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| Fahrenheit 451 |
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  (9/10)
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Runtime: 112 |
| Public Rating: 6.00 (17 votes) |
Director: Francois Truffaut |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Science Fiction |
Year: 1966 |
| Writer(s): Jean-Louis Richard, Truffaut, with additional dialogue by David |
| Reviewed by: Aaron Graham |
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"These Books Were Alive And Spoke To Me"
--The Book Lady (Bee Duffell).
Francois Truffaut made his only English language speaking film with "Fahrenheit 451", it's based on Ray Bradbury's book of the same name, and was adapted by Truffaut and Jean-Louis Richard, with additional dialogue (because Truffaut and Richard could barely speak English) by David Rudkin and Helen Scott.
The story centres around Guy Montag (Oskar Werner, making his first English peformance, as well) a fireman of the future whose job it is to burn books. He comes into contact with a woman who looks like his wife (Julie Christie) and starts to learn from her why books are so bad, because that will mean people will start to think for themselves.
The film is part French Nouvelle Vague, part straight Sci-Fi, and part Bradbury brilliance all rolled up into an enoromously entertaining feature.
Cyril Cusack gets most of the best lines, he plays the fire Captain. His off the wall remarks spoken so seriously about how people are only happy when they are all the same is pretty damn investing.
The cinematography, by Nicolas Roeg, looked very Hitchcockian. A lot like "Torn Curtain" or "The Birds". It's not grainy but very clear and the last scene in white snow terrain looks dazzling.
Music is by Bernard Herrmann (more Hitchcockian likeness) and does its effective job. Although not one of his best scores, it suffices.
The future society is not overplayed with visuals (like most of the Bradbury book covers) it's just a simple town with the firemen wearing weird helmets and driving strange firetrucks. It's interesting to see, but there's no 'cool, sci-fi fx' here. Just plain storytelling, albeit in a science fiction genre.
"Fahrenheit 451" is an interesting Science Fiction film, not too abstract, so it'll be completely watchable and engrossing for the casual viewer.
This is unlike any Truffaut film i've ever seen, simply dazzling to look at and a great story. It's one of those films that you just know days after you watch it, the themes and ideas represented will play out in your mind.
Also, read the Bradbury book. It's even better. Plus, you don't want to turn into a bookless, mindless zombie like the people represented in the future!
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