How a Hollywood epic helped end the blacklist and define a nation's image
In short: Otto Preminger’s 1960 film Exodus was more than a historical drama about the founding of Israel. It became a cultural phenomenon that helped dismantle the Hollywood blacklist, sparked global debates on the Middle East, and produced a musical theme that transcended its origins to become a pop-culture staple.
Released on December 15, 1960, Exodus was a massive undertaking produced and directed by Otto Preminger. The film, adapted from Leon Uris’s 1958 novel, follows the journey of Jewish refugees seeking to reach Palestine after the Second World War. Preminger made a bold political statement by openly hiring screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted for over a decade due to his refusal to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Alongside the film Spartacus, Exodus is widely credited with breaking the industry's practice of blacklisting.
The production was fraught with tension, both on and off-screen. Filming on location in Cyprus proved difficult, as British authorities, wary of the film’s perceived anti-British sentiment and its portrayal of successful militant action, refused to assist the crew. Relations between Preminger and lead actor Paul Newman were equally strained, culminating in a practical joke involving a mannequin that left the director requiring medical attention. Furthermore, Preminger’s creative vision often clashed with the source material; he rejected Uris’s original script for being too anti-British and anti-Arab, opting instead for a collaboration with Trumbo that focused less on Biblical history and more on immediate political drama.
Upon release, the film received mixed critical reception. While some reviewers praised its vitality and influence, others, such as those at The Monthly Film Bulletin, criticized its exhausting length and lack of historical nuance. Despite this, the film was a financial success, earning $20 million worldwide. Its impact extended far beyond the cinema, with many identifying it as a key driver of American support for Zionism. The film’s legacy is also cemented by Ernest Gold’s Academy Award-winning score, which became a cultural touchstone, covered by artists ranging from Edith Piaf to the WWF, and even utilized for comedic effect by Howard Stern.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Exodus (1960 film)
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