Doctor Zhivago Details

1965

Rated:
70
from 6485 members

Starring	Geraldine Chaplin, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie
Director	David Lean
Genres	Drama, Romance

Doctor Zhivago

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David Lean's DOCTOR ZHIVAGO is an exploration of the Russian Revolution as seen from the point of view of the intellectual, introspective title character (Omar Sharif). As the political landscape changes, and the Czarist regime comes to an end, Dr. Zhivago's relationships reflect the political turmoil raging about him. Though he is married, the vagaries of war lead him to begin a love affair with the beautiful Lara (Julie Christie). But he cannot escape the machinations of a band of selfish and cruel characters: Strelnikov (Tom Courtenay), a Bolshevik General; Komarovsky (Rod Steiger), Lara's former lover; and Yevgraf (Alec Guinness), Zhivago's sinister half-brother. This epic, sweeping romance--told in flashback--captures the lushness of Moscow before the war and the violent social upheaval that followed. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Boris Pasternak.

Starring	Geraldine Chaplin, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie, Alec Guinness
Director	David Lean
Studio	WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time	DVD: 3 hrs 20 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama, Romance
Language	English
Released	DVD: 01 Nov 2001 Production year: 1965
Format	DVD

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

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Critics' reviews (3) of Doctor Zhivago
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Beautifully photographed and meticulously directed, this complex epic has been so reduced from the original novel that many parts of the script simply do not make any kind of sense. What remains is a collection of expensive set-pieces, great for looking i
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Visually impressive in a picture postcard sort of way. Otherwise an interminable emasculation of Pasternak's novel,... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful member's review of Doctor Zhivago
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10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Classic!

'Doctor Zhivago' is a film whose like we will not see again. This was one of the last gasps of true epic film making, a story of human beings set against a vast historical panorama, made without any computer-generated images and featuring only people to keep your interest, with not a space alien or hobbit in sight. Who can believe now that there was a time when that was sufficient?

I first saw this film when I was 8 years old. Certainly I was not able at that time to understand all aspects and nuances of the story, but I was nonetheless mesmerized by the production: the sheer scope and spectacle of it, the absolutely glorious cinematography, the rich characters. It was unforgettable to me, and along with a few other films from that period like 'The Sound of Music', fostered a lifelong love for movies. For that alone, I have a soft spot in my heart for this film and will always be grateful for it (and David Lean).

So, I admit I'm prejudiced. I'm unabashedly in love with this movie, and find it hard to take criticism of it even when the rational part of me acknowledges that there might be some accuracy in it. We all have our weaknesses! Its especially blasphemous to me to hear anyone criticize Julie Christie as Lara - even as an 8 year old who wasn't too fond of girls, I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen and well, she's still right up there on my list! For those people who question why Yuri would be with her when he was married to Tanya...well, look at her for God's sakes (no disrespect to the lovely Geraldine Chaplin)! Is any further justification really needed? As to the ingrate who slammed her performance and downgraded her subsequent career implying she had no talent, it has always been my impression from all I've read that Miss Christie has never been one of those to pursue stardom and her career at all costs. She certainly had many opportunities to do splashy commercial films, but instead has had an interesting, long and varied career working in quality projects with many great filmmakers (Truffaut, Schlesinger, Altman, Beatty, Lumet, Branagh, etc.) She has been true to herself and has proven to be an outstanding talent. There are certainly many more deserving targets for the gentleman to heap venom upon than this wonderful actress.

'Doctor Zhivago' was a reflection in the 60's of the 1930's 'Gone With the Wind' and a precursor to the 1990's 'Titanic': a sweeping love story with charismatic leads set against a cataclysmic event. Old-fashioned undeniably, but would you really want it any other way? I still find myself able to be swept up in it though I've seen it umpteen times, so whatever flaws it may possess, there must be something inherently powerful in it that draws me to it. Or else I'm just a sucker for Julie Christie, I don't know...

www.maximnilov.com
- - XXAX from London
  - Posted 31 Jul 2006 12:52
Most recent members' review of Doctor Zhivago
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Very good

A very good classic movie, i enjoyed this very much despite the length of it! Would definitely watch it again. :o)
- - A customer from Colchester, UK
  - Posted 28 Oct 2007 14:20
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