1984 (1956)

George Orwell's novel of a totalitarian future society in which a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

George Orwell (freely adapted from the novel by: "1984"), William Templeton (screenplay),

Stars:

Edmond O'Brien, Michael Redgrave, Jan Sterling

Cast

Cast overview:
Edmond O'Brien	...	Winston Smith
Michael Redgrave	...	O'Connor of the Inner Party
Jan Sterling	...	Julia of the Inner Party
David Kossoff	...	Charrington the Junk Shop Owner
Mervyn Johns	...	Jones
Donald Pleasence	...	R. Parsons
Carol Wolveridge	...	Selina Parsons
Ernest Clark	...	Outer Party Announcer
Patrick Allen	...	Inner Party Official
Ronan O'Casey	...	Rutherford
Michael Ripper	...	Outer Party Orator
Ewen Solon	...	Outer Party Orator
Kenneth Griffith	...	Prisoner

Storyline

In a futuristic, state-run society controlled by "Big Brother" in which love is outlawed, employee of the state Winston Smith falls for Julia, and is tortured and brainwashed for his crime.

---

Plot Keywords:

big brother | future | london england | year in title | totalitarianism | 

---

Taglines:

From the Startling George Orwell Novel!

---

Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nel duemila non sorge il sole

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Holiday Film Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fred Berger was among those thought suitable for Charrington.

---

Connections

Version of 1984 (1984)

---

Soundtracks

"Symphony No.9 Fourth Movement"
(uncredited)
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

Terrific, but the earlier Peter Cushing version.....

......is even better (wanna see St. Pete's classic? Feel free to contact [e-mail] for a copy). One might be tempted to call this a remake, and I suppose it is, but it was the first theatrical rendition, enabling audiences to watch Big Brother (watching them) on a bigger screen than was possible via the BBC/Peter Cushing version (1954) of two years earlier. I agree with previous commentator "bux's" observance that, while Edmond O'Brien and Jan Sterling may not have been Orwell's first casting choices for Winston and Julia for the reason stated, the sterling performances generated by the leads and their supporting cast more than compensate. As a huge fan of the late, great Hammer Films luminary Michael Ripper, I was especially pleased to see him helping to take up the rear as an Outer Party Orator, exemplifying the tender loving care with which producer N. Peter Rathvon saw fit to cast even the smaller roles.