Tony Richardson's rousing adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic comic novel stars Albert Finney as the eponymous swordsman. TOM JONES achieved enormous critical and commercial success, benefiting from an excellent cast, lively score, and unusually realistic art direction. While the film surely deserves this praise, Richardson initially considered it a failure, and it's likely that he saved the film in the editing room, emphasizing the farcical elements of the story with rapid intercutting, and adding amusingly ironic voice-over narration. The end product is one of the most entertaining costume dramas ever put on celluloid.
Tom Jones is raised by Squire Allworthy (George Devine), his mother's (Joyce Redman) aptly named employer. He grows up to be a lively young man, loved by all except Allworthy's legitimate heir--the dour, envious Blifil (David Warner)--to whom Tom's true love Sophie Western (Susannah York) is promised in marriage. Allworthy feels obliged to send Tom away for Blifil's sake, which only briefly dampens Tom's mood. Soon, he's engaging in a famously libidinous eating scene with a woman met en route, carrying on with his ever-entertaining high spirits. An inspired piece of cinematic comedy, TOM JONES is most memorable for Finney's performance, which keeps viewers laughing long after the film's end.
Theatrical release: October 7, 1963.
Shooting location: West Somerset, England.
The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
Director Tony Richardson was very unhappy with the footage that was shot, so he spent months shaping it to his satisfaction in the editing room.
The film catapulted British actor Albert Finney into stardom. He had previously been offered the role of T.E. Lawrence in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (after Marlon Brando refused it) but turned it down because it meant a long contract with Columbia.
TOM JONES marked British actress Lynn Redgrave's film debut.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Letterbox - 1.66
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Dolby Digital Mono - French
Dolby Digital Mono - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Associate Producer
Michael Holden: SCREENWRITER/PRODUCER
Source Writer
Henry Fielding: English novelist and playwright
Director of Photography
Walter Lassally: Director of Photography, PRIVATE SCHOOL (1983)
Review 1:
"...It's a free-wheeling, fast-moving relic....It's well worth a repeat visit..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C11 10/25/1989
Review 2:
"...[A] now-mellowed movie delight....Albert Finney and Susannah York look impossibly young and attractive..."
Source: USA Today
p.3D 03/13/1992
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