Doctor Zhivago Movie Review 1965

Sweeping adaptation of the Nobel Prize-winning Boris Pasternak novel. An innocent Russian poet-intellectual is caught in the furor and chaos of the Bolshevik Revolution. Essentially a poignant love story filmed as a historical epic. Panoramic film popularized the song "Lara's Theme." Overlong, with often disappointing performances, but gorgeous scenery. Lean was more successful in "Lawrence of Arabia," where there was less need for ensemble acting.

Distribution

Home Vision Cinema, c/o Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste. 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, URL: http://www.homevision.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 197 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, Romantic Drama, Top Grossing Films of 1965, Period Piece: 1910s, World War I, Russia/USSR, Adultery, Cold Spots, Doctors & Nurses, Marriage, Writers, Russian Revolution, Historical Romance

Screenplay

Robert Bolt

Cast

Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Klaus Kinski, Ralph Richardson, Rita Tushingham, Siobhan McKenna, Tom Courtenay, Bernard Kay, Gerard Tichy, Noel Willman, Geoffrey Keen, Adrienne Corri, Jack MacGowran, Mark Eden, Erik Chitty, Peter Madden, Jose Maria Caffarell, Jeffrey Rockland, Wolf Frees, Lucy Westmore

Cinematography

Frederick A. (Freddie) Young

Director

David Lean

Music

Maurice Jarre

Producer

Carlo Ponti, MGM

Awards

Oscars 1965: Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec., Color, Color Cinematog., Costume Des. (C), Orig. Score; AFI 1998: Top 100; Golden Globes 1966: Actor--Drama (Sharif), Director (Lean), Film--Drama, Screenplay, Score; Natl. Bd. of Review 1965: Actress (Christie).