Very well executed

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

I am not quite sure how Sophia's first meeting with Tom, when they are children, is dealt with in the book, not having read it, only flicked through - I think it is all description and reported speech. When we first see them together in this adaptation, they have obviously met before, as they address each other by name. I was quite surprised, however, that they addressed each other by their titles, especially, young Sophia calling Tom 'Mr Jones'. The two actors can only have been about 12 years old; I presume they were playing children of similar ages. I wonder if it felt strange for them, even though they were only acting, and wonder if young boys were addressed as 'Mr' at the time the novel was written.

Other posters have stated that the Finney version of this story is the best.I wholeheartedly disagree. This story, as with most of Henry Fielding's stories, is intended as a parody of English 'morality' in his day. The Finney version is a lot of fun, but it's just a film about silly people wandering the countryside. In the A&E version, Brian Blessed performed his character (Mr. Western) in exactly the over-the-top correct way to ridicule the English wealthy. Mr. Allworthy was absolutely perfect as someone who believes that since he is a good honest man, the rest of the world must be good and honest as well. Tom's aunt has the line that in my opinion sums up the meaning of this book/movie (paraphrased), "It is not enough that your actions are good, you must make sure that they appear to be so."

I like this movie. I think all characters were played very well and Max Beesley was a charming and handsome Tom Jones. The story had me so captivated that I watched the whole series in one sitting. As with any movie that I really enjoy, I wished it would go on. My only complaint is that I don't think the sexuality had to be so blatant. The costumes were beautiful, as were the sets.It was interesting to watch how the poor lived and were treated. You don't experience this aspect in a Jane Austin story.I can see why this story was so scandalous when first published. These are still bad people by today's standards!

I was looking for an earlier version of this movie because I saw it mentioned in an article in Vogue (about a designer, I think it was Diane von Faustenberg, who modeled her wedding on this movie) and got the impression that it would have beautiful costumes. I rented this version without realizing it was the wrong one but I was not entirely disappointed. The costumes were okay but it was the story I loved. It is such an interesting and engaging story and the acting was good. I couldn't wait to see what else could happen to poor Tom Jones next. I thought that Honor, the lady's maid was an exceptionally entertaining true character and that Benjamin Whitrow as the good squire was totally believable, he was the personification of a good sober man. The movie is long but I couldn't tear myself away from it. In a world of movies with weak plots this movie was hearty as stew. I'm going to try to find the 1960's version too.