Goggle Eyes: Fielding, Austen, Hardy

Noticing that the 1963 film of Tom Jones was on television, I recorded it to see me through a very tedious spell of neckband knitting. I was at school when I first saw this film and watching it again it was easy to see why Albert Finney was one of my teen icons. Not that he had much to do here except look handsome and attractive to women; hardly taxing for him in those days. He was absolutely dynamic on stage and everyone thought he’d be the new Olivier but he didn’t want to be. He’s had a strange career, despising honours and luvviedom; an example to lesser talents, I’d say.

Tom Jones was a brave attempt to film a long, rollicking novel and I think captures the spirit of the book quite well. It almost had two casts: the old one, Edith Evans, Hugh Griffith; the young one Finney, Susannah York and David Warner. He was another we schoolgirls admired, especially in Morgan.

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