1984 *** (1956, Michael Redgrave, Edmond O’Brien, Jan Sterling, David Kossoff, Mervyn Johns, Donald Pleasence) – Classic Movie Review 6403

After a famous 1954 British TV version with Peter Cushing, director Michael Anderson’s 1956 British feature is the first film of George Orwell’s prophetic novel about Big Brother taking over Europe, and the rebellion and brainwashing of the hero, Winston Smith (Edmond O’Brien).

Michael Redgrave is excellent as General O’Connor of the Inner Party, Big Brother’s main man. Though not ideally cast, O’Brien and Jan Sterling are strong too as the rebels with a cause, Winston Smith and Julia of the Outer Party. The futuristic state employed bureaucrat Winston of course commits the crime of falling in love with Julia.

Orwell’s hard-to-film novel is filmed by Anderson with intelligence and some flair. C M Pennington-Richards shoots in black and white. John Vernon provides the voice of Big Brother.

Also in the cast are David Kossoff, Mervyn Johns, Donald Pleasence, Carol Wolveridge, Patrick Allen, Ewen Solon, Michael Ripper, Ernest Clark, Ronan O’Casey and Kenneth Griffith.

It is written by William Templeton and Ralph Gilbert Bettison, shot inblack and white by C M Pennington-Richards, produced by N Peter Rathvon, scored by Malcolm Arnold, and designed by Terence Verity.

Michael Radford’s 1984 followed in 1984.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6403

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