In rural Victorian England, vain and beautiful Julie Christie (as Bathsheba Everdene) attracts three handsome marriage prospects - poor sheep herder Alan Bates (as Gabriel Oak), wealthy older Peter Finch (as William Boldwood), and sexy sergeant Terence Stamp (as Francis "Frank" Troy). Director John Schlesinger's "Far from the Madding Crowd" may be your finest way to see the English countryside, as it is expertly photographed by Nicholas Roeg. This is picturesque beauty at its finest, with an excellent cast.
Scenes are staged as if D.W. Griffith were filming a British "Gone with the Wind" (Ms. Christie doing "Scarlett O'Hara"). But, there is too little story. It takes a long time for something exciting to happen - the startling performance by Mr. Stamp as he shows Ms. Christie how he wields his sword - this livens the film up considerably. Another high point is the strong performance delivered by beautiful newcomer Prunella Ransome (as Fanny Robin). But, apart from Stamp's phallic symbolizing, the story seems castrated.
****** Far from the Madding Crowd (10/16/67) John Schlesinger ~ Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, Alan Bates
Scenes are staged as if D.W. Griffith were filming a British "Gone with the Wind" (Ms. Christie doing "Scarlett O'Hara"). But, there is too little story. It takes a long time for something exciting to happen - the startling performance by Mr. Stamp as he shows Ms. Christie how he wields his sword - this livens the film up considerably. Another high point is the strong performance delivered by beautiful newcomer Prunella Ransome (as Fanny Robin). But, apart from Stamp's phallic symbolizing, the story seems castrated.
****** Far from the Madding Crowd (10/16/67) John Schlesinger ~ Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, Alan Bates