50 years ago: Doctor Zhivago, another epic from director David Lean, released

Doctor Zhivago Released: December 31, 1965 Studio: MGM Genre: epic/romance Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 111.72 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 1217.89 Worldwide: 2526.00

Directing: David Lean Screenwriting: Robert Bolt Starring: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Tom Courtenay, Rod Steiger, Geraldine Chaplin Review: Director David Lean, who’d already helmed The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, delivers yet another “sprawling, visually stunning epic.” BFI Doctor Zhivago, based on Boris Pasternak’s novel, is set in Russia during World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution. “Its stunning set-pieces include the huge crowd scenes in Moscow, the train sequences and the beautiful snowy vistas.” BFI It tells the story of the titular character (Sharif) and how, although married (to Chaplin), falls for Lara (Christie). She “inspire[s] him to write beautiful love poems that contrast with the stark realities of life in Russia after the 1917 Communist Revolution.” A98 The movie is also “memorable for its haunting music score and stunning cinematography. Lean collaborated with cinematographer Freddie Young for the second time.” A07 Sources: A98 American Film Institute (1998). “AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies” A07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” BFI British Film Institute (1999) “The BFI 100: A Selection of the Favourite British Films of the 20th Century”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Box Office: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 5 – Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Art/Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Original Music Score Nominations: 5 – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tom Courtenay), Best Sound, Best Film Editing Other Lists/Honors: First posted 5/30/2023.

 

The Sound of Music released 50 years ago today

The Sound of Music Released: April 1, 1965 Studio: 20th Century Fox Genre: musical/romance Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 163.21 Worldwide: ? Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 1397.92 Worldwide: 2884.00

Directing: Robert Wise Screenwriting: Ernest Lehman Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Peggy Wood Review: Music, comedy, romance, and drama “are woven perfectly into this beautiful film” VD “adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical,” A7 which, in turn, was based on the true story of the von Trapp family. Maria (Andrews) is a restless nun prone to daydreaming and, as seen in the memorable opening, roaming the hills and belting out the title song. When it becomes clear the Abbey isn’t for her, she’s assigned as the governess to the von Trapp family. The seven children, ages 5 to 16, “have a well-deserved reputation for scaring off caretakers, but Maria wins them over” FS with their shared love of music through songs like “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favorite Things,” which became iconic because of the movie. It takes a bit more effort, but she also warms the heart of their stern, widowed father, Captain von Trapp (Plummer). Their blossoming romance, however, is overshadowed by the impending threat of Nazi occupation in their native Austria. Maria and the von Trapps have to find a way to escape before their country is invaded. Sources: A7 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition” FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films” VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Box Office: Oscars: Wins: 5 – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Adapted Score, Best Film Editing Nominations: 10 – including Best Actress (Andrews), Best Supporting Actress (Wood), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Color Costume Design Awards: Other Lists/Honors: First posted 8/25/2019; last updated 5/29/2023.