DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)

Directed by: David Lean

Screenplay by: Robert Bolt

Cast: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness

As a love story, Zhivago is pretty weak: The two lovers (played by Sharif and Christie) are not convincing in conveying passionate and irrepressible desire. What's more, David Lean is not a poet of the heart; his depiction of lovers is sophomoric (Summertime might his best effort at this). What he can do, however, and what he is a genius at is making the screen come alive with precise physical detail. His recreation of Bolshevik-era Russia is magnificent: it feels astonishingly real, like the screen itself might've frozen over around the edges if the shot held a second longer. Beautiful cinematography by Freddie Young and set design by John Box, together with excellent performances combine to form Zhivago's timeless appeal--this, as far as I know, is Omar Shariff's best remembered role; Julie Christie, so sensuous and demure at once, can make a guy break out in a sweat; and Rod Steiger as a cad who becomes the lovers' dubious benefactor is terrific. An entertaining saga, though not wholly convincing and involving.

Runtime: 197 min.

Jay Antani © 2006 Perihelion Journal