IMDb user comments for
"The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" (1997)

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18 comments in total

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9 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Absolutely Delightful!!!, 27 April 2002
Author: philip-1 from Chicago, IL

This mini-series produced by the BBC and A & E has got to be one of the finest things television has given us. It ranks with I Claudius and Elizabeth R as great dramatic art. Full of wit, great storytelling, and wonderful acting, this version of Henry Fielding's classic tale gives the Albert Finney movie from the 60's a run for it's money and emerges triumphant.

Firstly, the adaptation is masterful. Having Fielding himself narrate the story (delightfully played by John Sessions) was a stroke of genius. It has the advantage of presenting this boistrous tale in much more detail than the previous movie. Fielding's characters are so rich (much like Dickens) that

you don't mind spending alot of the time with them. Characters like Allworthy, Partridge, Thwackum and Square are comparative non-entities in the Tony Richardson movie. Here they emerge as sharp etched portraits that give the story so much more substance. In addition, the 1963 movie had to leave out large chunks of the story to tell it in under three hours. Additionally, Richardson's screenwriter John Osborne changed many details of the story to account for cutting out so many characters. Simon Burke and his collaboators on this project stick to Fielding with great results.

The direction by Metin Hüseyin is simply wonderful. He tells us the story and relishes every moment. The mini-series is cast with a splendid ensemble of actors. The great Brian Blessed has a field day with the boorish Squire Western. Frances de la Tour as his prune faced sister doesn't erase memories of Dame Edith Evans from the movie version, but she is very convincing nonetheless. James D'Arcy's Mr. Blifil is a brilliant, consistant job of careful, understated, contrived villainy. And Lindsy Duncan is a revelation as the evil Lady Balleston. Joan Greenwood is not nearly slimey enough in the movie version. Duncan manages to outdo Glenn Closes's sensual depravity in Dangerous Liaisons.

Max Beesley doesn't mug his way through the role like Albert Finney did. He plays Tom as more of the Candide-like innocent and is all the more attractive and sympathetic because of it. Samantha Morton's Sophia is simply unbelievable. She has a wide emotional range throughout the story and plays each moment to near perfection. She also exudes more capricious youthfulness than did Susannah York in the movie. The large supporting cast is excellent; not a weak performance among them.

I must also mention the delightful musical score by Jim Parker that adds to the movie's entertaining virtues.

Yes, the Tony Richardson won't Best Picture at the Oscars. But frankly, it's looking very dated these days. To be sure, it has it's wonderful moments, but it is far superceded by the newer effort.

So thank God for the BBC and A & E who continue to bring us classics like this in versions far more lucid than Hollywood could muster. Don't be swayed by Julie on the title page. This is a clear winner!

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
a rave, 25 June 2002
Author: barbf from Baltimore

I loved this miniseries and went out and bought it. It's extremely true to Fielding's style and philosophy, and I've always been a big fan of Fielding. I think it's far superior to Tony Richardson's version, in which Albert Finney was just too old to play this part. I think Max Beesley achieves the mix of innocence, good-heartedness and sensuality that Tom must have. I also think Samantha Morton walks the line between showing Sophia's dutiful side and the explosive temper that she inherited from her father, Squire Western. It's a lot of fun.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A rich and rewarding adaptation., 26 June 1999
Author: Cara-8 from Woodland Hills, California

The BBC and A&E have done it again. TOM JONES is intricate, daring, surprising, funny, and has more fresh air than one might expect of a literary adaptation. Brian Blessed is a revelation as Squire Western, looking more like a Hogarth caricature than seems humanly possible. The rest of the cast are energetic and well-suited to their roles, and the result, at five hours, will surprise many who only know the rascal Tom Jones from the Albert Finney film... There's a lot that that short movie left out, and it will at times remind you of Dangerous Liaisons...which of course was written later... Anyone want to bet that Choderlos de Laclos read Fielding?

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Best period drama adaptation ever!, 14 April 1999
Author: Ellie Stringer from London, England

I saw this when it was first shown in the UK in 97 and I still love it. It was amazing - fun, gripping, well acted. I fell in love with Max Beesley and it even made me want to read the book. I cannot see how anybody could not get dragged into the great plot and the wonderful acting, music and camera work. Well done, BBC!

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
On The Contrary: This was Excellent!, 10 May 2001

Author: elbagrl from New York

This was an excellent adaptation of Tom Jones. Far more accurate to the book than the 1963 version with Finney (although the mere length of this movie ought to have given that away) I think A&E used this movie to get back on track after producing the far from enjoyable Emma and Jane Eyre. Max and Samantha went great together, and the supporting cast was fabulous.Brian Blessed is a PERFECT Squire Weston! I am writing this is because this movie has an excellent rating, and deserves a user comment appropriate to the average person's opinion of it.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Engaging, well-done fare, 22 December 2002
Author: theprovinces from Los Angeles, CA

We had the video box set since it first came out -- it was sealed and in our video drawer until this month (December, 2002), when I sold the videos and bought the DVD box set.

