2 + 2 = 5? Not while I'm still breathing

There are 4 adaptations of Orwell's novel and this (the 1984 version) was the first one I saw, at the cinema, on its initial release in late 1984.

22 years later I saw the 1954 BBC production at Bradford cinema; more recently I saw the 1955 film on DVD and shortly after I watched this 1984 version again. This is the best one (although they are all worth seeing) and is the only one in colour. The fact that it is in colour - albeit a deliberately wan colour - actually helps to convey the grimness & bleakness of the citizens' lives.

The acting by the main players is very good. John Hurt, as always, is excellent. Richard Burton is superb; he could so easily have been too theatrical and over-the-top as O'Brien but his performance is carefully restrained and is all the more menacing for it. Burton makes a whisper more threatening than a shout. His last role was a fitting tribute to his genius and it's tragic that he never lived to see the completed film. Former child actress Suzanna Hamilton (Swallows and Amazons) shows that she's now grown up and, yes, we can certainly see she's a big girl now! Whatever happened to her?

As for the music by the Eurythmics, the least said about that the better but it's the reason I deducted half a star. Apparently the producers wanted David Bowie but the Eurythmics were cheaper. Whatever they were paid it was too much. Classical composer Dominic Muldowney also had some input & I have a vague recollection of him having some connection with Bowie - possibly the marvellous Baal's Hymn but my memory could be wrong.

The other version of 1984 was another BBC production, made in 1965. I haven't seen it as it's never been released on video or DVD, so if any BBC execs happen to read this, how about it? Let's have the chance to see it.