Nineteen Eighty-Four

I am very pleased to have discovered this rare item, though I prefer the two other versions of the George Orwell's book. This is a TV directing from the fifties and clumsy as you can guess. But it remains more than worth seeing, so daring and especially with a young Peter Cushing, and also Don Pleasance, who also played in the Michael Anderson's film, shot the same year. Painful ending, but great.

I cannot believe that nearly seventy years on this program is so powerful. I can only imagine the effect it had on the viewing public at time of release.

By far the best of the three versions of 1984 with Peter Cushing putting in an inspiring performance.

Hardly a cheery watch, but impressive nevertheless.

This is the infamous live BBC production of the George Orwell classic, made almost contemporaneously with the novel. It's the production that famously catapulted Peter Cushing to stardom, inspiring Hammer producers to cast him in their CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and setting the stage for his lifelong career in horror. Back to 1984, and this is an earthy, compelling, and utterly downbeat production that successfully captures the terrifying bleakness of the Orwellian future. The production values are akin to those of early DR WHO, but it's great to see faces like those of Donald Pleasence, Wilfrid Brambell and Andre Morell putting in strong support, making this unmissable viewing.

Brilliant adaptation of Orwell's classic novel, director Rudolph Cartier does a great job and Peter Cushing is excellent in his challenging role as Winston. Was surprised to see how well it holds up. In my view this film is vastly superior to the 1956 and 1984 versions (which were miscast and too censored for my taste). I recommend all Orwell fans to watch this film; it is a faithful adaptation of one of the best dystopia novels out there.

Probably one of the best renditions of the story that is based on the book "1984" written by George Orwell.

Basic story: In a society that has eliminated many imbalances, surplus goods, and even class struggles, there are bound to be deviates; Winston Smith is one of those. He starts, due to his inability to doublethink, with thoughtcrime. This is in a society that believes the thought is as real as the deed. Eventually, he graduates through a series of misdemeanors to illicit sex and even plans to overthrow the very government that took him in as an orphan.

If he gets caught, he will be sent to the "Ministry of Love" where they have a record of 100% cures for this sort of insanity. They will even forgive his past indiscretions.

Peter Cushing, a veteran actor, plays Winston Smith. The TV film is in black and white. There are clips of this film in other 1984 documentaries. Copies are hard to find. With any luck, this fill will show up on a Criterion DVD.