Director John Schlesinger comes of age as a director in Far from the Madding Crowd. He moves away from the northern based kitchen sink dramas.
It gave him the confidence to take a crack at America. His next movie, Midnight Cowboy will get him a Best Director Oscar.
Running at just under 3 hours. This is still a condensed version of Thomas Hardy's sprawling novel.
In 19th century rural Dorset. Beautiful Bathsheba Everdene (Julie Christie) is managing a farm that she has inherited. She is romanced by three very different men.
William Boldwood (Peter Finch) is a wealthy older neighbouring farmer who has become mesmerised by Bathsheba.
Gabriel Oak a decent dependable shepherd who is rejected by Bathsheba and has a run of bad luck when his sheepdog drives all his sheep off a cliff. He ends up working as a farmhand for the woman he hoped to marry.
Then there is the dashing cavalryman Sergeant Troy (Terence Stamp) who cockily wins her affections but turns out ot be an unsuitable husband with his caddish behaviour.
It is clear that Bathsheba is confused by the men in her life and becomes a poor judge of character. She falls for the wrong man. Everyone is trapped somewhat by the conventions of the time especially Bathsheba who strives to be independent but is trapped by her beauty.
The film is beautifully photographed. It has evocative music. Christie is great in this movie, you can see why the men fall for her. Finch has the most difficult role and does seem slightly awkward.
Bates and Stamp though have no issues with their characters.
It gave him the confidence to take a crack at America. His next movie, Midnight Cowboy will get him a Best Director Oscar.
Running at just under 3 hours. This is still a condensed version of Thomas Hardy's sprawling novel.
In 19th century rural Dorset. Beautiful Bathsheba Everdene (Julie Christie) is managing a farm that she has inherited. She is romanced by three very different men.
William Boldwood (Peter Finch) is a wealthy older neighbouring farmer who has become mesmerised by Bathsheba.
Gabriel Oak a decent dependable shepherd who is rejected by Bathsheba and has a run of bad luck when his sheepdog drives all his sheep off a cliff. He ends up working as a farmhand for the woman he hoped to marry.
Then there is the dashing cavalryman Sergeant Troy (Terence Stamp) who cockily wins her affections but turns out ot be an unsuitable husband with his caddish behaviour.
It is clear that Bathsheba is confused by the men in her life and becomes a poor judge of character. She falls for the wrong man. Everyone is trapped somewhat by the conventions of the time especially Bathsheba who strives to be independent but is trapped by her beauty.
The film is beautifully photographed. It has evocative music. Christie is great in this movie, you can see why the men fall for her. Finch has the most difficult role and does seem slightly awkward.
Bates and Stamp though have no issues with their characters.