THE BAWDY ADVENTURES OF TOM JONES
UK, 1976, 94 minutes, Colour.
Nicky Henson, Trevor Howard, Terry- Thomas, Georgia Brown, Joan Collins, William Mervyn, Murray Melvin, Madeline Smith, Jeremy Lloyd, Michael Bates, Isabel Dean.
Directed by Cliff Owen.
The title tells everything. This is a raucous version of Henry Fielding’s classic which was filmed to great success in 1963 by Tony Richardson, Tom Jones. It won many Oscars including best film and best director.
This film keeps the basic plot outline without any of the subtleties in Henry Fielding’s satire on life in the 18th century and its hypocrisies. Various songs are added in to make it something of a musical romp. This was the period when sex films, especially from Scandinavia, were receiving more exhibition than previously and the British tried to keep pace, while keeping within the bounds of censorship.
Nicky Henson is Tom Jones and the rest of the cast is quite distinguished in its way. However, the poster highlights Joan Collins – which also says everything.
The film was written by Jeremy Lloyd, actor, writer and comedian who appears in this film as Lord Fellamar. Lloyd wrote a number of popular television series including Are You Being Served. The film was directed by Cliff Owen whose films prior to this were Steptoe and Son, Ooh .. You Are Awful and No Sex Please, We’re British.
1. The emphasis of the title? The Carry On style of humour? Audience expectations of the title and of the classic story?
2. How much of the classic novel was retained in the film? The plot as a sketch of the novel? The successful ingredients of the plot? The issues of this eighteenth century novel? How much was lost in the transfer?
3. The film was based on a stage musical. Was this evident? The contribution of the songs and the dances? The value of the comedy?
4. How well did the film use the conventions of broad farce? The impact of this kind of humour? Subtlety and the lack of it?
5. The story device for Squire Weston's story, giving a framework for the plot about Tom Jones?
6. Comment on the picture of the eighteenth century: its lack of morals? Life in the country and in the city? The households, the Comedy, religion, family, sex etc?
7. The picture of Squire Allworthy and the setting of the story? The complications of the birth of the baby? Jones and Bridget?
8. How enjoyable was the picture of Tom growing up? The contrast with Blifil? How was their rivalry central to the film?
9. The contribution of the tutors, Thwackum and Square? The hypocrisy? Eighteenth century comedy? Their favouring of Blifil? The sequence of the hunt?
10. How did this version present Ton as an eighteenth century hero? Or was he the ordinary eighteenth century man? What qualities of character? His relationship with Sofia? With the maids?
11. Tom seen as a victim of the eighteenth century? By birth and fortune? A victim of women? The story of the ring? Robbed on the complications at the Ball? His arrest and imprisonment? The happy ending and the vindication of the hero?
12. The role of Black Bess and her contribution to the plot?
13. The social satire in Lady Bellaston and Lord Follamar?
14. The satire of the country squire in Squire Weston? His standards of behaviour and morals? The hypocrisy of the upper class? The satire in the hunt, especially in the delay? his happiness when he learned the truth about Tom Jones?
15. The farcical aspects of the wedding and yet the possibility of true love? The sentimental aspect of the plot?
16. How successful was the presentation of the truth, people enjoying the discovery of the truth? The discomfiture of Blifil?
17. How successful were the set comedy pieces for example, bedroom scenes, the hunt and the classroom, the Ball? the prison sequences and the robbing of the stores, the highway?
18. How much successful achievement was there in this version? Considering the original, what might the success have been?
