings, jail breaks and... read more beautiful symbolism of the relationship of humanity, the word epic is no stretch for this wonderful movie.
  • gator681
    January 2, 2010
    gator681
    In "Exodus," Catherine Fremont(Eva Marie Saint) has been searching for a new purpose in life in the days just after the end of World War II after the death of her husband. She unexpectedly finds one after meeting with a friendly British general(Ralph Richardson) who is in charge... read more of detaining of Jewish refugees in Cyprus, wanting to emigrate to Palestine. And after a less than enlightening conversation with Major Caldwell(Peter Lawford), she agrees to take up her old profession as a nurse in the camps, going so far as wanting to adopt Karen(Jill Haworth), an orphaned teenager. But Ari Ben Canaan(Paul Newman) has other ideas for his people, wanting to force the upcoming vote in the United Nations on partition by forcing the British hand.

    Written by Dalton Trumbo(thereby officially ending the blacklist) and directed by Otto Preminger, "Exodus" is a contradictary, yet sturdy fictionalized epic account of the founding of Israel that is aided by great location filming. It should therefore come as no surprise that one of the major themes is rebirth. Sadly, this also marks the start of Preminger's prestige period which would be the beginning of his creative downfall when what was needed was more of the spirit from his brass balls period, especially considering how much the subject of terrorism comes up which is sadly still relevant. The one thing that might sound weird about a picture like this is that it is actually a caper film, the first the story of the boat Exodus, while the second is even more daring. Both are figurative chess matches while literal ones play out on screen. And Paul Newman is the right actor in the lead, just the wrong performance. What was needed was something on the order of the roguish leader he would play in later films like "Cool Hand Luke" and "Slapshot." Sadly, there is none of that charisma here to differentiate his character's defiance from that of the British soldier's need to mindlessly follow every order. The characters act as if they are already part of history in a wax museum for the most part.
  • cnemser
    February 7, 2012
    cnemser
    And the vote is for partition! Information, entertaining, yet not too sanitized depiction of life before the end of the British mandate. What a cast! And Paul Newman gets the schickza!
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    July 13, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    Powerful Film of a Ship of Jewish Refugee's in 1947, 611 of them to be exact, not allowed to sail to Palestine on the Exodus & seems no one else will help or take them.The Holocaust Survivors have Survived Hitler, they aren't about to let the British Government stand in their way... read more.What they do changes History for all Jews to then have the Right to return to the Holy Land & claim their God Given Land.Everyone should see this film, it should be shown in Schools
  • jam233
    October 25, 2009
    jam233
    A very well produced and quite a fine film. The performances are good, particularly Sal Mineo, Eva Marie Saint and Paul Newman. The direction is a little heavy handed, not a typical trait of Otto Preminger. And of course it's biggest flaw is it's staggering length. It wasn't alwa... read moreys engrossing, a little more editing would have been a huge plus.
  • acebovey
    September 15, 2007
    acebovey
    Shirtless Paul Newman and a chance to learn about Israel's steps to independence? Don't get much more well-rounded than that.
  • tombowling49
    April 5, 2007
    tombowling49
    Eva Marie Saint, Peter Lawford, Lee J Cobb, perform brilliantly on this Mystery. Your use to see Cobb in westerns, a real change of pace for him here. Good plottage and scenes.

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Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther
May 9, 2005
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

In the end, one should take from this picture a shaken feeling of having been through a lot of harsh and ennobling experiences. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Intelligence applied exactly where it is most rare: in the lavish, star-studded epic. Full Review

Jordan Hiller
June 24, 2009
Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com

The style of filmmaking is simply too polite and serene to carry the edgy, dangerous material of Uris's novel Full Review

Emanuel Levy
November 15, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Preminger's ambitious chronicle of the formation of the State of Israel contains some stirring moments, but as an epic it's too sprawling, overlong, and lacks dramatic center. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
December 28, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Otto - let my people go! Full Review

October 23, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A stirring chronicle of Israel's struggle for independence in 1947. Full Review

Tom Milne
January 26, 2006
Tom Milne, Time Out

Watchable mainly for the sheer skill and drive of Preminger's direction, although at 220 minutes even that long outstays its welcome. Full Review

February 4, 2004
Film4

Propaganda masquerading as drama, it makes for a decidedly turgid viewing experience. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Susan Granger
September 2, 2007
Susan Granger, www.susangranger.com

No review available.

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  • what book from the bible is the prince of egypt adapted from?  Answer »
  • Who played Ari Ben Cannan in Exodus?  Answer »
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