Tom Jones (1963)

Best Quote: There are a set of religious, or rather moral writers, who teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery, in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true.”

Based on the 18th century comic masterpiece. The movie ditches Fielding's bemused, satirical wit for mugging, slapstick, and bawdiness. Often described as ribald and hilarious - I found it smirky and unfunny. One man's "ribaldry" is another man's "tedious vulgarity'. Further, the plot is episodic, the direction often annoying, and Tom Jones -the character - a bore. On the plus side, Susannah York and movie are nice to look at and Edith Evans is always funny. Rating **1/2