Description

Based on Thomas Hardy's classic novel, Far from the Madding Crowd is a turbulent tale of passion and destruction set in the 19th century.

Bathsheba Everdene (Paloma Baeza), a beautiful and proud woman with a fiercely independent spirit, ensnares--and almost destroys--three men. She rejects the proposal of the loyal and dependable Gavriel Oak (Nathaniel Parker), who takes a job on her farm because of an unfortunate twist of fate. He can only stand by and watch as Bathsheba mischievously flirts with her neighbor, Mr. Boldwood (Nigel Terry), unleashing a passionate obsession that burns deep within the reserved Gabriel. However, both men are eclipsed by the arrival of the dashing, womanizing soldier, Frank Troy (Jonathan Firth). Despite being in love with another woman, he sees a challenge in Bathsheba and sets out to win her.

Troy manages to tame the wild young woman, but their marriage is instantly doomed, and a dramatic chain of events are set in motion. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A good movie with the hot hunk Nathaniel Parker.
It keeps you entertained and Nathaniel makes some great eye candy in that sexy beard and someone to daydream about. He is a hottie along with Ciaran Hinds, Alan Rickman, Greg Wise, and Richard E. Grant, they are some of my favorite Brit male actors along Geoffrey Rush in Brit films. Gary Oldman is now our American hottie.

Done to perfection...no remakes required!
Having read this book more than once (it is my favorite Thomas Hardy book, and one of my favorite books of all time), and having seen both filmed versions, I have to say that the 1967 version (with Alan Bates, Julie Christie and Peter Finch) cannot hold a candle to this Mobil Masterpiece Theatre presentation (with Nathaniel Parker, Paloma Baeza and Nigel Terry).

The 1967 version was a great disappointment to me -- Julie Christie was, as another reviewer pointed out, too old for the part of Bathsheba, did not fit Hardy's description of her at all, and has never impressed me as much of an actress -- a major casting faux pas, in my opinion. Peter Finch, in an admirable performance as Boldwood, did not elicit the strong feeling of empathy from me, as Nigel Terry did in his portrayal of the character. The greatest surprise to me, in regard to the earlier version, was that I also felt the same about Alan Bates' performance as Gabriel Oak -- he just did not convey the emotions and the quality of Oak's character, as described by Hardy in the book, and I found his portrayal to be PAINFULLY bland and boring. Part of the blame would have to be shared by the director of that version -- the actors appeared to be acting, and neither they, nor the director, seemed to have a firm grasp or understanding of the explicit emotions and personalities of the characters, which Hardy had gone to great effort and detail to describe in the book.

Having seen Nathaniel Parker's interpretation of Gabriel Oak, I cannot imagine anyone else playing the part -- it was the first time I had seen Mr. Parker in any performance, and he ripped my heart out with his portrayal of this noble, dignified, aggrieved and tormented soul. Paloma Baeza was perfectly cast as Bathsheba, and she, Nigel Terry (Boldwood), and Jonathan Firth (Sergeant Troy), seemed to have a thorough comprehension of, and sensitivity toward, the characters as they were intended by Thomas Hardy -- they appeared to have walked straight out of the pages of the book! In addition, the sensitive and intuitive direction by Nicholas Renton drew powerful performances from all, including a superior supporting cast. The accurate period costumes, and beautiful sets and cinematography, serve to round out a production of true quality.

I highly recommend to anyone interested in this story, that he or she consider reading the book first. Although this screenplay remains fairly true to the book, some of the detail which enhances understanding and feeling for the characters, the time period, and the plot, was edited due to time constraints, as is common with filmed productions of great pieces of literature.

Best version on film
I have watched this version several times and must commend it for being more faithful to Hardy and to the spirit of the novel. The use of mostly unknown actors adds to the authenticity of the film, as does the sometimes incomprehensible dialect (that's one reason why one viewing may not do it justice).

The 1967 version with big name actors had its merits, but none of the flavor of the English countryside and its cycle of seasons. Nathaniel Parker is the ultimate Gabriel Oak: wise, trustworthy and patient to a fault. Paloma Baeze is perfect as the willful Bathsheba, Nigel Terry is excellent as an aging suitor descending into madness. Lastly, the music is a wonderful blend of English folk songs and haunting melody.

A superb effort and another reason to watch BBC TV,as if you needed one more.

UNBELIEVABLY EXTRAORDINARY!
I loved this Masterpiece Theater's mini series so much that I bought the video; now I can watch it again and again! Bathsheba Everdene, played brilliantly by the stunning Paloma Baeza (who has the most beautiful speaking voice) unwittingly casts her spell upon three very different men. There is the kind and loyal Gabriel Oak who is convincingly played by Nathaniel Parker. He is Bathsheba's dearest friend, her rock, and the overseer of her estate. Gabriel deeply loves Bathsheba from afar but since he tragically lost his fortune, he can no longer pursue her.
Boldwood (Nigel Terry), the strange and psychotic wealthy neighbor, and the dastardly Officer Frank Troy (Jonathan Firth) also have relationships (albeit abnormal) with Bathsheba. This is a period piece with both lovely and stark scenes of the English countryside. Through much drama, Bathsheba finally comes to her senses at the end of this four-hour production and proposes to the long-suffering Oak. I just love a movie where everyone lives happily ever after!

