Tom Jones, directed by Tony Richardson and based on the novel by Henry Fielding, tells the story of buffoon and womanizer Tom Jones as he stumbles through the English class system for his lady love Sophie. With Albert Finney playing the titular role and also starring Susannah York and Hugh Griffith, this movie is a frantic, distinctly British film that features several innovations for its time. While there were occasional chuckles throughout the film, it was difficult to relate to the bawdy Tom Jones in his struggles against a stiff upper-crust society.
Cleopatra, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is the epic 4 hour story of Cleopatra of Egypt's triumphs and tragedies. Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton, this film is known for being both the top box office earner and a bomb at the same time due to its tremendous cost. Even though we appreciate the gargantuan effort, time and money given to execute this film, it culminated in an ultimately overblown extravaganza.
Comparing these two films, which one maintained our interest more? The epic grandeur of Cleopatra or the zany madness of Tom Jones? Tune in to the latest episode of Highbrow! Lowbrow? to find out.
No comments:
Post a Comment