Yesterday, I read the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic novel in the morning, then proceeded to watch this famous 1974 film version in the evening. I confess that I did this in preparation to watch the 2013 film version out in theaters now.
I was pleasantly surprised to notice that this 1974 film is very faithful to the story line of the book. In fact, the dialogues are almost lifted verbatim and in order as if the script was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald himself. Certain scenes (notably that one when Nick meets Gatsby for the first time) were altered from the way it happened in the book, I guess for cinematic effect.
The last scene of Gatsby was not exactly described in the book, so scriptwriter Francis Ford Coppola and director Jack Clayton had to create their own vision of that event. I must admit there was some awkwardness in their interpretation of what happened, so this critical scene for me was not too effective.
The actors were certainly helped by their costumes and make-up to appear like they had simply stepped out of the pages of the novel. Mia Farrow really looked like the shallow socialite of the 1920s, though I found her beauty and grace wanting. I cannot believe that Gatsby would obsess about someone like her. Her brutish husband Tom Buchanan was portrayed well by Bruce Dern though I was imagining an Ernest Borgnine type to portray him while I was reading.
The narrator Nick Carraway was played by Sam Waterston. He was very good in his portrayal, though his look was not exactly how I envisioned Nick to look like. Lois Chiles was so good and beautiful as the feminist golfer Jordan Baker. I read she was also considered for the role of Daisy, but I think she had screen presence too strong for that flighty (albeit bigger) role.
The unfortunate Wilson couple, George and Myrtle, who was caught up in the games of these rich and famous was portrayed by Scott Wilson and Karen Black. Ms. Black was so livid and irritating as her character is supposed to be. Mr. Wilson was a perfect personification of how this weak character was written in the book.
Of course, there was Robert Redford in the central character of Jay Gatsby. There is no argument that he was a very good looking Gatsby. However, Redford appeared too perfect to be the Gatsby in the book. There was nothing in Redford's portrayal that would give us an inkling of his sordid and checkered past. He seemed to be born into privilege (not nouveau riche), as he seemed so perfectly comfortable in his current position.
The period set design and costumes were flawless. The music, with the recurring theme of "What'll I Do" was haunting and appropriate. The movie is very beautiful to look at. The cinematographic lines were very clean. The storytelling is very neat and faithful to the book. I liked this version of "The Great Gatsby". Now I am ready to find out how Leonardo di Caprio and company interprets this modern classic.
I was pleasantly surprised to notice that this 1974 film is very faithful to the story line of the book. In fact, the dialogues are almost lifted verbatim and in order as if the script was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald himself. Certain scenes (notably that one when Nick meets Gatsby for the first time) were altered from the way it happened in the book, I guess for cinematic effect.
The last scene of Gatsby was not exactly described in the book, so scriptwriter Francis Ford Coppola and director Jack Clayton had to create their own vision of that event. I must admit there was some awkwardness in their interpretation of what happened, so this critical scene for me was not too effective.
The actors were certainly helped by their costumes and make-up to appear like they had simply stepped out of the pages of the novel. Mia Farrow really looked like the shallow socialite of the 1920s, though I found her beauty and grace wanting. I cannot believe that Gatsby would obsess about someone like her. Her brutish husband Tom Buchanan was portrayed well by Bruce Dern though I was imagining an Ernest Borgnine type to portray him while I was reading.
The narrator Nick Carraway was played by Sam Waterston. He was very good in his portrayal, though his look was not exactly how I envisioned Nick to look like. Lois Chiles was so good and beautiful as the feminist golfer Jordan Baker. I read she was also considered for the role of Daisy, but I think she had screen presence too strong for that flighty (albeit bigger) role.
The unfortunate Wilson couple, George and Myrtle, who was caught up in the games of these rich and famous was portrayed by Scott Wilson and Karen Black. Ms. Black was so livid and irritating as her character is supposed to be. Mr. Wilson was a perfect personification of how this weak character was written in the book.
Of course, there was Robert Redford in the central character of Jay Gatsby. There is no argument that he was a very good looking Gatsby. However, Redford appeared too perfect to be the Gatsby in the book. There was nothing in Redford's portrayal that would give us an inkling of his sordid and checkered past. He seemed to be born into privilege (not nouveau riche), as he seemed so perfectly comfortable in his current position.
The period set design and costumes were flawless. The music, with the recurring theme of "What'll I Do" was haunting and appropriate. The movie is very beautiful to look at. The cinematographic lines were very clean. The storytelling is very neat and faithful to the book. I liked this version of "The Great Gatsby". Now I am ready to find out how Leonardo di Caprio and company interprets this modern classic.