Bartleby is a 1970 British drama film directed by Anthony Friedman and starring Paul Scofield, John McEnery and Thorley Walters.[1] It is an adaptation of the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener; A Story of Wall-street" by Herman Melville. The film relocates the narrative from New York in the 1850s to London in the 1970s.[2]
Bartleby | |
---|---|
Directed by | Anthony Friedman |
Screenplay by | Rodney Carr-Smith Anthony Friedman |
Based on | "Bartleby, the Scrivener; A Story of Wall-street" by Herman Melville |
Produced by | Rodney Carr-Smith |
Starring | Paul Scofield John McEnery Thorley Walters |
Cinematography | Ian Wilson |
Edited by | John S. Smith |
Music by | Roger Webb |
Production companies | Pantheon Film Productions Amber Entertainment |
Distributed by | British Lion Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
It was shot at Twickenham Studios and on location around London. The sets were designed by the art director Simon Holland.
Plot edit
Bartleby, a young audit clerk, is defeated by the pressures of modern life; he gradually opts out of all forms of social engagement and withdraws into his own world.
Cast edit
- Paul Scofield - The Accountant
- John McEnery - Bartleby
- Thorley Walters - The Colleague
- Colin Jeavons - Tucker
- Raymond Mason - Landlord
- Charles Kinross - Tenant
- Neville Barber - First Client
- Robin Askwith - Office Boy
- Hope Jackman - Hilda - Tealady
- John Watson - Doctor
- Christine Dingle - Patient
- Rosalind Elliot - Miss Brown - Secretary
- Tony Parkin - Dickinson - Clerk
Critical reception edit
The TV Guide reviewer commented that "the film is brooding, slow, and annoying at times, but the vision of McEnery as Bartleby is not easily forgotten. Scofield...gives a supremely intelligent portrayal of a man caught between logic and emotion."[3]
Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic wrote about Bartleby- "a poor film but with superb acting in it".[4]
References edit
- ^ "Bartleby (1970)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ Greenspun, Roger (7 February 1972). "Movie Review - Bartleby - Melville's 'Bartleby' Transformed for the Screen". NYTimes.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ "Bartleby Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ Kauffmann, Stanley (1974). Living Images Film Comment and Criticism. Harper & Row Publishers. p. 99.
External links edit