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Tom Jones [1963]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Winner of four Academy Awards including best picture, director, screenplay, and music, this 1963 adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel is a rousing, bawdy comedy about a young man's ribald adventures in 18th-century England. Albert Finney is splendidly hilarious in the title role of a charming womanizer who was discovered as an abandoned infant in the bed of Squire Allworthy, a wealthy landowner who named the child Tom Jones and raised him as his own. As a young man, Tom yearns for the comely daughter (Susannah York) of a neighboring squire, but his amorous adventures (including an extended food orgy that becomes the film's funniest scene) lead him to London and to a duel with a jealous husband. He's sentenced to hang, but fate intervenes. A hit around the world, the film was expertly written by noted playwright John Osborne, and director Tony Richardson uses a variety of old-style movie techniques to heighten the lusty, good-natured fun. Don't miss this one! --Jeff Shannon

Editorial
Special Features

English
Region 2

Editorial
Synopsis

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.

This was when the Brits knew how to do it!
Review date: 2008-07-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

As one of the greatest British films ever made, Tony Richardson's adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic Tom Jones is long overdue for a full and proper restoration. Shortly before his tragic death from AIDS in 1991, Richardson presided over a personal restoration which included a brand new stereo soundtrack. However, this appeared to be the only real improvement, as the film itself remained the brutally cut TV version that had been around for years. In contrast, MGM's current DVD release is easily the best print of this film available, and technically way in advance of previous video releases and TV airings. Beautifully bright, steady, and well defined with good colour saturation, this digital transfer is an absolute joy to watch, and as far as I can see completely uncut. Even the dodgy "day for night" scenes are shown well exposed, although these are the scenes that would ultimately benefit from restoration. John Addison's brilliant score sounds sharper and cleaner than ever, and the Dolby Digital mono soundtrack is wonderfully crisp and clear, with a stereo feel of sorts on the big music sections. The one small disappointment of this otherwise fine release is MGM's rather creative billing of the movie's aspect ratio being the original theatrical format of 1:66.1 - which here it definitely is not, although not too far removed to withstand blowing up on a widescreen TV. I've always wanted to see this movie in its full aspect ratio, and that together with the inclusion of Richardson's restored stereo soundtrack would have created a perfect release. Sadly, the director is no longer with us to deliver a commentary, but I do feel an additional commentary by stars Albert Finney or Susannah York, would have been an extra delight, and a valuable insight for film students and movie buffs. Incidentally, I was fascinated to learn from MGM's Region 1 packaging, that Tom Jones was the last film President Kennedy watched before his assassination - strange that this interesting factoid was deleted on the otherwise identical Region 2 packaging.

Henry Fielding's mid-18th century novel is adapted for the screen by genius playwright John Osborne, and very creatively licensed it is for this famous film version. Its clear advantage is in Osborne's unbending portrayal of the sheer fun and frolics surrounding this rude and bawdy tale! (In comparison, the shy 1997 BBC version fell at the first fence). Set largely in picturesque South West England, Finney's loveable Tom Jones was a foundling, adopted into the Dorset household of wealthy Squire Allworthy some twenty years previously. Tom now has a winning way with women including one Sophie Weston, the daughter of neighbouring landowner and old reprobate, Squire Weston. Tom's lusty desire for Sophie dispatches the young buck on a rollercoaster chase across Georgian England in search of his true love, and finally to Newgate Prison and the Tyburn gallows. Here in the nick of time he is saved by Squire's Allworthy and Weston, and wins the tender hand of Susannah York's wonderfully luscious Sophie.

