In a totalitarian future society, Winston Smith (Edmond O'Brien), whose daily work is re-writing history, tries to rebel by falling in love.
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Title: 1984 (1956)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Edmond O'Brien | ... | Winston Smith of the Outer Party | |
| Michael Redgrave | ... | O'Connor of the Inner Party | |
| Jan Sterling | ... | Julia of the Outer Party | |
| David Kossoff | ... | Charrington the Junk Shop Owner | |
| Mervyn Johns | ... | Jones | |
| Donald Pleasence | ... | R. Parsons (as Donald Pleasance) | |
 |
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 (as Kenneth Griffiths) |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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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. Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com>
Plot Keywords:
future | big brother | communist dictatorship | orwellian | dystopia |Taglines:
Will Ecstasy Be a Crime ...In the Terrifying World of the Future? See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
September 1956 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
1984 See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Winston Smith of the Outer Party: Long live BB!
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Did You Know?
Quotes
R. Parsons: Maybe we shouldn't have stopped here. I get pretty uneasy when I'm near people who aren't... healthy, if you know what I mean. Oh well. Long live BB!Winston Smith of the Outer Party: Long live BB!
See more »
Alternate Versions
There are reportedly two endings to this film. The UK version ends with a defiant Winston Smith and Julia being executed by the authorities. The US version is more faithful to Orwell's book and concludes with Winston and Julia being brainwashed into becoming loyal followers of "Big Brother." See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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9/11/01 is the date we lost a lot of freedom, perhaps irrevocably. Whether we move into the society that George Orwell describes in 1984 or retain a significant measure of individuality is up to us. But we will sacrifice a lot for security.
Which in Orwell's world written in the late Forties the target date was 1984. Like On The Beach Orwell got the date wrong, but doesn't mean it still can't happen. Atomic war came in 1965 and the world divided into three great super republics, people's republics if you will. Our American leads in a mostly British supporting cast, Edmond O'Brien and Jan Sterling, are from different factions. O'Brien is a member of the Inner Party with a drone like job who is starting to question assumptions on wish his society is built. Among them marriage is tightly controlled with love not a factor. But he does fall for Jan Sterling of the Outer Party.
In a country with constant monitoring, privacy is what they want. But there is no right to privacy and surveillance goes way beyond what we have post 9/11. Sterling and O'Brien pay big time for wanting some alone time.
Besides Sterling and O'Brien other performances to point out are Michael Redgrave as O'Brien's superior at work, Donald Pleasance as another drone worker who is also a graduate of the state's re-education facility and David Kossoff as the kindly old antique dealer who turns out to be something else.
The society most resembling the Orwellian 1984 is that of North Korea with their hermetically sealed country with a cult of secular worship of the ruling family. If the people there shake loose from the tyranny of the People's Republic it might be a great indication of hope for people who will insist on their individualism. Are we sliding in that direction? Time will tell.
1984 has had a few different versions made for big and small screen. This one can stand with any of them.