Rent 1984 (1956)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
A prosaic filmization of George Orwell's cautionary novel, 1984 is set in a futuristic totalitarian society where individuality is forbidden. The ruler is the never-seen "Big Brother", whose minions have monitored and bugged the activities of the populace so that no one can harbor any "subversive" thoughts. Edmond O'Brien plays Winston Smith, a government functionary satisfied with his lot, until he commits the illegal act of falling in love with Julia (Jan Sterling), a member of the anti-sex league. The lovers try to escape the all-powerful influence of Big Brother, but their every move is recorded by listening and viewing devices. Both are captured and sent to rehabilitation centers; preying upon Winston's and Julia's innermost fears, the lieutenants of Big Brother break down their resistance and force them to betray one another. - Actors:
- Edmond O'Brien, Michael Redgrave, Jan Sterling, David Kossoff, Donald Pleasence, Carol Wolveridge, Ernest Clark, Patrick Allen, Ronan O'Casey, Michael Ripper, Ewen Solon, Kenneth Griffith, Walter Gotell
- Directors:
- Michael Anderson
- Producers:
- N. Peter Rathvon
- Voiced By:
- Barbara Cavan, Anthony Jacobs
- Writers:
- Ralph Gilbert Bettison, William Templeton, George Orwell
- Studio:
- Orbit Media
- Genres:
- Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like Blade Runner, A History of Films Set In The Future, Films to Watch If You Like..., A Brief History of Film...
More like 1984
Found in these customers lists
Reviews (1) of 1984
Classic dystopia. - 1984 review by Steve
This is the earliest big screen version of George Orwell's classic dystopian novel, released only seven years after its publication. Michael Anderson's adaptation is an interesting offshoot of the 1984 phenomenon, rather than a great political film. It's all there though, the Thought Police, Newspeak, Room 101, Big Brother...
The source is a novel of ideas, a work of political philosophy and there are limits to how much a film can actually replicate Orwell's prose. It looks like fifties sci-fi, though the sets are appropriately grim. Much of the dialogue is exposition, but the relative lack of nuance and depth makes the screen version less immersive.
So instead the narrative focuses on the subversive romance between Winston Smith and Julia. For commercial reasons there were American leads. Edmond O'Brien is too chubby and toothy, and his desperation never feels real. Jan Sterling is strange casting, but she's better and has a long close up at the end which is the best moment in the film.
However, it does seem that liberation for her is the freedom to be a fifties American housewife. There isn't the dirty horror of Nigel Kneale's famous BBC adaptation of '54. This film was financed by the CIA as anti-Soviet propaganda, but it more strikingly echoes Nazi Germany than proposes a vision of future dystopia.