1984 (1956)

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

George Orwell (novel)
Ralph Gilbert Bettison ...
(more)

Release Date:

September 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Will Ecstasy Be a Crime ...In the Terrifying World of the Future?

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Big Brother | Future | London England | Year In Title | Totalitarianism

Cast

Edmond O'Brien	...	Winston Smith
Michael Redgrave	...	O'Connor
Jan Sterling	...	Julia
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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Jacobs	...	Telescreen (voice)
Barbara Cavan	...	Woman (uncredited) (voice)
Walter Gotell	...	Guard (uncredited)
Barbara Keogh	...	Special Woman (uncredited)
Bernard Rebel	...	Kalador (uncredited)
John Vernon	...	Big Brother (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Anderson

Writing credits
George Orwell		(novel)
Ralph Gilbert Bettison		and
William Templeton

Produced by
Ralph Gilbert Bettison	....	assistant producer (as Ralph Bettinson)
N. Peter Rathvon	....	producer

Original Music by
Malcolm Arnold

Non-Original Music by
Ludwig van Beethoven		(from "Symphony No.5 Second Movement", "Symphony No.6 Fourth Movement" and "Symphony No.9 Fourth Movement")

Cinematography by
C.M. Pennington-Richards

Film Editing by
Bill Lewthwaite

Casting by
Robert Lennard

Production Design by
Terence Verity

Art Direction by
Len Townsend

Costume Design by
Barbara Gray

Makeup Department
L.V. Clark	....	makeup artist
Henry Montsash	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John Croydon	....	production supervisor
G.R. Mitchell	....	production manager
Gerry Mitchell	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Slark	....	assistant director

Art Department
Peter Glazier	....	assistant art director
Olga Lehmann	....	storyboard artist
Len Townsend	....	assistant art director (as Leonard Townsend)
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Arthur Bradburn	....	sound recordist
Harold V. King	....	recording director
Arthur Southgate	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
George Blackwell	....	special effects
Bryan Langley	....	special effects
Norman Warwick	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Day	....	camera operator
George Higgins	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Babs Gray	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Louis Levy	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Eddie Frewin	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Gladys Goldsmith	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Holiday Film Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pallas (1957) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Incredibly Strange Filmworks (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Maritim Pictures (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• MediaOutlet.com (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | West Germany:12 (f)

Company:

Holiday Film Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

John Blythe is often credited being in this but he was not part of the project. He does not appear in the Robert Lennard casting papers nor was he on any shortlist for any role

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Real Room 101 (2003) (TV)

Powerful and Shattering

I finally was able to see this film, having seen the 1984 version with John Hurt when I was in college. I recall the 1984 version having some good production values, but I remember being disappointed also. This version was well-cast, and the art direction was also competent. Edmund O'Brien turned in a great performance as Winston Smith. I think that he brought a great quality of desperation to the role; which seemed to run contrary to John Hurt's performance. I'm sure there was a lot left out of the book. But I get tired of hearing people moan and groan about the argument of literature vs. cinema. Come on people, film is time-based, and can't digress like novels can. The screenwriter/director mainly extracts plot points, and can't be bothered with too much exposition (unless of course they have a whopping budget!). I've read many criticisms where more skeptical viewers complain that we don't get to know Big Brother's motives, strategy, etc... What?!! It's Big Brother - an enigmatic and probably non-existent despot....you're not supposed to know his whole story! The love affair, although brief, is very empathetic. In lieu of all the paranoia, Big Brother-cheerleading, etc. - the love between Winston and Julia is a good emotional oasis. Even though I watched a poor copy of this version, it really did make an impression. One of the few criticisms I have is Room 101. I thought the rat shot/scene was truncated, and could've been dramatized more. That's where the John Hurt version trumps this one.