The Great Gatsby (1974 film)

This article is about the 1974 film. For other uses, see The Great Gatsby (disambiguation).

The Great Gatsby
File:Great gatsby1.jpg original film poster
Directed by	Jack Clayton
Written by	Francis Ford Coppola F. Scott Fitzgerald (novel)
Produced by	David Merrick Hank Moonjean (associate producer)
Starring	Robert Redford Mia Farrow Bruce Dern Karen Black Scott Wilson Sam Waterston Lois Chiles
Cinematography	Douglas Slocombe
Edited by	Tom Priestley
Music by	Nelson Riddle
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	26 March 1974
Running time	144 min
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	US $6,500,000 (estimated)

The Great Gatsby is a 1974 film made by Newdon Productions and Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Jack Clayton and produced by David Merrick with Hank Moonjean as associate producer, from a screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola based on the novel of the same title by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The music score was by Nelson Riddle and the cinematography by Douglas Slocombe. The production was designed by John Box.

The film stars Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Scott Wilson and Sam Waterston with Lois Chiles, Howard Da Silva, Roberts Blossom and Edward Herrmann. Patsy Kensit appears in her first film role and Tom Ewell makes an uncredited appearance.

Background and production

The film is the third filmed version of the novel. The previous two, also made by Paramount, were:

• The Great Gatsby (1926), a silent film, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Warner Baxter as Gatsby, Lois Wilson as Daisy Buchanan and William Powell. This film is considered "lost."
• The Great Gatsby (1949), directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd as Gatsby, Betty Field as Daisy Buchanan, Shelley Winters, Macdonald Carey, Barry Sullivan and Howard Da Silva.

The rights to the novel were purchased in 1971 by Robert Evans so that his then-wife, Ali MacGraw could play Daisy. Other actresses considered for the role were Faye Dunaway, Candice Bergen, Katharine Ross, Lois Chiles, and Mia Farrow. After McGraw left Evans for Steve McQueen, Farrow was cast as Daisy and Chiles was given the role of Jordan. Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, and Steve McQueen were all considered for the role of Gatsby, but they were rejected or declined the offer. Beatty wanted to direct producer Evans as Gatsby, and Nicholson didn't think that McGraw was right for the role of Daisy, who was still attached when he was approached. Farrow was pregnant during the shooting and the film was shot with her wearing loose, flowing dresses and in tight close-ups.

Truman Capote was the original screenwriter, but was replaced by Francis Ford Coppola.

The Rosecliff and Marble House mansions in Newport, Rhode Island were used for Gatsby's house, and scenes at the Buchanan's home were filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Other scenes were filmed in in New York City.

Cast

• Robert Redford - Jay Gatsby
• Mia Farrow - Daisy Buchanan
• Bruce Dern - Tom Buchanan
• Karen Black - Myrtle Wilson
• Scott Wilson - George Wilson
• Sam Waterston - Nick Carraway
• Edward Herrmann - Klipspringer
• Sammy Smith - Comic
• Kathryn Leigh Scott - Catherine
• Vincent Schiavelli - Thin Man
• Roberts Blossom - Mr. Gatz
• Lois Chiles - Jordan Baker
• Beth Porter - Mrs. McKee
• Howard Da Silva - Meyer Wolfsheim
• Tom Ewell - Mourner
• John Devlin - Gatsby's Bodyguard

Awards and nominations

The film won two Academy Awards, for Best Costume Design (Theoni V. Aldredge) and Best Music (Nelson Riddle). It also won three BAFTA Awards for Best Art Direction (John Box), Best Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe) and Best Costume Design (Theoni V. Aldredge). It won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (Karen Black) and received three further nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Bruce Dern), (Sam Waterston) and Most Promising Newcomer (Sam Waterston).

External links

• The Great Gatsby at IMDb
• Complete list of actors who were considered for roles