Director Tony Richardson directed the largely underrated THE LOVED ONE and finished his career with powerful drama BLUE SKY. But before those films, he directed a bawdy, best picture-winning screen adaptation of Henry Fielding’s novel TOM JONES.
Albert Finney (TWO FOR THE ROAD) plays the title character, a bastard child raised by a rich man named Squire Allworthy (George Devine, LOOK BACK IN ANGER). Tom is a free-spirited playboy, but he truly loves only one girl – Sophie Western (Susannah York, SUPERMAN). However, Sophie’s father, Squire Western (Hugh Griffith, BEN-HUR), won’t have a bastard marrying his daughter. As well, Tom’s devious cousin Mr. Blifil (David Warner, TRON) schemes to get Tom kicked out of their house. Other key characters include older damsel in distress Mrs. Waters (Joyce Redman, A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE), Squire Western’s snobby city slicker sister (Edith Evans, THE NUN’S STORY), the high-society seductress Lady Bellaston (Joan Greenwood, BARBARELLA), Sophie’s adulterous cousin Mrs. Fitzpatrick (Rosalind Knight, PRICK UP YOUR EARS), the angry Irish husband Mr. Fitzpatrick (George A. Cooper, BLESS THIS HOUSE) and Sophie’s maid Molly Seagrim (Diane Cilento, HOMBRE).