Jump to content

The Great Gatsby (1974 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 24.63.216.44 (talk) at 15:06, 17 February 2007 (→Plot). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the 1974 film. For other uses, see The Great Gatsby (disambiguation).
The Great Gatsby
File:Daisy&Jay.jpg
Directed byJack Clayton
Written byFrancis Ford Coppola
F. Scott Fitzgerald (novel)
Produced byDavid Merrick
Hank Moonjean (associate producer)
StarringRobert Redford
Mia Farrow
Bruce Dern
Karen Black
Scott Wilson
Sam Waterston
Lois Chiles
CinematographyDouglas Slocombe
Edited byTom Priestley
Music byNelson Riddle
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
United States 26 March 1974
Running time
144 min
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
BudgetUS $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 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. Chiles was given the role of Jordan and Farrow was eventually cast as Daisy. Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and Steve McQueen were all considered for the role of Gatsby, but they were rejected or declined the offer. 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 film was shot at Rosecliff Mansion, Newport, Rhode Island, in New York City and at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, England.

Plot

The action takes place in New York City and Long Island during the summer of 1925. Template:Spoiler Nick Carraway (Sam Waterston), a young man from Minnesota, moves to New York in the summer of 1922 to learn about the bond business. He rents a house in the West Egg district of Long Island, and meets his mysterious neighbour, Jay Gatsby (Robert Redford), who lives in a gigantic mansion and throws extravagant parties every Saturday night. Nick becomes better acquainted with Gatsby, and learns of his obsession with a lost love, who is in fact Nick's own cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who now lives across Long Island Sound with her philandering husband. Gatsby had pursued Daisy before the Great War, but was poor, and wasn't an acceptable suitor. Now rich, though by uncertain and possibly illegitimate means, Gatsby sets out to meet up with Daisy once again.

Cast


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).


Stub icon

This article about a drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_Great_Gatsby_(1974_film)&oldid=108846651"