Tom Jones
by Tony Richardson
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Albert Finney, Edith Evans, Hugh Griffith, Joan Greenwood, Susannah YorkDirector: Tony Richardson
Cinematographer: Walter Lassally
Editor: Antony Gibbs
Producer: Michael Balcon
Writer: Henry Fielding
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 128 minutes
Published: 2001-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2001-06-19
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Lopert Pictures Corporation
Movie Reviews of Tom Jones
Movie Review: "Tom Jones- of whom the opinion of all was that he was born to be hanged!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This best picture Oscar winner of 1963 is a bawdy, hilarious, lusty adaption of Henry Fielding's classic novel of 18th century England by the same title. It's the story of Tom Jones (Albert Finney) who is left as an infant in the bed of the wealthy, beneficent Squire Allworthy (George Devine). Although Tom is an illegitimate foundling allegedly of one of his servants, Allworthy generously decides to raise him as a son. Tom is good hearted and has the instincts of a gentleman, but he has a weakness for the fairer sex, and cheerfully beds three different women none of which is his true love, the pretty Sophie Western (Susannah York). This reckless, randy nature leads Tom into all kinds of scrapes and misadventures and nearly costs him his life, but all comes out well in the end.
Up to this time, most costume movies particularly those set in the 18th century were usually very ornate and elaborate in term of sets and wardrobe and more often than not in pristine, meticulous condition. Also, the speech patterns and manners of the characters were ever so refined. "Tom Jones" gleefully shatters these traditions. This England presented is coarse, hard and rough, none too hygienic, clothes and linens soiled and rumpled, many of the characters unwashed, sweaty and dirty. The viewer can almost smell the pungent odors that surely must accompany them. The language is plain and blunt, quite salty at times, no one is afraid to call a spade a spade. Appetites are hearty for food, drink and sex, not necessarily in that order. Yet the script by John Osborne is so comically satirical with tongue always firmly planted in cheek, the direction by Tony Richardson so innovative and dexterous and the performances so fresh and accomplished that the viewer (except in one instance) is amused rather than repulsed. Creativity is the key to its success as Richardson opens his bag of tricks. Subtitles are used; there is a montage of freeze frame shots, an especially droll, sardonic narration by Michael Mac Liammoir when needed, knocking down the 4th wall by having both Tom and Mrs. Waters address the audience directly, aerial shots of a hunt sequence below and a very mischievous, zippy, fast paced score by John Addison played by Sinfonia of London that embellishes the antics on screen.
My favorite scene is the infamous dinner between Tom and Mrs. Waters (Joyce Redman) a buxom redhead he has rescued from an abusive lover, and she is anxious to show Tom her appreciation. They are how shall I put it delicately - panting for one another, and they show it as they zestfully plow through a multi course meal at a country inn. Their sexual foreplay is expressed uproariously as they heartily crack lobster claws, tear flesh off chicken legs, gnaw on joints of beef or mutton with a relish worthy of Henry VIII, suggestively slurp raw oysters (very apropos!), and dribble the juice of ripe fruit down their chins. After that prodigious banquet a final glass of wine, then it's a race up to the bedchamber to work off some calories! Finney and Redman are marvelous, they hold nothing back as they slobber and leer happily at one another, passion is spoofed wittily yet it's sensuous as well, in it's own way sexier than seeing them roll around in the sheets. People were talking about this scene when the movie first opened it was fairly brazen for 1963!
To flip the coin, the one scene I find repulsive and skip after seeing it just once, is the hunt sequence. Richardson & Osborne probably were trying for social commentary on the callous indifference of the gentry towards the peasants as they careen their horses heedlessly through barnyards causing unnecessary damage; perhaps they were also animal activists showing the needless cruelty of the hunt to the pursued quarry by the hunters who also mistreat their horses and dogs. If this is the case, they succeed in their goal, but the whole hunt angered and sickened me because of it. Critics lauded the memorable helicopter photography, big deal; it's not all that remarkable. Perhaps the hunt is in the novel, but it's long, and serves no purpose to advance the plot, except that Tom breaks his arm in pursuit of Sophie's runaway horse at it's conclusion. It's brutal and graphic, my advice is fast forward to when Sophie's horse bolts, and you won't miss a thing.
As the hero of the story, Albert Finney makes an engaging scamp, attractive and virile, who although he is something of a rake and can't seem to keep his breeches buttoned, is at heart a kind, well meaning man. With her cascade of flaxen curls and peaches and cream skin Susannah York as Sophie Western is a perfect romantic heroine, while Hugh Griffith as her raunchy, uncouth father Squire Western comes close to stealing the show at times. Both Finney and Griffith would get Oscar nominations, but "Tom Jones" also marked the first and only time three actresses from the same film were nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Diane Cilento, Edith Evans, and Joyce Redman. As the grimy, voluptuous Molly Segrim, one of Tom's early conquests, Diane Cilento is outstanding, Dame Edith Evans memorable as Miss Western, Sophie's haughty aunt, making each line she uttered sheer gold. My particular favorite is her outraged reply to a would be highwayman trying to rob her "Stand and deliver? I am no traveling midwife Sir!" Finally Joyce Redman as the unflappable Mrs. Waters is a delight particularly in the aforementioned dinner scene. Alas none of the nominees won their Oscars! The last lady, though unnominated, I want to commend is Joan Greenwood with her deliciously throaty purr as the lascivious Lady Bellaston.
Brief rounds of applause to the rest of the superb cast including George Devine as the saintly Squire Allworthy, David Warner as his nephew the priggish, smarmy Mr. Blifil, Jack MacGowran as the hapless Mr. Partridge and David Tomlinson as the lecherous Lord Fellamar, excellent all. Finally be on the lookout for a real life mother and daughter on film together for the first time, Rachel Kempson in life Lady Redgrave, plays Bridget Allworthy, the Squire's sister and her younger daughter Lynn Redgrave makes her film debut as a young serving wench at an inn screaming "Rape! Rape!" over and over again." Tony Richardson was married to Vanessa Redgrave at the time, it's said she also did a disguised cameo in this film as well.
Summary of Tom Jones
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"Similar DVD Movies
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