The Great Gatsby (A), April 1979

THE GREAT GATSBY (A)  (USA, 1974; director Jack Clayton)

ROBERT REDFORD, MIA FARROW, KAREN BLACK, SAM WATERSON, BRUCE DERN. This is Paramount’s third film version of F.SCOTT FITZGERALD’S enduring novel about the Beautiful People of rich WASP society in New York and Long Island of the 1920s.  In this go-around REDFORD plays Gatsby (ne Gatz), the same part played by Alan Ladd in 1949 and Warner Baxter in 1926.  REDFORD is such a skilled actor that you tend to overlook the fact that he’s a mite too genteel and civilized, given his modest background and hustling business career with bootlegging connections.  Critical opinion was sharply divided re MIA FARROW‘s performance, but the rest of the cast, especially WATERSON playing Nick Carraway, is excellent.  There are numerous flaws in the film but director  CLAYTON has caught the look and feel of this if emotionally impoverished crowd, and there are other virtues besides the glorious clothes.  Screenplay by FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA.

Tickets for all performances 70p and 90p