|
|
Tom Jones
on DVD (1963)
|
|
| Starring: |
Albert Finney, Susannah York, Diane Cilento, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans, Joyce Redman, David Tomlinson, David Warner |
| Director: |
Tony Richardson |
| Studio: |
MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time: |
117 mins |
| Certificate: |
 |
| User collections: |
Get Stuffed!, Dvds that have been censored/shortened in the U.K, Academy Award Winners: Best Picture |
| Genres: |
Comedy |
| Languages: |
English |
| Dubbed: |
German |
| Hearing-impaired: |
English, German |
| Subtitles: |
Hungarian |
| Released: |
03/02/2003
|
Brief synopsis of Tom Jones
Tony Richardson's rousing adaptation of Fielding's classic comic novel, a sharp change of pace for a director of choleric contemporary fare, stars Albert Finney as the eponymous swordsman. A foundling whose mother is thought to be a housemaid (Joyce Redman), he's raised by her employer, the aptly named Squire Allworthy (George Devine). He grows up to be a lively young man, loved by all except Allworthy's legitimate heir, the dour, envious Blifil (David Warner). Although Tom is in love with Sophie Western (Susannah York), his unusual susceptibility to the sight of a pretty foot leads him into a dalliance with the accommodating Molly Seagrim (Diane Cilento). Despite this lapse, Sophie still rejects the efforts of her father (Hugh Griffith) and Allworthy to arrange a marriage with Blifil because of her love for Tom. Thus, Allworthy feels obliged to send the lad away, which only briefly dampens Tom's spirits, since he's soon at a country inn, engaging in a famously libidinous eating scene with a woman met en route, who may or may not be a relative. Perhaps the director's finest two hours, despite its enormous critical and commercial success he considered it a failure. While its excellent cast, lively score, and unusually realistic art direction deserve praise, it's likely that Richardson saved the film in the editing room, emphasizing the farcical elements of the story with rapid intercutting, and adding amusingly ironic voice-over narration, ending up with one of the most entertaining costume dramas ever put on celluloid.
|
Related
Critics Reviews
Radio Times
This massively popular period romp carted off four Oscars, including best picture and best director. It was always arch, overlong and uncertain of tone, but nevertheless very funny and extraordinarily bawdy, especially in the notorious eating scene between Albert Finney (as Tom) and Joyce Redman. Technically, the film was massively influential and the desaturated colour, speeded-up action and lewd narration characterised the 1960s “Swinging England” cinema, and attracted all of the Hollywood majors to make movies here.
Halliwell's Film Guide
Fantasia on Old England, at some distance from the original novel, with the director trying every possible jokey approach against a meticulously realistic physical background. Despite trade fears, the Hellzapoppin style made it an astonishing box-o
Time Out
Too risky for penny-pinching British financiers, Tom Jones was rescued by United Artists, and its massive success...
Read more on www.timeout.com
See all 4 Critics Reviews »
Members Reviews
Reviews Voted Most Helpful
Most Recent Reviews
|
|
