Tom Jones (1963)

[Scottie]

Tom Jones (1963)

In the early 1960s, at the height of the British New Wave, a movement whose gritty realism they had helped establish, director Tony Richardson and playwright John Osborne set out for more fanciful narrative territory. Tom Jones brings a theatrical flair to Henry Fielding’s canonical eighteenth-century novel, boisterously chronicling the misadventures of the foundling of the title (Albert Finney, in a career-defining turn), whose easy charm seems to lead him astray at every turn from his beloved, the wellborn Sophie Western (Susannah York). This spirited picaresque, evocatively shot in England’s rambling countryside and featuring an extraordinary ensemble cast, went on to become a worldwide sensation, winning the Oscar for best picture on the way to securing its status as a classic of irreverent wit and playful cinematic expression.

Disc Features

• New 4K digital restorations of the original theatrical version of the film and the 1989 director’s cut, both supervised by director of photography Walter Lassally, with uncompressed monaural and stereo soundtracks on the Blu-ray
• New program on the film’s cinematography featuring a conversation between Lassally and critic Peter Cowie
• Excerpt from a 1982 episode of The Dick Cavett Show featuring actor Albert Finney
• New interview with actor Vanessa Redgrave on director Tony Richardson, to whom she was married from 1962 to 1967
• New interview with film scholar Duncan Petrie on the movie’s impact on British cinema
• Illustrated archival audio interview with composer John Addison on his Oscar-winning score for the film
• New interview with the director’s-cut editor, Robert Lambert
• PLUS: An essay by scholar Neil Sinyard

Illustration by Richard Haines

[thatguamguy]

Possibly the only truly silly film to win Best Picture. Very happy to be able to buy this one, and thankfully it has both cuts.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Possibly the only truly silly film to win Best Picture. Very happy to be able to buy this one, and thankfully it has both cuts.

Same here. I don't mind owning the shorter director's cut as long as the original is also included.

I hadn't been excited about a Criterion release in a long time.

[SeanJoyce]

Wasn't enamored by this or anything when I watched it years ago, but it was diverting and I'm compelled to pick it up if only to keep company with Barry Lyndon and Tess.

[javi92]

Haven't seen this Richardson film before. Like his other stuff, so I will probably check it out.

[Cremildo]

A blind-buy I've been waiting for years. The fact that the theatrical version is included seals the deal.

[imsounoriginal]

Had this on my DVR for years off TCM but never watched it, so I'll check this out. Always been curious about this movie.

[erlinmeyer]

Another Laserdisc I can finally replace. WooHoo

[Hoke Moseley]

Will pick this up... for Finney, mainly.

[SpaceThunderV]

If at least the theatrical cut contains the United Artists Hexagon at the head, that would b the cherry on the most definitive cake evar.

[Scott R.]

THRILLED this is finally coming out because I collect Best Picture winners and this is the only one I don’t have. I always held off on getting the DVD because it’s OOP and it wasn’t OAR.

[thatguamguy]

That's an interesting point, although I assume there's a reason that all the DVDs (including both cuts on separate releases) were 1.66.

[Ned Brainard]

I can't stand the cover art, but I'll be buying this blu regardless. I've actually had the DVD on my re-watch pile for a while now, but I can hold off until late February or March.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Scott R.

THRILLED this is finally coming out because I collect Best Picture winners and this is the only one I don’t have. I always held off on getting the DVD because it’s OOP and it wasn’t OAR.

This Criterion disc is 1.66, same aspect ratio as the DVDs.

[SpaceThunderV]

i remember my HBO DVD was 1.33 and I compare the MGM DVD the HBO was zoomed in, while MGM showed more on the side.

[coachlynn]

This is my most wanted blu-ray, I am so excited! I actually contacted Criterion and begged them to do it, just thrilled. (DVD was below par.) Have noticed some people didn't like this movie (on other posts), can only think they don't see the charm (which seems lacking in most movies today) and don't appreciate the skill these actors displayed in creating this comedic masterpiece. One of my all-time faves, was 14 when I saw it the first time. So poor cover art not withstanding (why not Albert Finney as on dvd?), I instantly pre-ordered this one.

[RICKBONDOO7]

Yes the cover art is Terrible on Criterion's Tom Jones. Some one will make a Nice cover on EuphoricFx or Hirescovers soon I'm sure. I check every day for what's New in Bluray covers.

[BwayJ]

DVDBeaver has a review.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by SpaceThunderV

If at least the theatrical cut contains the United Artists Hexagon at the head, that would b the cherry on the most definitive cake evar.

Would it have the UA hexagon? Very few films actually had it, even in pre-Transamerica days when it was their logo. Unless it was on the original UK prints, I kinda doubt it. (Its U.S. release was thru Lopert Pictures, a formerly independent distributor that was UA's non-MPAA subsidiary in 1963.)

Still it's an exciting release, especially for those of us who collect Best Picture winners; it's the first new Best Picture release on BD (other than the brand new Best Pictures, Spotlight & Moonlight) since You Can't Take It With You in late 2015. And it's bawdy in ways that escape modern audiences who are used to seeing sex on both silver and small screens.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Possibly the only truly silly film to win Best Picture. Very happy to be able to buy this one, and thankfully it has both cuts.

I think this is going to have to be Day 1. I was gunna hold off until the B&N sale, but this one I may break down on.