IMDb > 1984 (1956)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   752 votes
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Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Anderson
Writers:
George Orwell (novel)
Ralph Gilbert Bettison (writer) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for 1984 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
September 1956 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Sci-Fi more
Tagline:
Will Ecstasy Be a Crime ...In the Terrifying World of the Future? more
Plot:
George Orwell's novel of a totalitarian future society in which a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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NewsDesk:
'Animal House' Star Vernon Dies
 (From WENN. 7 February 2005)
User Comments:
Bad Casting, Lack of Suspense more (11 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Edmond O'Brien ... Winston Smith
Michael Redgrave ... Gen. O'Connor
Jan Sterling ... Julia
David Kossoff ... Charrington the Junk Shop Owner
Mervyn Johns ... Jones

Donald Pleasence ... R. Parsons
Carol Wolveridge ... Selina Parsons
Ernest Clark ... Outer Party Announcer
Patrick Allen ... Inner Party Official
Ronan O'Casey ... Rutherford
Michael Ripper ... Outer Party Orator
Ewen Solon ... Outer Party Orator
Kenneth Griffith ... Prisoner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Jacobs ... Telescreen (voice)
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:90 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16
Company:
Holiday Film Productions Ltd. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Donald Pleasence also appeared in the 1954 television version, playing the character of Syme which in the film is amalgamated with that of Parsons. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in The Fairly OddParents in: Channel Chasers (2004) (TV) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
0 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Bad Casting, Lack of Suspense, 2 February 2009
6/10
Author: Greg Treadway (treadwaywrites) from United States

Hopefully everyone knows the story of author George Orwell's novel and then the subsequent movie, Nineteen Eighty-Four. Even the cult classic movie Brazil in 1985 has an Orwell type features and themes through the entire fabric of the film. In fact the working title for for the highly futuristic Brazil was 1984 and a half.

In the future, the people of Oceania are in a endless, living in a state of poverty, fear, and oppression. Even personal will and thought are monitored for the common good. Meals are rationed and virtually every move is monitored through video cameras and police agents. Winston has memories of when life was better and he expounds about it in a private journal that he keep hidden. Winston begins making eye contact with a younger woman named Julia; it's not long afterward that they are part of the rebellion against the state.

George Orwell published his book in 1949. The novel found fame because of its portrayal of everyone watching everyone else and loss of personal rights in the face of a oppressive government. He chose the year 1984 as the target date for Big Brother as he called it.

There was a BBC version of the movie followed by the 1956 Edward O'Brien film. Together the movies were able to cause only a minor stir and that was for sending people back to the book to read the full story. This version was directed by Michael Anderson who did such films as Around the World in 80 Days and Logan's Run in 1976. This movie is just not well done, it lacks timing and any degree of suspense. If you can find the BBC version try that one first. Even though there is some combining of characters, Donald Pleasance is in it and does a pretty good job.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Were there really 2 versions of 1984 made in 1956? joan.murphy
Availability of 1956 version of 1984 - Edmond O'Brien anjinsan
Living in 1984? cinematalogist
Donald Pleasance mastrmeb
Availabilty of 1984 orbitmedia-1
For those who have read the book softwarestop
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