I can't believe we waited this long to watch it! Max Beasley is wonderful (and yes, a real Ewan MacGregor look-a-like) as is Samantha Morton and the rest of the cast.

The Oscar-winning 1963 version seems dated and over-the-top compared to the A&E production. Bawdy, racy, all the things Fielding's novel was criticized for, that all remains. It's surprisingly funny and sweet and very, very enjoyable!

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
I loved this movie., 23 September 2000

Author: pkgh from Glendale, California

I was looking for an earlier version of this movie because I saw it mentioned in an article in Vogue (about a designer, I think it was Diane von Faustenberg, who modeled her wedding on this movie) and got the impression that it would have beautiful costumes. I rented this version without realizing it was the wrong one but I was not entirely disappointed.

The costumes were okay but it was the story I loved. It is such an interesting and engaging story and the acting was good. I couldn't wait to see what else could happen to poor Tom Jones next. I thought that Honor, the lady's maid was an exceptionally entertaining true character and that Benjamin Whitrow as the good squire was totally believable, he was the personification of a good sober man. The movie is long but I couldn't tear myself away from it. In a world of movies with weak plots this movie was hearty as stew. I'm going to try to find the 1960's version too.

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
A Tremendous Amount Of Fun - The Best Version, 6 June 2004

Author: JCR_In_Jersey from New Jersey, USA

Other posters have stated that the Finney version of this story is the best.

I wholeheartedly disagree. This story, as with most of Henry Fielding's stories, is intended as a parody of English 'morality' in his day. The Finney version is a lot of fun, but it's just a film about silly people wandering the countryside. In the A&E version, Brian Blessed performed his character (Mr. Western) in exactly the over-the-top correct way to ridicule the English wealthy. Mr. Allworthy was absolutely perfect as someone who believes that since he is a good honest man, the rest of the world must be good and honest as well. Tom's aunt has the line that in my opinion sums up the meaning of this book/movie (paraphrased), "It is not enough that your actions are good, you must make sure that they appear to be so."

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Fabulous, 9 August 2000

Author: Olivia Chillia from California

My Development of the Novel class (a senior level class) watched this adaptation of the novel and found it delightful and enlightening. The class was held during spring quarter after lunch. Even people who normally skipped class on Friday (spring fever, you know) came just to watch Tom Jones.

The costumes were excellent! Honour's and Squire Western's characters in particular were over the top (left visible toothmarks on the scenery), but since this falls into the comedy category it all fits.

I'd highly recommend this for serious literature students as well as for those who have no patience with the written word.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
fun little tragic/comedy/farce/drama, 2 February 2004
Author: httpmom from San Francisco Bay Area

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Recently rented this in DVD format. I look forward to anything produced by the BBC and this was no exception. Not having read the book, I don't know if this was a non-conventional take or a realistic adaptation of a classic. At any rate, after watching the mini-series I am encouraged to read the book! The humor in the story reminds me of Elizabeth Gaskell, another English writer I admire. Whatever the case, I think this is TV worth watching.

The casting of the characters was very good except for the lead roll. I believe the character playing Tom Jones (Max Beasley) should have been a lot more physically attractive to make the story work. He was terrific at portraying naive, which is needed for the story but way to childlike to come across as a women's man which was equally important to the plot. Having said that, the other characters were wonderfully cast. Samantha Morton was very convincing as a young woman in love while betrothed to another and her father played by Brian Blessed was so powerful and funny that sometimes I felt like I was watching a Shakespearian comedy. Benjamin Whitrow was a delight as Tom's guardian and the straight man to the foolishness of most the other characters, including my favorite, Kathy Burke as the hilarious maid to our star crossed heroine. Her facial expressions alone were worth the price of admission! This is not a spoiler, but there is a scene in which Kathy Burke as woman servant, Honor sums up a rival maid at an inn that can only be classed as brilliant. And lastly, James D'Arcy, general evil doer was understated but very believable as Tom's arc rival. This may be an actor with future potential.The remaining cast is wonderfully successful as well. It's a six hour performance with a huge cast and all were very skilled at carrying an audience to a previous time in history for this fun little tragic/comedy/farce/drama.

And oh yes...the costumes and sets were wonderful! As was the music.

Worthy of a rent from your favorite DVD store.

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