Tom Jones (film)

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Tom Jones
Original film poster
Directed by	Tony Richardson
Produced by	Tony Richardson Michael Holden Oscar Lewenstein Michael Balcon
Written by	Henry Fielding (novel) John Osborne
Starring	Albert Finney Susannah York Hugh Griffith Edith Evans
Music by	John Addison
Cinematography	Walter Lassally
Editing by	Antony Gibbs
Distributed by	Lopert Pictures Corporation (US) United Artists Corporation (UK)
Release date(s)	October 6, 1963
Running time	128 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Tom Jones was a British 1963 comedy film and winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was one of the most critically acclaimed and popular comedies of its time.^[1]

The film was based on the classic novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, written in the English language by Henry Fielding in 1749.

Tagline: The whole world loves Tom Jones!

1 Plot
2 Production
- 2.1 Cinematography
3 1989 reissue
4 Awards and nominations
5 Cast
6 Footnotes
7 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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 roguish, yet kind and decent fellow who adores and is adored by the opposite sex. However, he loves only one woman, the gentle Sophie Western (Susannah York), 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 (David Warner), who is supposed to be legitimate, having been the stepson of the Squire's sister Bridget (Rachel Kempson), 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 (George Devine) 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 (Joyce Redman), 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 (Joan Greenwood), a very sensual gentlewoman over 50 years of age. She rich, beautiful and unscrupulous. Eventually, Tom ends up at Tyburn Gaol, facing a boisterous 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.

Spoilers end here.

DVD cover

[edit] Production

Time magazine devoted a cover and three pages to the film.

The entire London portion illustrates typical street life in period London.

The director is Tony Richardson and the screenplay was adapted by John Osborne.

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

[edit] Cinematography

At several points, various characters break the fourth wall, look directly into the camera and address the audience.

In a famous and much-parodied scene, Tom and Mrs. Waters sit opposite each other at a dinner table, wordlessly consuming an enormous meal whilst gazing lustfully at each other.

[edit] 1989 reissue

For the 1989 reissue, Richardson trimmed the film by seven minutes.^[2]

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] Academy Awards

Wins

Nominations

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 (Joyce Redman)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color.

Tom Jones is the only film in the history of the Academy in which three British actresses were nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscar. ^[3]

[edit] BAFTA Awards

Wins

Best Film from any source
Best British Film
Best British Screenplay (John Osborne)

Nominations

Best British Actor (Albert Finney)
Best British Actor (Hugh Griffith)
Best British Actress (Edith Evans)

[edit] Golden Globe Awards

Wins

Best English-Language Foreign Film
Best Motion Picture - Comedy
Most Promising Newcomer - Male (Albert Finney) (tied with Stathis Giallelis for America, America (1963) and Robert Walker Jr. for The Ceremony (1963).

Nominations