Tom Jones (film)

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Tom Jones was a British 1963 comedy film and winner of four Academy Awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture for 1963. It was one of the most critically acclaimed and popular comedies of its time.http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=50295

The film was based on a famous semi-comic novel, the first truly popular ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} novel written in the English language by Henry Fielding in 1749.

Tagline: The whole world loves Tom Jones!

Plot

Tom Jones (Albert Finney) is found as a baby on Squire Allworthy's bed. Thinking that his barber and one of his servants, Jenny Jones had "birthed" the infant out of lust, the squire banishes them and chooses to raise baby Tom.

Tom grows up to be a rougish, kind and yet decent fellow who adores and is adored by the opposite sex. However, he loves only one woman, the gentle Sophie Western, who loves him madly. Sadly, Tom is stigmatized as a bastard and cannot wed a young lady of her high station.

There is another young man in the Allworthy family named Blifil, who is supposed to be legitimate, having been the stepson of the Squire's sister Bridget, after the untimely death of her Husband. Soon, the hypocritical representatives of society, including two of Tom's tutors and Allworthy's evil nephew, Blifil, twist the truth. Allworthy banishes Tom from his home with a small cash legacy and sends him out into the world to seek his fortune.

In his road-traveling odyssey, Tom beds a Mrs. Waters, has to escape from a jealous husband who accuses Tom of having an affair with his wife (he did not), has two deadly swordfights, meets his accused "father", saves Mrs. Waters from rape by an evil Redcoat Officer and is bashed in the head by that officer and robbed of his small legacy.

Soon he arrives in London and attracts the attention of Lady Bellaston, a very sensual gentlewoman over 50 years of age. She rich, beautiful and unscrupulous. Eventually, Tom ends up at Tyburn Gaol, facing a boistrous hanging crowd for a murderous assault on a still dying man. He is rescued in the nick of time and cleared of any wrong doing and all ends well.

Production

The entire London portion illustrates typical street life in period London. Time magazine devoted a cover and three pages to the film.

The screenplay was adapted by John Osborne from Fielding's novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. The director is Tony Richardson.

Bridgwater's Castle Street was used as a location in several scenes.

Cinematography

At several points, various characters break the fourth wall, look directly into the camera and address the audience. It is said to be the last movie watched by John F. Kennedy. Some consider it to have one of the sexiest eating scenes found in cinema ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}.

1989 reissue

For the 1989 reissue, Richardson trimmed the film by seven minutes.http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=50295

Awards

It won Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Music, Score - Substantially Original (John Addison), Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Albert Finney), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hugh Griffith), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Diane Cilento), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dame Edith Evans), Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color. Tom Jones is the only movie in the history of Academy in which three British actresses were nominated for the Supporting Actress Oscar.http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tom_jones/

Cast

Albert Finney stars as the title character, Susannah York, is his true-love, Sophie Western, Hugh Griffith, her "wild man" but rich father and Dame Edith Evans, is Squire Western's much older sister. Joan Greenwood, Joyce Redman and Diane Cilento are also featured. David Tomlinson, a young David Warner (in his film début), and Lynn Redgrave (in her film début ) also appear.

External links

 

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