The Great Gatsby (1974 film)
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The Great Gatsby is a 1974 American romantic drama film distributed by Newdon Productions and Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Jack Clayton and produced by David Merrick, from a screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola based on the novel of the same title by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The film stars Robert Redford in the title role of Jay Gatsby, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Scott Wilson, Sam Waterston and Lois Chiles with Howard Da Silva, Roberts Blossom, and Edward Herrmann.
Background and production
The film is the third filmed version of the novel. The previous two, also made by Paramount, were
- The Great Gatsby (1926), a silent film, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Warner Baxter as Gatsby, Lois Wilson as Daisy Buchanan, and William Powell. This film is considered "lost."
- The Great Gatsby (1949), directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd as Gatsby, Betty Field as Daisy, Shelley Winters, Macdonald Carey, Barry Sullivan, and Howard Da Silva.
The rights to the novel were purchased in 1971 by Robert Evans so that his then-wife, Ali MacGraw, could play Daisy. After MacGraw left Evans for Steve McQueen, he considered other actresses for the role, including Faye Dunaway, Candice Bergen, Natalie Wood, Katharine Ross, Lois Chiles, Cybill Shepherd and Mia Farrow. Eventually Farrow was cast as Daisy and Chiles got the role of Jordan. Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, and Steve McQueen were all considered for the role of Gatsby, but they were rejected or declined the offer. Beatty wanted to direct producer Evans as Gatsby, and Nicholson didn't think that MacGraw was right for the role of Daisy, who was still attached when he was approached. Farrow was pregnant during the shooting, and the film was shot with her wearing loose, flowing dresses and in tight close-ups.
Truman Capote was the original screenwriter, but he was replaced by Francis Ford Coppola, with some scenes re-written first by Vladimir Nabokov, then Philip Roth. On his commentary track for the DVD release of The Godfather, Coppola makes reference to writing the Gatsby script at the time, though he comments: "Not that the director paid any attention to it. The script that I wrote did not get made."
The Rosecliff and Marble House mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, were used for Gatsby's house, and scenes at the Buchanan's home were filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. One driving scene was shot in Windsor Great Park, UK. Other scenes were filmed in New York City, and Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
Reception
After being released, the film received average to slightly negative reviews. The film was praised for its interpretation and staying true to the novel, but was criticized for lacking any true emotion or feelings towards the Jazz Age. Based on 25 total reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 40%, with an average score of 4.9/10.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1008799-great_gatsby/</ref> Despite this, the film was a financial success, making $23 million against a $6.5 million budget.
Cast
- Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby A.K.A. James Gatz
- Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan
- Bruce Dern as Tom Buchanan
- Karen Black as Myrtle Wilson
- Scott Wilson as George B. Wilson
- Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway
- Lois Chiles as Jordan Baker
- Edward Herrmann as Ewing Klipspringer
- Howard Da Silva as Meyer Wolfsheim
- Sammy Smith as Comic
- Kathryn Leigh Scott as Catherine
- Regina Baff as Miss Baedecker
- Vincent Schiavelli as Thin Man
- Roberts Blossom as Mr. Gatz
- Beth Porter as Mrs. McKee
- Patsy Kensit as Pammy Buchanan
Patsy Kensit, aged 6, appears in her second film role (her first being in For the Love of Ada in 1972). Tom Ewell had a minor role as a mourner but it was ultimately edited out of the cinematic release.
