The Great Gatsby (1974 film)
| The Great Gatsby | |
|---|---|
| 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 | U.S. |
| 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 3rd 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 he was replaced by Francis Ford Coppola. On his commentary track for The Godfather DVD, Coppola makes reference to writing the Gatsby script at the time, though he comments: "Not that the director paid any attention to it. The script that I wrote did not get made."
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 New York City.
Some commentary on the Film
After watching this movie for the first time I was surprised it did not win any Academy Awards:. In addition, it appears this film was not even nominated for Academy Awards. Looking at the films that were out in 1974 The Great Gatsby was up against some heavy competition, which could be why it didn't win. The contradictions of the film delivered a multi-layered effect. For example, when the powerful and wealthy Tom Buchanan rolls way beneath his social status with the wife of the gas station owner. From this alone, perhaps we see him for who he really is beneath the veneeer of wealth and status. Also, he carries on with her while her husband is present and puts him off about letting the husband have a car. From this it is clear that he sees other people as merely play things. Another example is Daisy Buchannan. Throughout the whole movie, execpt for the end, she appears to be full of aliveness, love, and caring. In the end it becomes clear that Gatsby and Myrtle were mere bumps in her perception. Gatsby himself turns out to be an authentic person and an able friend to Nick Carroway. Yet, though he is authentic and has an innocent quality, his business is connected with the underworld. Although it is not totally clear what the business is we do get a sense that his would not be considered a legitimate business by the end of the film.
A final contradiciton is at the end when virtually no one attends the funeral. After the huge happy parties the Gatsby threw every "fortnight", with hundereds of people, there were only two people at the funeral. Not even Daisy attended the funeral, which is a surprise, because there is a belief that she is truly in love. Yet, as in the previous paragraph, other people are just mere bumps in the road of her perception.
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 (uncredited, edited out)
- 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 and Sam Waterston) and Most Promising Newcomer (Sam Waterston).
External links
 | This film-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |