The Perils of Jephthah’s Daughter: Biblical Films as Social Problem-Solving Operations
Between 1909 and 1913, four major studios released films retelling the story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11. All four films depict the biblical tale as a melodrama—a classic genre in film studies. This article argues that, despite sharing a common genre, these films exhibit distinct ideol...
| Subtitles: | Twenty More Years of Bible and Film |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Biblical interpretation
Year: 2025, Volume: 33, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 315-337 |
| Further subjects: | B
Patriarchy
B Bible film B Jephthah’s Daughter B Judges 11 B Jephthah B genre theory |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Between 1909 and 1913, four major studios released films retelling the story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11. All four films depict the biblical tale as a melodrama—a classic genre in film studies. This article argues that, despite sharing a common genre, these films exhibit distinct ideological perspectives. Focusing on the first and last films—Vitagraph’s Jephthah’s Daughter: A Biblical Tragedy (1909) and Warner Features’ Jephthah’s Daughter (1913)—this article employs genre analysis to show how both films utilize melodramatic conventions to address the plight of women under patriarchal structures. While Vitagraph’s film sanctifies the daughter’s obedience and sacrifice, Warner’s version problematizes her fate, offering a critique of patriarchy. By situating these films within the reception history of Judges 11, the article highlights their cultural significance as "social problem-solving operations" that negotiated early twentieth-century anxieties over the shifting roles of women. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5152 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685152-33450002 |
