Henry Fielding's Tom Jones (1998)

"It is not enough that your actions are good. You must take care that they appear so." This is one lesson that plucky orphan Tom Jones (Max Beesley, a dead ringer for Ewan McGregor) never learns, charging through life with his chin up and his libido unchecked. With tongue firmly in cheek, narrator Henry Fielding (John Sessions) walks us through this randy satire like a tour guide, proffering introductions and amusing observations as he tours the drama. Beesley is all charm and earthy sincerity as handsome Tom, with Samantha Morton a determined, elegant, and deliciously funny Sophia and red-faced Brit stalwart Brian Blessed (Black Adder) as her blustery, bellowing pater. Comparisons to Tony Richardson's hearty interpretation are inevitable: this 1997 miniseries favors dry wit and understated asides to Richardson's knockabout comedy and high energy, and it's a delight from start to its improbably (and delightfully) contrived conclusion. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Gilbert and Sullivan in a bawdy 17th century way with great laughter and music of the day. Delightful!!!!

I really have to place this production of a very human work of comic delight at the top of my list. Gilbert and Sullivan's Sorcerer is a companion to it and so is Iolanthe. I now know why my dear father told me to read Tom Jones when I was a teenager long ago (he also worshiped Iolanthe). I found it too stilted and of the age it was written. Now I see that it was not that it had lessons of life but that it was so much fun when you know life well (i.e. youth will not understand how funny it is)! And here you have it. Benjamin Whitrow as the father (same in the definitive "Pride and Predudice" production) is so endearing and loving and wise (much like my own dear Dad was). And all the romp with music to match and John Sessions filling in as the commenting Henry Fielding. I believe my sentence is for life and it is to watch this production yearly till death. The music, the actors, the screenplay, the direction, setting (landscape, buildings, dress, etc) are all perfect. Brian Blessed as Sophies dad is so ... well just see it. Thanks All you hard working folks who created this. It was based on a tale from a very humane judge of four hundred years ago and will last as a visual play of his work for another four hundred years. You have created a true lasting masterpiece. Thanks!!!
For all the prudes who are horrified by the morality of this period of England I feel sorrow. Perhaps watching "Moll Flanders" by Daniel Defoe might wake you up to how hard your ancestors had life and that being a good person really means not being cruel to others in the end. Caring in the face of suffering high and low. Morality is so often an excuse for cruelty. Get into the carriage and rock along with Judge Fielding and his tale of human foibles! June 24, 2008

I'd give it ZERO stars if I could.

This movie is just plain terrible and incredibly BORING! Don't waste your time with it. January 11, 2008

Tom Jones

I was more than incredibly disappointed with this film. Disgusted is a better word for to describe my feelings. While illegitimate children, love affairs and intimacy can be shown and talked of in a tasteful manner - this film did it most untastefully. It was full of explicit language and sexual content not to mention nudity and baseness. If it were given a formal rating according to the current ratings, it would definately be 'R'. It is a far cry from, "Pride and Prejudice", "Wives and Daughters" and "North and South". I totally agree with the reviewer that said this movie is " a morally deprived movie and repulsive to people of high moral standard", and I echo , "Shame on you A&E"!!!! September 26, 2007

I love it! This is the best Tom Jones.

I think that "Tom Jones" is my favorite movie. I must have seen the Albert Finney version (at least) a hundred times. I thought that it was impossible to improve on this wonderful movie. BUT I LIKE THIS VERSION EVEN MORE! Max Beesley is as good a Tom as Finney. I loved Susannah York, but Samantha Morton is even more endearing. The one character from the original movie who cannot be improved upon: Hugh Griffith! He is amazingly funny as Squire Western in the 1963 version. The A&E version is much longer than the original, and gives much more delicious detail. Some things are omitted completly from the 1963 movie.
The quality of the DVD is very good (both sound and picture). This is not a good choice if you are easily offended by bawdy behavior. But both versions give a delicious look at life in 18th century England, showing the bad along with the good (and having a lot of fun in the process). February 22, 2007

Another great British miniseries!!

I saw this a couple of years ago on tv. It was very good. The acting is great. I was excited when I came across it on Amazon's website. I bought it immediately. July 25, 2006

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