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The Bible: In the Beginning...

Name: The Bible: In the Beginning...
Director: John Huston
Released: 1966
Duration: 175 min

Representation Score

0.9/10

Minimal

1966

Director

John Huston

Runtime

175 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

John Huston’s epic functions as a traditionalist pillar of storytelling, prioritizing the preservation of foundational religious myths. The film's structure reinforces established moral and patriarchal hierarchies rather than challenging them. While the production offers a notable moment of racial visibility through Sidney Poitier, the work remains deeply rooted in a singular, Western-centric religious framework. It lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and disability, focusing instead on idealized archetypes. Ultimately, the film serves to validate the sanctity of the covenant and divine obedience, offering little room for social or moral relativism.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Bible: In the Beginning... have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film strictly follows biological and social structures, featuring no LGBTQ themes or non-straight relationships.

How does The Bible: In the Beginning... portray gender?

Limited

The narrative emphasizes patriarchal hierarchies. Female characters like Eve are portrayed as catalysts for exile rather than independent agents.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Bible: In the Beginning...?

Fair

Casting Sidney Poitier as Joseph provides significant visibility for a Black actor. However, broader casting aligns with Western interpretations of ancient Near Eastern ethnicities.

How does The Bible: In the Beginning... represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The film centers divine authority and religious law. It promotes a singular moral framework validating the social structures of the biblical era.

Does The Bible: In the Beginning... include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters are depicted as idealized physical archetypes. There is no focus on neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or chronic illness.

Present on Screen

The casting of Sidney Poitier as Joseph provides a significant moment of visibility for a Black actor in a central role.

Limited or Absent

The film reinforces traditional patriarchal hierarchies, often framing women as subjects to divine authority.
The narrative lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and characters with disabilities.
The story promotes a singular moral framework with no critique of religious or social institutions.

Official Synopsis

Covering only the first 22 chapters of the Book of Genesis, vignettes include: Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden until their indulgence in the forbidden fruit sees them driven out; Cain murdering his brother Abel; Noah building an ark to preserve the animals of the world from the coming flood; and Abraham making a covenant with God.

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