In Appreciation: The Great Gatsby (1974)

With all of the attention focused on the first trailer for December's upcoming remake of The Great Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguirs stars), I thought it was time to re-evaluate the 1974 film version which starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.

The film itself has some legendary stories behind it. It is the third remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic tale of love between the flighty Daisy Buchanan and mysterious bootlegger Jay Gatsby. Producer Robert Evans bought the rights so that his wife Ali MacGraw could star; when they divorced, a worldwide casting effort was launched. Mia Farrow (Rosemary's Baby) won the role of Daisy. Among those considered were Cybill Shepherd, Candice Bergen, and Natalie Wood.

Francis Coppola was credited with the screenplay, which he was working on while simultaneously prepping The Godfather. He replaced Truman Capote, whose screenplay was considered a disappointment.

The film's beauty and 1920s authenticity resulted in two Oscar wins for Best Costume Design and Best Music. And although it grossed $26,000,000 on a budget of $6,500,000, the film was considered a disapoointment. Looking at it again, it is exceedingly well-acted, especially from Bruce Dern and Sam Waterston, but Redford and Farrow failed to generate any real romantic sparks. Still, it's a good version of a classic tale.

To view the new trailer for The Great Gatsby:

To purchase the 1974 version of Gatsby on DVD, click here: