Fahrenheit 451 Movie: 1966 Version:
The first iteration of the book takes happens and released in 1966. Overall the aesthetics of the film felt to line up with the book. There were flat view screens that resembled today’s flat led televisions. There were the interaction mode as if someone were watching the interactive movies such as Bandersnatch or Kimmy Schmidt. The view seems to take place in a European city but without paid extras. The homes seemed to be like a village/town in the English countryside. These nuances of the film capturing the time with
1) Le Internationale
The film version has more of a European flavor – Quelle surprise! This adaptation was Truffaut’s first English language AND color film. It’s no surprise he stayed away from the Hollywood clichés. I don’t think there is a single American voice in the film. It’s not an American Society and I like that as It can be any society, at any time, anywhere.
2) FIRE!
There is so much fire in this film that you can smell it. Close-ups of burning books with flames, eating the words off their pages, are spectacular. The color red SCREAMS at you for attention against the plain, beige set. With fire comes power and Montag starts to see the destruction HE is part of – why are we killing people over words on paper? The flames that once burned FOR the system are turned on the system, as Montag’s last fire is the flaming of his boss, Beatty.
3) Linda Montag…Who?
Julie Christie plays Linda Montag. Who is Linda? Linda is the sum of their society – on pills to pick her up, and to help her sleep, she forgets her suicide attempts and is only interested in her shallow dramas. She IS willing to bend a little for her husband when she discovers he reads books. In the end, it’s too much for her and she leaves Montag. Only to be killed by the system that created her. Christie plays the character well, but really embodies Mildred from the book.
4) Clarisse…
Also played by Julie Christie, Clarisse in the movie is very similar to the one from the book. The production aged her to be 20 years of age and school teacher. The choice for this is unclear. It can be fathomed by the fact that an older woman was playing her but also Linda. She has the same spunky attitude and questions everything. One of the most important scenes from the book is when Montag is questioning mortality from what was seen and must call in. Millie/Mildred (whom I will refer to as Millie) chastises Montag for being afraid to call into work. In the movie, Clarisse is having an issue, follows Montag, and corners him to get help. She is the one who calls in and pretends to be Linda to get Montage free for the day to assist her with the problem. This alteration changes the effect of the previous scene that really affects Montague and how he will deal with the upcoming change.
5) The Score
The score enhances the character’s emotional journal which is composed by Bernard Herrmann (Fame for Cape Fear, Citizen Kane & Taxi Driver with several Hitchcock films). He is a master composer that fills the screen with suspense, fear, and haunting emotion.
The 1966 Movie’s Purpose
Truffaut’s 1966 adaptation of the film tries to bring the book to life. As per the reasons above, it does a decent job. It tries to stay true to the book. The big elements are present while removing other vital things from book. For example, imagery is used in the movie. Eating apples is a sign of devouring knowledge. There are a few scenes within the movie that shows one firemen eating it and then Montag. Finally, in the end, there is another which symbolizes that the thirst for knowledge will continue. Everyone within this movie has vices. While some more than other, Linda is shown to be a drug addict and addict of viewing screen. The primary issues with this not being as good as the book, as stated above, the aging-up Clarisse and being played by the same actor. After watching it twice, some other papers tried to say that School Teacher Clarisse and Montag were falling for each other. A plus for the movie are the visuals. For example, the flat view screens were great to see especially when there only those CRT television. Beatty is toned down but delivers the same speeches but more as giving advice within a job and not as a warning. The best scene that was created for the film was when they were going to burn down the home. All the firemen slid down the pole. Montag eating an apple, goes back for another slice and took the stairs. Beatty asks, “The pole not good enough for you?” In a nutshell, Captain Betty tells Montag, “books have nothing to say, and novels tell stories of people who never existed. This makes people dissatisfied with their own lives. We’ve all got to be alike. The only way to be happy is to be alike.” To conclude, 1966 version is a great adaptation for someone who has never read book.
