Tom Jones (1963)

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards:

Best Picture (WON)

Best Director: Tony Richardson (WON)

Best Actor: Albert Finney

Best Supporting Actor: Hugh Griffith

Best Supporting Actress: Diane Cilento

Best Supporting Actress: Edith Evans

Best Supporting Actress: Joyce Redman

Best Adapted Screenplay (WON)

Best Music, Score - Substantially Original (WON)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color

 

I guess I waited this long to see Tom Jones because I imagined I would get to reading the book, which never happened. So, with that out of the way, I saw it today and boy it was fun. Much more fun that I expected, and somewhat underrated nowadays, especially with that cruel imdb rating. Fun is the word to describe it. It has a very cute and charming story, a charismatic lead, but it’s the supporting characters that do the heavy lifting.

It’s the only film to ever receive 3 Oscar nominations for Supporting Actress, and they all lost, but all were memorable, especially Edith Evans who is funny and perfectly cast. Hugh Griffith, who was very much a drunk in real life and also during the filming, plays the drunk perfectly, to hilarious results. I couldn’t wait for his character to come back on screen. It’s a strong ensemble, and it took a good director to put all the pieces together. 1963 was a complicated year for Best Picture, due to various reasons, but I would never be upset with this win.

 

I give it: 9/10

IMDB LINK