David and Goliath (1960)

 

The Old Testament story of David and Goliath comes to life in this classic adaptation from acclaimed director Orson Welles. With the sacred Ark of the Covenant in the hands of the enemy Philistines, Samuel (Edward Hilton) prophesies the end of the reign of the ruthless King Saul (Welles) and anoints David (Ivo Payer), a lowly shepherd, to go to Jerusalem as the chosen successor.

However, Saul's top advisor Abner (Massimo Serato) plots a scheme to get rid of David. Wishing to destroy the young man, Abner convinces Saul to send David to make peace with the Philistines' King Asrod. Armed with only a slingshot, a few stones, and an unwavering faith in the one true God, David accepts King Asrod's challenge to fight the powerful giant Goliath with the future of Israel hanging in the balance. 

Joseph And His Brethren (1960)

 

Boldest Biblical spectacle of all!

From the pages of the Old Testament comes the story of Joseph, beloved son of Jacob and steadfast servant of God. He is presented as the favored son of Jacob and Rachel, sold as a boy into slavery by his brothers, who were jealous of Joseph's dreams and of his coat of many colors given him by Jacob. In Egypt, Joseph gained a position of authority in the household of his master, Potiphar, and was later imprisoned on the false accusations of Potiphar's wife. He was released after interpreting Pharaoh's dream of the lean and fat cows. Pharaoh renamed him Zaphnath-paaneah and took him into favor. Due to the obedience of Joseph to his God, Egypt is greatly blessed. Joseph's recognition of his brothers in the famine years when he was governor over Egypt is a famous scene. 

Esther and the King (1960)

 

Murder, betrayal and romance highlight this classic.

Joan Collins, portraying the sultry and beautiful Judean maiden chosen by the powerful Persian King, played by Richiard Egan, to replace his murdered queen.

Murder, betrayal, romance and the depiction of an epic struggle, highlight this wonderfully filmed classic. Loaded with sumptuous costumes, lavish sets and a timesess story.

The Story of Ruth (1960)

 

The inspiring story of a woman's devotion...an unforgettable tale of love, faith, and courage

In a stunning retelling of the epic Old Testament story, Elana Eden portrays the beautiful Ruth, who, as a young girl, is sold to worshipers of the stone god Chemosh. As a young woman, however, she is moved by the plight of a Jewish slave named Mahlon (Tom Tryon), renounces her idolatry, frees him and befriends his mother, Naomi (Peggy Wood).

When tragedy compels the women to make the arduous journey to Jerusalem, Ruth meets Boaz (Stuart Whitman) and falls in love. But as she is promised to another, she must rely on her courage, wits, and newfound faith to find the peace she's longed for since she can remember.

Both heartbreaking and compelling, The Story Of Ruth is a riveting film you won't soon forget!

The Unfinished Task (1960)

 

The son of a wealthy business magnate gives up a bright future to preach the Word of God in the jungles of Africa much to the distress of his family. Bonus material: The Great Adventure (1956) starring Lyle Talbot, Jim Backus and Edward Arnold.

In this tearjerker, a morally disparate father and son attempt to reconcile their differences. The father is a major construction magnate who has dreamed of his son taking over the lucrative family business. The father's heart is devastated when the son decides to become a missionary after graduating with an engineering degree and a great rift is formed between them, one that does not heal until a terrible tragedy ensues.

Shadow of the Boomerang (1960)

 

Two young Americans head an all-Australian supporting cast in a turbulent story of homestead life. Their arrival in Australia to manage a newly acquired ranch plunges the brother and sister into the midst of strange surroundings and personal crisis.

Davey and Goliath (1960–1977)

 

Starring young Davey Hansen and his talking dog, Goliath, this complete 12-DVD set contains over 19 hours of moral adventures that have been expertly re-mastered for the show's 50th anniversary. Along with six seasonal specials for summer, Easter, New Year's, Halloween, Christmas and back to school, Davey and Goliath: The Complete Collection features 65 other classic episodes, including ten previously lost episodes.

Enjoyed around the world throughout its 1960-1975 television run, this stop-motion series was animated by Gumby creator Art Clokey and produced through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Davey and Goliath remains an inspiring alternative to other children's programming, even half a century later.

Episodes:

Volume 1
"Lost in a Cave," "Stranded on an Island," "The Wild Goat"
"The Winner," "The New Skates," "Cousin Barney"

Volume 2
"The Kite," "The Mechanical Man," "All Alone"
"The Time Machine," "One the Line," "The Polka Dot Tie"

Volume 3
"The Silver Mine," "The Sudden Storm," "Pilgrim Boy"
"Ten Pin Alley," "Bell Ringer," "Boy Lost"

Volume 4
"Officer Bob," "The Runaway," "Not for Sale"
"The Shoemaker," "The Parade," "The Dog Show"

Volume 5
"Down on the Farm," "Man of the House," "The Waterfall"
"Happy Landing," "Editor-In-Chief," "Bully up a Tree"

