I am a big believer in historical accuracy in films and when a film excels I try to point it out...and when it fails I quickly do the same. In many ways. "Judith" is a fine film but when it comes to the central character, the filmmakers seem much more concerned about Sophia Loren as a sexy 1960s icon than a credible actress. Too often, she is inexplicably wearing what appear to be Chanel suits and is perfectly coiffed...like a 1960s Italian movie star. However, the film is supposed to be about a Jewish woman who escaped extermination in a Nazi death camp....and showing the lovely and super well-coiffed Loren in this role seemed not only stupid but a bit insulting.Judith (Loren) is a woman who miraculously survived a death camp. She's lost her son and her husband, Gustav Schiller, turned her in to the SS!! Not surprisingly, she hates the man and wants him dead- -but she also wants to force him to tell her what happened to their son. However, the Haganah (Israeli Defense) wants the guy as well, as he's now working with the Syrians--using his knowledge about German tank tactics to aid in the destruction of the soon to be announced state of Israel. If they had completely re-cast the part of Judith, had her at least appear in passing to be possibly Jewish and they had her wear normal and appropriate clothing for the era, the film would have been much, much better. Still, it's a strong story and worth seeing--that's why in spite of the problems I still give it a 7. How and why Loren was cast for this film is something I would really love to see. I am NOT being anti-Loren--she was marvelous in many movies but this one is just well beyond her range. Had the filmmakers done a better job in this respect, the film easily could have earned an 8 or 9.

This movie is a vehicle for sex goddess Sophia Loren, while also trying to make her look like a "serious" actress. This aspect of the movie was only moderately interesting. But if you can ignore that, it is also an interesting look at the start of the nation of Israel and the war they had to immediately fight for survival. I enjoyed seeing how they prepared secretly for the war and the depiction of an espionage operation. The immediate attacks by the surrounding nations would have been terrifying if they hadn't thought about and prepared for this so strenuously. There was great loss of life but also great acts of courage. Peter Finch was great as an intense young Israeli leader, and Jack Hawkins was his usual personable, dapper self. The scenery and sets were good and believable.

I first saw Judith years ago on the big screen when it first came out and was blown away by both Sophia Loren's beauty and her performance as concentration camp survivor Judith Auerbach. Even among the nameless, faceless members of her faith in those camps Judith has a unique story to tell.For she was in fact the wife of Wehrmacht General Hans Verner who was given a choice by the Nazis his career or his Jewish wife. Verner disowned her and she was thrown into Dachau her daughter taken from her and presumed dead. She lived on hate to survive with only one mission, nail her ex-husband any way she can.But the Haganah in Palestine in the days just before the formation of Israel want Verner as well. He's rumored to be in Damascus teaching the Arabs the rudiments of tank warfare, Nazi blitzkrieg style. There aren't any good pictures of Verner and there is only one who can really identify him. Hence Loren is smuggled into Palestine from the refugee camps at Cyprus that we all know from Exodus. She's brought to a Kibbutz on the Syrian border in the care of Haganah commander Peter Finch. He's the one with the mission of getting Verner taken alive to extract information and they need Loren, but Loren has other ideas. Finch also takes an interest in Sophia personally, who wouldn't. Another who is taken with her is British Major Jack Hawkins in one of his last films before throat cancer claimed his larynx. He's a spit and polish army regular, but he turns out to have a streak of humanity in him that even he didn't realize.Judith kind of got lost between those other two great films about the founding of Israel, Exodus and Cast A Giant Shadow. It's been not broadcast for several years for inexplicable reasons and that's a pity because Sophia and the whole cast is wonderful.Judith more than either of the other two films shows a good deal more of life on the Kibbutz. Israeli actress Zaharira Harifai plays the camp doctor and more than anyone else awakens in Loren a feeling that she is among friends and that the new state of Israel will give her a home and she can make a unique contribution to its founding.Judith is not a film to be missed if it ever sees the light of day again. Demand TCM broadcast it.

Not the best nor the worst of her movies - though, to be honest it was not a very good film. I was in college and saw it as part of a double feature (with Promise Her Anything - talk about a weird pairing). I liked the movie even though it wasn't really very good.It has been almost 40 years since I saw it so I really can't remember all the plot but basically it was an updating of the biblical story of Judith. The time period is after WWII and prior to the start of Israel. Judith (Loren) is a displaced refugee who is smuggled to Palestine in a crate via boat. She emerges (FULLY made-up and drop dead beautiful)) from the crate and the plot thickens (or maybe curdles is a better word).Seems her (ex ?) husband is a Nazi, now living in Damascus, wanted by the Israelis. sSo ....I knew it was stupid (even in my early 20's) but just watching Sophia was enough. The production values seemed good. I even bought the soundtrack. As I said, I'd buy a DVD or tape copy ....WHD