Cheap Tom Jones (DVD) (Albert Finney, Susannah York) (Tony Richardson) Price

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Customer Reviews of Tom Jones

A fun romp
This is a very 1960s version of Henry Fielding's great novel... if you're looking for an authentic feel of 18th century social mores, don't look here. However, given that, it's actually a great translation of a very funny story... and the modernized humor reaches to 20th century audiences perhaps better than a literal reading of Fielding's teasing of then-current novel-fads. No swooning of knock-kneed lovers here, Albert Finney and Susannah York are as bright-eyed and spunky a romantic pair as any filmed. They are entirely believable as exactly the right adorable two to end up together after the hysterical tangle of Tom Jones' life is sorted out. A really fun movie and a very witty story. Read the book too!

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Pay No Attention to the One Star Voters
Just want to add my 2 cents worth. There is a reason this film won best picture. It WAS the best picture that year and one of the best for any year. The writing and direction is consistently inventive, clever, witty and intelligent. The massive old novel has been rendered down to its essence and filmed with wit and verve and played by a dream cast. The narration punctuates the humor and the depiction of 18th century England, both country life and London, is excellent. Tony Richardson and his cast had fun with the material, using every manner of technique (fast motion), asides to the audience, and so on to make a rollicking good modern comedy, that was much imitated (Woody Allen did the eating scene at least twice in his films). Comedy is definitely in the eye of the beholder, as witnessed by the negative reviews. All I can say is, they missed the point entirely. See Tom Jones and enjoy how much can be packed into a movie in under 2 hours.

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A Masterpiece
Perhaps in 1968 there were fewer idiots in this world than in 2004? It's difficult to explain why this film has so many negative reviews. It is one of the best movies of the late 60s, and I have watched it so many times, nearly every scene has burned itself into my memory.
It is a perfect adaptation of Fielding's Tom Jones. Every minute of the film has so much joy, humor, excitement and hilarity that it's very difficult to sum up in this review.
If you have any taste in film at all, and are a patient and intelligent filmgoer, you'll want to buy this classic.