Tom Jones (1963)

The romantic and chivalrous adventures of adopted bastard Tom Jones in 18th century England.

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writers:

John Osborne (screenplay), Henry Fielding (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Albert Finney, Susannah York, George Devine

Won 4 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Devine	...	Squire Allworthy
Rachel Kempson	...	Bridget Allworthy
Angela Baddeley	...	Mrs. Wilkins
Joyce Redman	...	Jenny Jones / Mrs. Waters
Jack MacGowran	...	Partridge
Albert Finney	...	Tom Jones
Diane Cilento	...	Molly Seagrim
Wilfrid Lawson	...	Black George
John Moffatt	...	Square
Peter Bull	...	Thwackum
David Warner	...	Blifil
Freda Jackson	...	Mrs. Seagrim
Redmond Phillips	...	Lawyer Dowling
Hugh Griffith	...	Squire Western
Susannah York	...	Sophie Western

Storyline

In eighteenth-century England, "first cousins" Tom Jones and Master Blifil grew up together in privilege in the western countryside, but could not be more different in nature. Tom, the bastard son of one of Squire Allworthy's servants Jenny Jones and the local barber Partridge, was raised by virtuous Allworthy as his own after he sent Jenny away. Tom is randy, chasing anything in a skirt, he's having a sexual relationship on the sly with Molly Seagrim, the peasant daughter of Allworthy's gamekeeper. Tom is nonetheless kind-hearted and good-natured, he who is willing to defend that and those in which he believes. Blifil, on the other hand, is dour, and although outwardly pious, is cold-hearted and vengeful. Despite his randiness, Tom eventually falls in love with Sophie Western, who has just returned to the area after a few years abroad. Despite Sophie's love for Tom, Squire Western and his spinster sister would rather see Sophie marry Blifil rather than a bastard, who Western ...

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Plot Keywords:

arranged marriage | farce | womanizer | rags to riches | highwayman | 

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Taglines:

The World's Fair-Haired Boy

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Talent Agent

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1963 (UK)

Also Known As:

Tom Jones

Filming Locations:

Woodfall Films, Curzon Street, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$37,600,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$50,000,000, 31 January 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Woodfall Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min 121 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) Dolby Stereo (restored version) (as Dolby Stereo® in selected theatres)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite winning Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars, director Tony Richardson was dissatisfied with the final product. In his autobiography Richardson wrote "I felt the movie to be incomplete and botched in much of its execution. I am not knocking that kind of success - everyone should have it - but whenever someone gushes to me about Tom Jones, I always cringe a little inside."

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Goofs

One of the dogs on Squire Allworthy's estate is a Golden Retriever. It can be seen trying to follow Tom when he is banished from the estate. The film is set during the time of the Jacobite Rebellion which began in 1745. The Golden Retriever was first bred in Scotland in 1868, more than 100 years after the time when the film was set.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: In the west of England there was once a Squire Allworthy. After several months in London he returns home.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: In the west of England there was once a Squire Allworthy. After several months in London he returned home. his sister, Bridget. his servants. after supper. "Mrs. Wilkins!" "aaah!" a baby! abandoned!!! "how did it get here?" "who can the mother be?" "Jenny Jones!" "who is the father Jenny?" "send for Partridge the barber!" Partridge the barber - the father? "I will deal with you later, sir!" "you must be sent away from this shame and degradation." "as for your child . . . . . " "I will bring him up as if he were my own son." "what will you call him brother?" "Tom Jones." of whom the opinion of all was that he was born to be hanged.

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Alternate Versions

For the 1989 reissue/restoration, the director trimmed approx. 7 minutes from the original. The initial home video release in 1981 on the Magnetic Video label contains the full-length original, which includes the following footage/dialogue cut from the reissue:

• Tom running from Squire Western; Black George caught for killing sheep; trial
• Sophie: "Oh, my little bird."
• Molly being called a slut by her family: "You will have a bastard"
• Tom/Sophie montage: Tom reading, eating nuts, picking berries, Tom and Sophie singing
• Teachers fighting Tom; Tom going around tree; riding teacher
• Tom's dream at the Inn
• Sophie and Lady Fitzpatrick: Trimmed frames from laughing
• Sophie and Lady Fitzpatrick: "What will you do in London?" "I have a friend..."
• Sophie and Lady Fitzpatrick: "What about your friend?" "He is away for a few days. When he returns we shall make other arrangements."
• Lady Bellaston and Lady Fitzpatrick: "The girl is obviously intoxicated and nothing less than ruin will content her."
• Lady Bellaston muttering French phrase at dinner
• Lady Bellaston: Dialog after "Are you afraid of the word 'rape'?"
• Transition from Bellaston and Fellamore to Tom and Partridge
• Transition from Tom and Partridge to "Rape"
• Partridge and Tom: "She'll be the one to break it off"; transition to note; dialog: Narrator reads letter, Bellaston remarks to maid not to receive Tom Jones again.
• "Scandal are the best sweeteners of tea."; transition
• Partridge looking for people to uphold Tom's character (in the original he approaches one man, then two more - scene of him approaching the first man was cut)
• No reprise of song for Tom as he's going to be hanged
• End titles (re-done for reissue with restoration credits and extended music by 15 seconds, while cutting some of the original company credits)

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Connections

Referenced in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

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Soundtracks

Rule Britannia
(uncredited)
Music by Thomas Augustine Arne

User Reviews

One of the greatest farces of all time

Tome Jones came out of the wonderful 60's when all the stuffy conventions of British theater, film and music were turned upside down. I first saw this film while stationed in Wiltshire in the Royal Air Force, and having grown up in the industrial West Riding of Yorkshire, my eyes had only recently been opened to the staggering beauty of the English countryside.

Tom Jones represented that unspoiled English countryside to me. I could smell the hay, the wildflowers and the livestock. Never mind that unless you were rich it was serf labor, I saw England through a wonderful fantasy of a film. The action never stopped. This movie was just hilarious from beginning to end. No glossing over the crude realities of country life - this was a period when the poor folk shared their hovels with the chickens and other small animals, when sex was raw, albeit punished on Sundays, and when the local gentry had their way with the wenches.

Rarely has there been such a belly laugh of a movie. Laugh until the tears roll down your face.