For those with an appetite for location fine print, the movie's shooting locations remain largely unchanged since production in 1963. Squire Allworthy's house is Cranborne Manor in the Dorset village of the same name, whilst Squire Weston's house is a mix of the grounds of Steepleton House near Shroton in Dorset, and The Abbey House at Cerne Abbas in Dorset. The main street of Cerne's medieval village was also used for the fabulously photographed hunt gathering. Elizabethan Cranborne Manor is also famously the house where Thomas Hardy set his classic novel Tess of the Durbervilles, and its beautiful 17th century gardens where Finney and York fall in love in Tom Jones, are regularly open to the public. Interestingly, in 1979 Roman Polanski utilised a French doppelganger of Cranborne Manor for his masterpiece adaptation of Hardy's Tess). Tom & Sophie's evocative boating lake and bridge scenes were shot at Steepleton House (though the house was not seen in the film), and the Georgian streets of Bridgewater in Somerset doubled for period London. However, the real thing was used in the sword fight scene between Tom and Mr Fitzpatrick, with London's famous Lincoln's-Inn-Fields providing the location as Henry Fielding originally imagined it. Nearly full marks to MGM for this top quality DVD release of the ultimate feel good film, worthy of its four Academy Awards including Best Picture - why can't British film-makers do this any more?


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Reviews


Shame no-one's come up with a half-decent review yet
Review date: 2007-07-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

Tom Jones is a SEMINAL British film. It deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1963, and was arguably instrumental in helping to set the tone for London's "Swinging Sixties" - it was bawdy, comical, fast-moving and licentious like very little before. It's fairly long, but makes a stunningly good job of condensing Fielding's enormous novel into a manageable format.

As is often said, the film is great fun and very sexy, but also on occasion beautifully romantic - the montage when Tom and Sophia are courting after Tom breaks his arm really tugs at the heart-strings. Some fantastic character acting, especially from Hugh Griffith as Squire Western, and brilliant direction / production from Tony Richardson - the "live" feel of some of the scenes, especially the hunt, are very advanced for their time. The music is also a work of genius.

All told, a true classic - a ground-breaking and hugely entertaining piece of cinema. Oh, and FAR better than the recent rubbishy BBC adaptation.

PS - with all due respect to previous "Top 50" reviewer Andy Millward, you weren't watching the film very closely, were you? The famous "meal" scene is NOTHING to do with Susannah York, and in fact Tom and Sophia don't get married throughout the whole film! (The actress concerned is Joyce Redman, playing Mrs Waters).

Patchy with moments of genius
Review date: 2006-01-24 Rating: 8 out of 10

while the transposition to film has dulled the satire of the wonderfully farcical original, Tony Richardson manages to maintain some of the bawdy character of the original, although at points it does move dangerously (depending on your tastes) close to "carry on" territory. Finney does a good job of capturing Tom's innocent, though not necessarily unwilling habit of falling into the "arms" the various seductresses that cross his path, and Hugh Griffith is fantastic as the hunt obsessed Squire Western. Speaking of which, the hunt scene makes for one of the most visceral moments in British cinema - a moment of absolute genius in what would otherwise be a good but ultimately forgetable period comedy - well worth watching the film for this scene alone!

Classic.
Review date: 2004-09-13 Rating: 2 out of 10

A truly classic film, with an amazingly successful and true recovery of the spritely naughtiness ... and moral perception ... of Fielding's novel. We do have first rate actors throughout; Albert Finney and Sussannah Yorke are only two in an outstanding cast (Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood, David Tomlinson, Hugh Griffith ...), while the scene setting has the rings true to the time of the story, without any bombastic over statement. This film deserved all the awards it won. Age shows a little in the colour quality - but no matter. Nice to be offered Hungarian subtitles as well as amusing German dubbing if required!

Frenzied and lustful
Review date: 2004-03-13 Rating: 8 out of 10

Strange how the memory plays tricks on you. I saw Tony Richardson's film of Fielding's bawdy romp some years ago but for all the frenetic farcical energy with which it is played only one scene sticks in the memory - the one everyone remembers: imagine if you will Albert Finney and Susannah York just married and desperate to disappear to bed in a fit of passionate desire, but first there is the meal to eat, and by gum do they eat - they stuff their mouths frenziedly with lobster, chicken and anything else falling to hand while eyeing each other lustfully. Strangely erotic and funny simultaneously - a classic moment in a film which overall fails to capture the best of Fielding. Enjoy this moment, if nothing else!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Hugh Griffith
Edith Evans
Susannah York
Joan Greenwood
Albert Finney

Creators:
Albert Finney (Primary Contributor)
Susannah York (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070009477
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-02-03
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 117 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1963-12-11
Language: Hungarian (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Dubbed)

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