(1967) While the detailed cinematic scenery is convincing (filmed in Wiltshire and Dorset), screenwriter Frederic Raphael's adaption of Thomas Hardy's novel has stunted, stilted dialogue and shallow characterizations (lacking "passionate parts") with perfunctory performances under Jon Schlesinger's direction; the original score by Richard Rodney Bennett received an Oscar. Tragically, overall being a disappointment throughout its nearly three-hour run time, I'd recommend instead a more faithful adaptation, Nicholas Renton's 1998 British TV miniseries.

Following his proposal of marriage to the coy and flirtatious Bathsheba Everdene (Julie Christie), living with her aunt - who answers, "No use … because I don't love you" - a farmer with a "snug farm," Gabriel Oak (Alan Bates) - "I'm only an everyday sort of man" - suffers ruin when his flock of sheep are driven over a cliff by an inexperienced dog. Soon after she moves to the village of Weatherbury of Wessex, having inherited the farm of her uncle; proud, independent, and somewhat vain, as a woman in a man's world, she's determined to impress and have her way: "In short, I shall astonish you all."

On the farm Fanny Robin (Prunella Ransome), a female servant, has been having a romance with a sergeant of the cavalry, formerly as a boy a resident of Mr Everdene's farm, Frances Troy (Terence Stamp); but when she mistakenly goes to the wrong church for their wedding, he dismisses her hopes for another chance at matrimony with him: "You made a fool out of me."

Newly hired on as a shepherd, Oak promptly takes charge of saving the ricks from a conflagration when the bailiff can't be found, for which he receives little recognition from Bathsheba, his former intended (no mention is made of her having saved his life previously as happens in the novel) and new employer.

After William Boldwood (Peter Finch), a middle-aged owner of a large neighboring farm, comes calling on her (having a reputation of having "no passionate parts"), she sends him as a prank a valentine with "Marry me." When he takes it seriously, she regrets her foolishness, putting him off for an answer until harvest time.

Next she hastily dismisses Gabriel from her employ following his honest criticism of her vain conduct, but then must plead for a favor from him when her sheep suffer from bloat, begging him to stay on.

Her third suitor, Sgt Troy, she accidentally encounters on an evening when he has returned to the farm for the haying; smitten by his dashing air and demonstration of his skill with a saber, she refuses to believe the gossip of his alphabet of affairs. Her marriage to the imprudent soldier given over to dissipation with gambling - futilely Boldwood attempts to bribe Frank into departing from Weatherbury - nearly brings the farm to calamity during a fierce storm, saved only by Gabriel's selfless efforts to save the ricks again.

Pregnant, Fanny reappears and dies; Frank, miserable over her death, is reported to have drowned as a suicide; Boldwood once more with forcefulness demands a reply to his offer of marriage, which she promises to deliver on Christmas Eve.

An error in chronology appears on Fanny's gravestone, having the date of her death in 1866, but earlier a farmhand made mention of the new queen's coronation; Victoria became sovereign in 1837, nine years before Fanny's birth.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2010 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .