Rent Tom Jones (1963)

Satirical Adventure. - Tom Jones review by Steve

Exuberant adaptation of Henry Fielding's epic satirical comedy, published in 1749. This won the Oscar for best film, with nine other nominations. Possibly much of its critical success was down to the fresh, innovative style inspired by the French New Wave. Those novelties now look a bit gimmicky. They give the film motion, but don't lock gears with the substance.

But it works brilliantly as a broad sweep of Georgian Britain, whether in the town or the country estate, with its support cast of thieves, ladies of dubious virtue and lusty squires. Albert Finney is well cast as Tom Jones, a foundling of sound heart and good countenance. He is fundamentally moral and the trouble he encounters indicates a corrupt society.

My pick of the three female actors who were nominated in a supporting role is Diane Cilento as an incredibly lecherous strumpet. While the film is a festival of uninhibited camera trickery, it is also an actors film. Their characters are all archetypes which are mostly made memorable by an exaggerated, comic grotesquery.

Except for Finney and his pure true love, played by Susannah York, who are beautiful. John Osborne's script inevitably takes liberties with the extremely long novel. The comedy isn't actually funny and leaves the impression that the film may have been more fun to make than it is to watch. But, its satire on the hypocrisy of fine folk still finds the target.