The classic, 1956 film version of Orwell's, 1984. Colorized and tinted to enhance the dark expressionism. Wikipedia says this was the least favored version of the film, but those who saw it when they were young can never forget it. For me the others are pale or soft, by comparison. This version was criticized for political reasons that frankly make no sense. Orwell was a once-socialist that like many people became disenchanted with the co called Communist movement. I have not verified this but it is said there was an alternate ending that changes the ending in the book. The version here, is true to the book in the important places and was the version shown on TV. In the later fifties and early 60's it was shown on the Million Dollar Movie in NYC for a week at a time on WOR Channel 9 and blew minds. It blew my mind. I had read the book when I was 10 and seeing the movie was a revelation. Totalitarianism is depicted in it's worst, most personal horror. The other versions do not capture the intensity of the book. Edmund O'Brien as Winston, gives a tour de force performance. Directed by Michael Anderson Writing credits George Orwell (novel) Ralph Gilbert Bettison and William Templeton Edmond O'Brien ... Winston Smith Michael Redgrave ... O'Connor (O'Brien in the book to avoid confusion with Edmund) Jan Sterling ... Julia David Kossoff ... Charrington the Junk Shop Owner Mervyn Johns ... Jones Donald Pleasence ... R. Parsons The lurid tagline was: "Will Ecstasy Be a Crime ...In the Terrifying World of the Future?"

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