Fella_shibby

I saw this for the first time few days back immediately after reading a glowing review by Coventry. The review souded a bit similar to the recent Korean thriller Revelations which I enjoyed. After viewing i found the commonality was sympathy towards the killer due to his medical condition n people's ignorance.

Also both the films showcased the dangers of childhood trauma.

Another good thing in both the movies is that we feel empathy towards the killers due to their performances, of course the medical condition is the real deal.

In this movie José Luis López Vázquez as the peddler is very convincing and his performance gives the film an air of tragedy.

The movie tells the story of Romasanta, a 19th century, peddler who in real life claimed to have suffered lycanthropy as an excuse for the murders he committed.

I saw this version for the first time recently after watching the John Hurt version.

This version is mild compared to the John Hurt version.

In this version room 101 ain't that scary n the mice r never shown.

Also this one is not as bleak n dark like the John Hurt version.

We have Donald Pleasance as Parsons.

In this version too, both Winston n Julia r rehabilitated n both forget their love. Both confess to their betrayal but they bump into each other somewhere outside n not in Chestnut Tree café.

Winston is totally brainwashed n he accepts his love for Big Brother. Exactly from the book.

Interesting trivia: The character played by Sir Michael Redgrave is called "O'Brien" in the original novel, but, as Edmond O'Brien was cast as Winston Smith, the name was changed to "O'Connor" for this movie.

But this movie has an alternate ending An alternate ending was also shot and produced, in which Winston rebels against his brainwashing and starts to shout "Down with Big Brother!" before being shot down. Julia runs to his aid and suffers the same fate.

Saw this movie for the first time recently after having read the book now in 2025.

It is a solid adaptation of George Orwell's novel.

The director Radford succeeded in creating the book's physical description. A grimy, depressed industrial jungle, with telescreens looming over the scurrying citizens and announcers 24/7 spreading propaganda.

It was good to see Richard Burton as O'Brien, the Party official who tortures Smith into embracing Big Brother.

The highlight is John Hurt as Winston Smith, the frail-looking fella who works for the Ministry of Truth, who effectively rewrites history in newspaper articles to befit the current regime.

The description of the torture in room 101 is truly frightening, savage n like a worst nightmare. Room 101 contains each prisoner's worst fear and Smith's childhood fear is that of rats.

It's never shown, never depicted in the movie but just a description is uttered by OBrien.

"Two wild hungry rats waiting to pounce on a tied person (Smith's) face. OBrien says that the rats may attack the eyes first n maybe the cheeks later via which the rats will enter the mouth". Smith denounces Julia and pledges allegiance to the Party after the threat of the rat torture.

The book n this movie suggests that Julia is likewise subjected to her own worst fear, although it is not revealed what that fear is.

In this version both Winston n Julia r rehabilitated n both forget their love. Both confess to their betrayal.

Winston accepts his love for Big Brother. This ending matches the the book.