Volume 6
"Big Apple," "The Bridge," "The Jickets"
"The Lemonade Stand," "Hocus Pocus," "Good Neighbor"

Volume 7
"A Dillar, a Dollar," "Jeep in the Deep," "Rags and Buttons"
"Who Me?," "The Stopped Clock," "To the Rescue" (30-minute special)

Volume 8
"If at First You Don't Succeed," "Kookaburra,""Finders Keepers"
"The Caretakers," "The Hard Way," "Halloween Who-Dun-It" (30-minute special)

Volume 9
"Blind Man's Bluff," "The Greatest," "Rickety-Rackety"
"Boy in Trouble," "Help!," "Christmas Lost and Found" (30-minute special)

Volume 10
"Louder Please," "The Zillion Dollar Combo," "Upside Down and Backwards"
"Six-Seven-Six-Three," "Who's George?," "New Year Promise" (30-minute special)

Volume 11
"What's His Name," "Chicken," "Kum Ba Yah"
"Ready or Not," "Pieces of Eight," "Happy Easter" (30-minute special)

Volume 12
"The Watchdogs," "Come, Come to the Fair," "The Doghouse Dream House"
"The Good Bad Luck," "School...Who Needs It?" (30-minute special)

I'll Give My Life: The Unfinished Task (1960)

 

ll Give My Life / The Unfinished Task (1960) is a classic movie directed by William F. Claxton, and starring Angie Dickinson; Ray Collins; John Bryant. It is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest classic films of all time. This great film will surely attract a whole new generation of classic movie fans. And for seasoned cinematic connoseuirs, I'll Give My Life / The Unfinished Task (1960) will rekindle an era of film making at its best. For others who simply enjoy watching timeless pieces with icons such as Angie Dickinson; Ray Collins; John Bryant, I'll Give My Life / The Unfinished Task (1960) is highly recommended. Re-released by Reel Classic Films this movie would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal DVD library. 

Elmer Gantry (1960)

 

Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster) is a hard-drinking, fast-talking traveling salesman with a charismatic personality. He is drawn to the road show of Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons) and is immediately attracted to the saintly revivalist.

Gantry soon cons his way into Sister Sharon's good graces and joins the troupe as a fiery preacher. Gantry and Falconer develop what her manager calls a "good cop/bad cop" routine, with Elmer telling the audience members that they will burn in Hell for their sins and Sharon promising salvation if they repent.

The group makes its way out of exclusively provincial venues and into Zenith, Winnemac, a larger city. Falconer eventually admits to Gantry that her real name is Katie Jones and that her origins are humbler than she publicly admits. Falconer also becomes Gantry's lover and loses her virginity to him.

Gantry's on-stage antics draw the attention of a big-city reporter, the skeptical Jim Lefferts (Arthur Kennedy). Lefferts is shown to be torn between his disgust for religious hucksterism and his genuine admiration for Gantry's charm and cunning. The two men begin a public feud which increases the notoriety of both.

The success of the Falconer-Gantry team comes to the attention of Lulu Baines (Shirley Jones), a former girlfriend of Elmer's who fell into disrepute and became a prostitute when her affair with Gantry ruined her standing in her minister father's eyes.

Gantry, acting as a moralist, unwittingly invades the brothel where Lulu works. With police and media in tow, he sends the prostitutes out of town. Lulu proceeds to frame Gantry out of revenge for this and out of jealousy for his relationship with Falconer.

Lulu blackmails him. Falconer is asked to bring $25,000 in exchange for the negatives of incriminating pictures. Falconer brings the money, but Lulu refuses to accept; it is unclear why she has had a change of heart.

Lulu had at first offered Lefferts the exclusive story of Gantry's sexual indiscretion, but he refused, shrugging the pictures off as merely proof that Gantry is as human as anyone else. Later, when an angry mob threatens Gantry at the tent revival following the publication of the incriminating photos in another newspaper, Lefferts fights in Gantry's defense.

Lulu joins the congregation at this tent revival and is a witness to Gantry's humiliation. As she watches the mob curse Gantry and smear him with eggs and other produce, she is emotionally shaken and flees the scene.

Lulu returns to the brothel, which is now in a dilapidated state from Gantry's publicity stunt. Her pimp, who with the photographer had helped frame Gantry, is there to collect the $25,000. Lulu tells him she did not take Falconer's money, whereupon he beats her. Gantry comes to Lulu's rescue. He disposes of the pimp and apologizes to Lulu, who then publicly confesses to having framed Gantry.

Elmer returns to Sharon on the night her new tabernacle opens. He wants them to live like a more normal couple. Sharon is unable to give up her soul-saving ventures, though, and insists that she and Elmer were brought together by God to do His work. Sharon then tragically dies in a fire at the tabernacle, unable or unwilling to see past her own religious zeal when the place is engulfed in flames.

Deeply saddened by Sharon's death and having reached something of a moral awakening, Elmer decides to stop evangelizing, quoting from the Bible: "When I was a child, I understood as a child and spake as a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)