The third adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Dramatic American Classic ” The Great Gatsby” was by every count an exact mirror of the original 1925 novel and brought to life by Francis Ford Coppola’s brilliant screen play. Robert Redford stars as the affluent, enigmatic, Jay Gatsby who uses his immense fortune to try and attract his long lost love Daisy Buchanan (Mia Farrow) to one of his colossal revelries in hopes the two can relive the torrid month of love that they shared as teenagers in Louisville. He is aided in this quest by Daisy’s cousin Nick Carraway (Sam Waterston) and The Buchanan’s family friend Jordan Baker (Lois Chiles); however, Gatsby is met with great resistance by Daisy’s philandering, old moneyed husband Tom Buchanan (Bruce Dern).
“The Great Gatsby” is narrated by Gatsby’s friend Nick Carraway and the viewer is taken through an extensive, emotionally convoluted love story that neither grasps nor demands your attention due to the lackluster pace of director Jack Clayton. Robert Redford’s screen presence and superbly acted role as Jay Gatsby was one of the only bright points in a somewhat missed cast movie depiction of this timeless novel. Mia Farrow’s overly exaggerated portrayal of Daisy was more of a psychotic, manic depressed teenager than a needy, jilted woman of privilege torn between the love of old money and her adolescent sweetheart. Even the talented Bruce Dern seemed out of place as the hulking, beast of a man Tom Buchanan. At times he was more likeable than his character should have been, showing too much affection, love and even cracking some subtle but humorous jokes.
The other bright spots of the movie were actors Sam Waterston and Lois Chiles precisely seizing the physiognomy of Fitzgerald’s characters Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. Also to be credited were the duteous costume and setting designs of Theoni V. Aldredge and the beautifully placed musical score by Nelson Riddle.
Although the movie plays out more like a slow paced 144 minute book, than the big budget smash hit it should have been, it still relays F. Scott Fitzgerald’s underlying message of The American Dream and the consequences that come along with it. Gatsby believed in The American Dream, the green light and the hope and promise of the better life it symbolized. The rags to riches story and winning the heart of the beautiful, unattainable girl from the past. But he learned in the end money can only buy material goods and the false promise of the happily ever after. His death at the hands of the betrayed and disgruntled husband ,George Wilson (Scott Wilson), spouse of the gold digging Myrtle Wilson (Karen Black), who was having a disillusioned affair with Tom, was the only way this triangle of affairs could end. Nobody won but everybody lost.
I’d like to end my review with the one thing I felt the ending needed to solidify Fitzgerald’s presence in the movie. A line that encapsulates the entire quintessence of “The Great Gatsby”. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Film Title: The Great Gatsby
Cast: Robert Redford – Jay Gatsby
Mia Farrow – Daisy Buchanan
Bruce Dern – Tom Buchanan
Karen Black – Myrtle Wilson
Scott Wilson – George Wilson
Sam Waterston – Nick Carraway
Jordan Baker – Lois Chiles
Movie Studio: Paramount Pictures
Produced by: David Merrick
Directed by: Jack Clayton
Score by: Nelson Riddle
Written by: Novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald / Screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola
Running time: 144 minutes
Release date: March 29, 1974
