Naturally, no film media can place the entire book on the screen, with maybe the exception of "Hamlet" (1996). With anything less than a mini-series. Second, is it the story or the philosophy that needs to be transmitted? If you are lucky, you get both.
In this case, we are lucky because both the basic story and the basic philosophy were transmitted in this movie. An added plus, you could say double plus good, was portraying the environment as a period piece as described in the book and not as some modern version. The story “1984” was envisioned in 1948.
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In a society that has eliminated many imbalances, surplus goods, and even class struggle, there are bound to be deviates; Winston Smith (John Hurt) is one of those. He starts, due to his inability to doublethink, with thoughtcrime. This is in a society that believes thought is as real as deed. Eventually, he graduates through a series of misdemeanors to illicit s-e-x (Suzanna Hamilton) and with the help of an encouraging inter-party member (Richard Burton) even plans to overthrow the very government that took him in as an orphan.
If he gets caught, he will be sent to the "Ministry of Love," where they have a record of 100% cures for this sort of insanity. They will even forgive his past indiscretions.
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This version is a little more graphic than the earlier video versions. However, each version brings a different emphasis to this classic story.
Be sure to watch the four different movies made from this book:
1984 - Studio One (1953) S6 E1 Eddie Albert as Winston Smith
1984 (1954) Peter Cushing as Winston Smith
1984 (1956) Edmond O’Brien as Winston Smith
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) John Hurt as Winston Smith
Read a review of the book "1984" by George Orwell. The movie can stand on its own merit, but knowledge of the book will help fill in the gaps and explain the inferences. Better actors could not have been picked. Richard Burton is in his element.
Many people think this is happening today.
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