Far From the Madding Crowd

Julie Christie is enchanting and luminous as Bathsheba Everdene, a beautiful young heiress who defies conventions and attracts the amorous attentions of three suitors, in John Schlesinger's epic 1967 film of Thomas Hardy's classic novel. Inheriting her uncle's farm, headstrong Bathsheba proves to be a smart and capable businesswoman, but she's capricious when it comes to romance. Alan Bates plays Gabriel Oak, the plainspoken shepherd and rejected suitor who manages her livestock; Peter Finch is William Boldwood, a wealthy older man with whom she flirts; and Terence Stamp is Sgt. Troy, the dashing cavalry officer she marries after a passionate courtship involving a flamboyant display of swordsmanship (one of the picture's most memorable scenes). Set in a lush countryside of rolling hills in the late 19th century, this is beautifully lensed by Nicolas Roeg (who soon became a major director in his own right). Schlesinger captures the era with meticulous attention to detail while also bringing modern flair to the storytelling, but the film was a financial and critical flop in the U.S. Still, its reputation has only grown over the years and it will likely attract renewed interest thanks to the current remake starring Carey Mulligan. Newly remastered for its Blu-ray debut, extras include an extended version of the film, and a location featurette. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)