RUBY GENTRY

US, 1952, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Jennifer Jones, Charlton Heston, Karl Malden.
Directed by King Vidor.

Ruby Gentry is a romantic melodrama of the flamboyant style. It was directed by veteran King Vidor, in his style of the late 40s and early 50s with such films as The Fountainhead, but, especially, Bette Davis in Beyond the Forest.

This time it is Jennifer Jones acting with provocative and sexy style as the girl from the swamps who ultimately defeats the whole town. Charlton Heston is the leading man, also acting the melodramatic style. Karl Malden on the contrary, gives a very even handed performance as Jim Gentry. The film is brief in its running time, has a North Carolina setting, shows the gamut of human emotions - quite flamboyantly.

1. Popular entertainment of the 50s? romance? Finance? Power?

2. Black and white photography, the North Carolina atmosphere (with studio sets, including the swamps)? The musical score? The cast?

3. The title and the focus on Ruby, the doctor's voiceover, his commentary on each of the characters, their interactions, his own reactions? Setting the audience point of view? Audience interest in Ruby, sympathy, changing attitudes? The framework of the flashback and the indication of tragedy in Ruby's life?

4. Jennifer Jones and her screen presence, the provocative style? Her background in the swamps, wrong side of the tracks, relationship with her father, her Bible quoting and moralistic brother? Schooling, going to the Gentrys, her friendship with Lettie? Going back to the swamps? At home with the hunters? Not accepted in the towns society? Her romance with Boake? Tier being hurt, his return, provocative, flirting, scratching his face? Going hunting, pointing the gun at him? Listening to her father and the image of bait for fishing? Her romance with Boake, the sequence on the beach, the car going into the water? People gossiping about her? The news of his engagement and her clash with Tracey? Her going to the Gentrys, looking after Lettie, her death? Jim's proposal, going to New York, the wedding, glamorous? Her return, people ignoring her at the party except for the doctor (and his proposal)? Her going to the dance, with Boake, Jim's anger, on the yacht, the accident, people not believing her? Her ruthlessness with the accounts, demanding the money, people out of work? Confrontation with Boake, flooding the fields, destroying his dream? His reaction towards her? Her unhappiness? The hunting, going with Boake, the confrontation with Jewel in the swamps, his taunts, shooting, Boake's death? Her unhappiness and staying with the fleet? Portrait of a melodramatic heroine?

5. Boake, his ambitions, South America, family, their drinking, his wanting to turn things around, the draining of the swamps? Relationship with Ruby, the formality of his relationship with Tracey, the announcement of the engagement? The passionate times with Ruby, on the beach? The taunts after the golf match? The wedding, the dance, the clash with Jim Gentry? Ruby as unforgiving, his promissory note, her offering to give it back, flooding the lands, his anguish and despair, his being subjected to Ruby's whim? His passionate love for her? In the swamp, his death?

6. Jim Gentry as a gentleman, his love for his wife, caring for her, caring for Ruby, his friendship with the doctor, the hunting, his wife's death? The proposal to Ruby, his pride, understanding her relationship with Boake? The snub for the party, his going to the club, his anger with Ruby? On the yacht, the accident? A gentleman?

7. Ruby's family, her father and his concern, her brother and his madness, religious taunts, singing, attacking Ruby, in the swamps, the shootings?

8. The doctor, his friendship, breaking through prejudice, his observations on the town, infatuation with Ruby?

9. The people of the town, aristocratic families, snobbery, Tracey and her place in society, Boake and the expectations? The editor of the paper? The clubs, not attending dances? Ruby and her dominance over them?

10. The popular ingredients of the melodrama, romance, class and money, vengeance?