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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"Ruby Gentry" is one of a
string of intense and fiery melodramas that remind
me so much of the proliferation of nighttime soap
operas that blossomed during the 1980s.
This film stars Jennifer Jones at her sultry best
as Ruby, a no-account white trash raised in the
rugged swamplands. The flame of her dishonorable
intentions is turned up at the first sight of rich
and hunky, Boake Tackman (Chalton Heston). Boake
allows Ruby to get close to him but he never once
considers their youthful dalliances anything more
than slumming. When Boake enters into a marriage
proposal with Tracy McAuliffe (Phyllis Avery),
done more for community property than grand amour,
Ruby dives head first into a love-less marriage of
her own to Jim Gentry (Carl Malden). Jim's
financial success allows Ruby to gussy herself
into respectability that is short lived after a
boating accident claims Jim's life. Ruby's lack of
mourning arouses suspicion from the local town
folk. And more than a few eyebrows get raised when
Ruby makes another passionate pitch for Boake's
affections not long thereafter. Rejected by Boake
once more -- this time for her reputation rather
than lack of money -- Ruby's passion ignites into
bitter sadism. She starts by purposefully
destroying Boake's farm, and there is more to this
sordid tale, but I'll stop short of giving away
all the secrets.
MGM's DVD is rather impressive. The B&W picture
exhibits a very nicely balanced grayscale with
smooth, solid blacks and very clean whites.
Age-related artifacts are present throughout but
do not distract. Some minor edge enhancement crops
up but pixelization is kept to a minimum. Overall
the picture will surely not disappoint. The audio
is mono but more than adequate for a film of this
vintage. There are no extras. |