Masterpiece Theatre at it's best!!
Hardy's Wessex is brought to life in this wonderful adaptation.

Bathsheba Everdine is the beautiful and strong willed mistress of a sheep farm. She raises eyebrows, breaks hearts and makes some bad decisions about love and farming, but has Gabriel Oak to rescue her. Great performances by Paloma Baeza as Bathsheba, Nathaniel Parker as Gabriel and Nigel Terry as Boldwood. There's lots of unconsumated chemistry betw. Baeza and Parker.

Far superior to the 60s Hollywood adaptation. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A brilliant film
This film, and the tv version of Pride and Prejudice, are by far the greatest 19th century dramas I've ever seen. The cast here is masterful - Paloma as Bathsheba, and especially Nathaniel Parker, whose spoken and unspoken expressiveness communicates such a depth of both patient and steady loyalty, compassion, love and turbulent, repressed feeling and desire; he is absolutely haunting! This is a film to watch again and again. My only criticisms are that Boldwood is simply too old and unattractive for us to fully believe in his appeal to young women, and that Nathaniel Parker is simply too handsome to be the homely, rejected but kindhearted Gabriel Oak of this very excellent novel. (And by the way, do read some wonderful quotes from the highly recommended Hardy novel and view photos from the movie at my Far from the Madding Crowd site - under the name BathshebaOak Hardy at Readers Vine!)

A fine, authentic version of Madding Crowd
This latest dramatization of Far From the Madding Crowd (my favorite Thomas Hardy novel) is true to the novel's characters and to its romantic countryside mood. Nathaniel Parker as Gabriel is an example of perfect casting - expressive, gentle and stalwart; and the others are wonderful too. Paloma Baeza seems at first a bit too thoughtful to resemble impetuous Bathsheba but she really acts and looks like a 19th century woman. Jonathan Firth's dashing Troy is the picture of reckless disregard. This version, in my opinion, is MUCH better than the 1960s Julie Christie version, which resembles more a 1960s translation of Hardy than Hardy himself. (And Christie looked nothing like Hardy's dark-haired independent heroine; she was wrong, wrong.) This PBS version is very right, very authentic. A classy, romantic production; I'm glad they filmed it again.

For my homework
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Nice Masterpiece Theater Production
I should start out by saying that I love the book, and I have seen the 60s version of this story and rather liked it. That said, this is a nice little production. The scenery is beautiful, the costumes are great, the music is lovely and appropriate, the acting is solid.

The plot involves the lovely Bathsheba who is the object of affection (obsession?) for three very different men. Paloma Baeza is Bathsheba, she is a good actress but I found her extremely youthful face a bit distressing at times. She just looked too young to be such a tease. Still, she plays her role well.

The three men in her life are the stalwart shepherd Gabriel, the obsessive older farmer Boldwood and the dashing, heartbreaking Sgt. Troy. Nathaniel Parker (very good in Vanity Fair as Becky's clueless husband) plays Gabriel with perhaps more passion than he displayed in the book but he looks the part and anyone who has not read the book would never know the difference. He fits right in and looks quite handsome in the bargain.

Jonathan Firth (Fred in Middlemarch. Brother to Colin Firth of Pride and Prejudice) plays the thankless role of Troy with great relish. (Troy is not a cool villain, he is the sort you boo and hiss at whenever he is on screen, it takes a good actor to carry him off without seeming too Snideley Whiplash about it) He is the only man of the three who excites Bathsheba and he is the only one who is not truly in love with her.

The supporting cast is good, especially Natasha Little (Becky in Vanity Fair) as Troy's cast-off mistress Fanny.

In conclusion, I liked the 60s version a hair better but only a hair and I highly reccomend anyone interested in this story to try both versions as both are good in their own unique way. This version is more accurate with costumes and such but the 6os one is more suitable for family viewing.

Scenes I liked better in this version:

Gabriel looks for a job
Gabriel and Bathsheba's first argument
Troy's sword exercises
Fanny visits Troy at the barracks window

faithful and compelling
i love BOTH versions of this film, but prefer this newer one. it is by far more faithful to the book, including many scenes of hardy's the other version simply cut out to allow for time constraints. both casts are excellent, but, again, i found the newer version's cast just a TAD closer to the book's intent. this bathsheba and gabriel are both totally lovable and pitiable in just the right places. This fanny is absolutely HEARTBREAKING! boldwood and troy are perfect as well. my only complaint is the omission of the gargoyles in the scene where the grave is flooded. if you must choose, get the newer one. if you can afford both - get them both! ... Read more