Fahrenheit (451) Movie Review

French auteur Francois Truffaut adapts Ray Bradbury's classic novel about an oppressive future where books are burned. Firemen are responsible for eliminating all books by burning them – Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper begins to burn. Recollections of firemen putting out fires have become ancient myths. The story follows Montag, a fireman, content and unquestioning in his work, until he meets a book-loving subversive played by Julie Christie (who also plays Montag's pill-popping, TV-addicted wife). Montag begins to question the morality of his actions, and actually begins to read the books he is supposed to burn. Enthralled by the words of Dickens, Montag too becomes a rebel from the police state. Though heavy handed in its portrayal of a society where free thought has been outlawed, the film does succeed in capturing the essence of the novel (the credits are spoken, instead of displayed on screen), if not the subtleties. A haunting ending helps make up for slow going early on. Oskar Werner gives a solid performance as the hero who begins the question the system, and Cyril Cusack is splendid as his evil boss. Bernard Herrmann provides the dramatic score. This was Truffaut's first color and only English-language film.

1966 112m/C Oskar Werner, Julie Christie, Cyril Cusack, Anton Diffring, Jeremy Spenser; D: Francois Truffaut; W: Francois Truffaut, Jean-Louis Richard; C: Nicolas Roeg; M: Bernard Herrmann. VHS, Beta, LV MCA, MLB, INJ