Far From the Madding Crowd
This is the Extended Version with Nearly 3 Added Minutes of International Release Footage Not Shown in North American Theatres
"I shall manage everything with my own head and hands", Bathsheba Everdene tells the local men about the estate she inherits. Everything? No. Regarding romance, she can only follow her wayward heart.
As Bathsheba, Julie Christie reteams with director John Schlesinger and screenwriter Frederic Raphael of her starmaking Darling in a sumptuous adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic. Roguish soldier Terence Stamp, rich landowner Peter Finch (the National Board of Review's choice as Best Actor, as was the film itself as Best Picture) and rough-hewn shepherd Alan Bates memorably play her suitors. And a visual rhapsody of crowd scenes and historic settings provide a backdrop for this epic tale lensed on location in "Hardy country".
Member Reviews
Lush - RobBC
Julie Christe, Terence Stamp, Alan Bates and Peter Finch headline this gorgeous adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 19th century novel. Stubborn and headstrong Bathsheba, just recently come into a large inheritance, finds herself being pursued by three very different suitors; a dashing cavalry officer with a heart of ice, an aging landowner desperate for one last chance at love, and a simple shepherd who has all but given up on her. Aided by Nicholas Roeg's sumptuous widescreen vistas of the Dorset countryside this 3-hour epic practically drips tragedy, heartbreak and romance from every frame. It doesn't quite reach the level of passion it was aiming for but all is easily forgiven.watchable - billie
Amazing to think this was made in 1967. Well made, slow as Hardy is slow, therefore more like reading a novel than watching a movie. That's ok with me, I enjoy watching the rural luxuriousness of the british period pieces. I did find Julie Christie sadly miscast. She didn't have the spark of immorality and greed and selfishness that Bathsheba needed. She played it more serious, and I just don't get Bathsheba as a thoughtful person. An enjoyable way to spend an evening, though. Nice to look at. Silly to see the "overture" and "intermission" on a DVD all these years later...Honestly - don't bother - Ubik
If you're a Thomas Hardy fan, you can safely skip this one. It's a long, superficial, beautifully shot slog, with not the slightest interest in the themes or ideas from the book. It's not just that, though - it doesn't much work as a movie either. The male actors are mostly very good, with what they are given (Peter Finch steals the show, while he can), but Julie Christie is so miscast, it sinks the film.
You also won't care about any of the characters, not even Gabriel Oak, who all readers of the book can't help but love. The whole thing is just a surface-level pretty picture, with no emotional connection to anyone or anything. I don't know if there's another, better adaptation of this phenomenal novel, but you won't find what you're looking for here.
Member Reviews
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Lush - RobBC
Julie Christe, Terence Stamp, Alan Bates and Peter Finch headline this gorgeous adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 19th century novel. Stubborn and headstrong Bathsheba, just recently come into a large inheritance, finds herself being pursued by three very different ...watchable - billie
Amazing to think this was made in 1967. Well made, slow as Hardy is slow, therefore more like reading a novel than watching a movie. That's ok with me, I enjoy watching the rural luxuriousness of the british period pieces. I did find Julie Christie sadly miscast. ...Honestly - don't bother - Ubik
If you're a Thomas Hardy fan, you can safely skip this one. It's a long, superficial, beautifully shot slog, with not the slightest interest in the themes or ideas from the book. It's not just that, though - it doesn't much work as a movie either. The male ...