Review of The Great Gatsby (1974) by Mandela W — 10 Sep 2016

I have never read the great Gatsby I just saw the film in 2013 with Leonardo dicaprio. It was extraordinary array of flamboyance, vigor, jazziness, love and tragedy. Such a beautifully made film. I knew one day I had to go back and check out the 74 original. The film by Jack Clayton has some serious differentiations to it but overall it doesn't match up to the modern day adaptation.

For starters the pacing is very different than the 2013 film. I didn't like the cinematography it made it look more like a tv series than a movie. the overall directing was poor compared to the 2013 film I could not stand the constant zoom ins and outs it gave off a weird feel to the film. also he directed scenes in overly dramatic fashion.

The acting in here is the redeeming quality of the film. Mia Farrow was not bad here. she's done better roles but did a decent job here. Even sam waterston in the 70's is sooo incredibly young. I had the same reaction with killing fields but still he looks so different. He did a fabulous job here playing nick. played him less innocent and naïve and more intrigued by what he was seeing in front of him. Gatsby is more mellow and mysterious here at least in the beginning then everything unravels. excellent work here from Robert redford a year after his monumentus 1973 year.. bruce dern was also very good here.

Its interesting hearing this tall tale be narrated so differently than tobey Maguire did. the film distinctly captures the jazz age of that time back then. The costume design was still on point here. the film supplies no flashbacks adding to the further mystery of it all. Different ending than the other film too.

So despite the great performances the film as a whole is OK not great but OK.