Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Julie Christie | ... | Bathsheba | |
Terence Stamp | ... | Sergeant Troy | |
Peter Finch | ... | William Boldwood | |
Alan Bates | ... | Gabriel Oak | |
Fiona Walker | ... | Liddy | |
Prunella Ransome | ... | Fanny | |
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Alison Leggatt | ... | Mrs. Hurst |
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Paul Dawkins | ... | Henery Fray |
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Julian Somers | ... | Jan Coggan |
John Barrett | ... | Joseph Poorgrass | |
Freddie Jones | ... | Cainy Ball | |
Andrew Robertson | ... | Andrew Randle | |
Brian Rawlinson | ... | Matthew Moon | |
Vincent Harding | ... | Mark Clark | |
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Victor Stone | ... | Billy Smallbury |
Based on Thomas Hardy's nineteenth century novel, Bathsheba Everdene is a willful, passionate girl who is never satisfied with anything less than a man's complete and helpless adoration, and she captures the lives and loves of three very different men: Gabriel Oak, a sheep farmer, who is captivated by her beauty and proposes marriage; William Boldwood, a prosperous man in his early forties, and a confirmed bachelor; and Sergeant Frank Troy, a handsome, reckless swordsman given to sudden fits of violence. Written by alfiehitchie
In this sprawling adaptation of the Hardy novel, a beautiful woman in 19th century English countryside must select a suitor among three men. It has become fashionable to bash this film but it is quite an impressive production. Although she may not be exactly what Hardy had in mind, Christie is radiant as the heroine. The men pursuing her are well played by Finch as a rich landowner, Stamp as a cad, and especially Bates as a poor sheep farmer. Schlesinger's direction is leisurely and meticulous but he sustains interest despite the nearly three-hour length. The cinematography by Roeg is breathtaking and Bennett's score adds a haunting quality to the film.