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Movie: Fahrenheit 451 (1966)Oskar Werner, Julie Christie Star in Ray Bradbury Sci-Fi Film
Oskar Werner is the "fireman" and Julie Christie his wife in the 1966 film adaptation of the Ray Bradbury classic, Fahrenheit 451. Cyril Cusack appears as The Captain.
Director Francois Truffaut brought the incendiary Fahrenheit 451 to movie theaters in 1966. A cautionary tale of book burning in a futuristic society, Fahrenheit 451 lit up the screen with fine performances by Oskar Werner and Julie Christie and also earned a coveted Hugo Award nomination. Based on the Novel by Ray BradburyFahrenheit 451 was based on the novel of the same name by Ray Bradbury. Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 began in 1947 as the short story "Bright Phoenix" (later appearing in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1963), was reworked into the novella The Fireman (Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1951) and subsequently published by Ballantine Books, both as a paperback and hardcover novel, in 1953. Fahrenheit 451 dervies its title from the temperature at which paper catches fire. Screenplay, Director, MusicFahrenheit 451 was written for the screen by Francois Truffaut and Jean-Louis Richard, with Truffaut also directing. It would be the French director's one and only English language movie. Bernard Hermann created the film's original music score. Fahrenheit 451 CastOskar Werner is Guy Montag and Julie Christie plays Clarisse/Linda Montag. Other cast members include Cyril Cusack (The Captain), Anton Diffring (Fabian/Headmistress), Jeremy Spenser (Man with the Apple), Bee Duffell (Book Lady) and Alex Scott (Book Person). Filming LocationsFahrenheit 451 was filmed from January 13 to April 15, 1966 by Vineyard Films Ltd. England's Pinewood Studios served as the movie's principal interior locale. Exterior shots were filmed in France and the United Kingdom. The opening scene was shot on Danebury Avenue in London while the monorail sequence was filmed in Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France. Francois Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 is set in a futuristic totalitarian society where books have been deemed the enemy. In order to maintain absolute control, the government delivers censored news and entertainment to the people via giant interactive television screens that are housed on living room walls. Residing in one small village is Guy Montag, a "fireman" whose job is to confiscate and burn books. Guy apparently excels in his profession, routinely destroying such literature as J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles and (in a bit of a twist) Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. After meeting a young schoolteacher named Clarisse who hoards books, Guy becomes curious and begins to read the banned tomes himself before setting them aflame. The books reawaken Guy's dormant curiosity, leading him to question the wisdom of the government. Release, ReviewsFahrenheit 451 made its world premiere in Paris, France, on September 15, 1966. The film made its British debut on September 16, 1966, and its American debut in New York City on November 2, 1966. "Holy smoke! What a pretentious and pedantic production..." opined a fuming Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (11/15/66). Film AnaylsisSome may find Francois Truffaut's script and direction a little too "artsty" for their tastes. But for blue collar film buffs, all of that will go up in smoke after they witness Oskar Werner (who looks a lot like Michael Caine) and his buds blast away with their flamethrowers. Werner and Christie -- the latter plays a dual role -- create some nice film chemistry. But for romance-minded viewers, the sparks won't be enough. DVDFahrenheit 451 is available on DVD from Universal Studios (2003). 2010 RemakeWriter/director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist) is currently working on a remake of Fahrenheit 451, shceduled for release in 2010. Beware of critics with matches, Frank...
The copyright of the article Movie: Fahrenheit 451 (1966) in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films is owned by William J. Felchner. Permission to republish Movie: Fahrenheit 451 (1966) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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