MovieChat Forums > 1984 Discussion > Edmond O'Brien terribly miscast

Edmond O'Brien terribly miscast

posted 12 years ago by skat1140
9 replies | jump to latest

First, the accent. Jesus. He's in Oceania (London) and was born there. Everyone -- Everyone -- else speaks with a British accent. But he's lumbering around with this taxi-driver, imfromnewyorkfuggetaboutit accent. He's ridiculous.

Then, the chemistry. There is no chemistry. This guy isn't a leading man. He is a pack animal of an actor. In "D. O. A." he's superb. In this movie, he's absurd.

I mean, it's still a good movie. I'd watch it just for the Donald Pleasance cameos, but Jesus.

[–] floridagirl47 12 years ago

Wow skat1140, I totally disagree. I don't think Jan Sterling had an accent either. Edmond O'Brien left a huge impact on me from this movie... He was the right combination of terrified, frustrated, angry, rebellious, brave, strong, determined, desperate, then resigned. Jan Sterling was likewise impressive as Edmond's love interest, grasping for what little love and happiness they could under the circumstances. I haven't read the book in many years, but I am sure things were left out of the movie, however, I still had the same feeling of terror and hopelessness that I had when I read the book.

[–] andremarshna2003 10 years ago

I agree Edmond O' Brien is badly miscast. Winston Smith should be played by a tall gaunt actor The BFI has Robert Lennard casting papers for the film( which I have Seen) there was about 40 or so British actors shortlisted for the role a lot of them good ideas but they hired the wrong guy.

[–] Jamal-Nazreddin 9 years ago

^ Wow

I'd like to see the first choice for the role.

O'Brien is fat and that woman looks like a heifer.

Redgrave would have been a better Winston.

[–] csecet 7 years ago

Just saw this version of 1984 and he looks too well fed to play a sickly Winston, especially during the torture sequence. John Hurt is the best in the '84 version, Peter Cushing is next in the '54 version. O'Brien was very good in Anatomy of a Murder and Fantastic Voyage but is miscast here. Jan Sterling was good as Julia. Surprising to see Donald Pleasance in both the '54 and '56 version. He's always good, and would play a similar role in another dystopia THX1138. Despite the miscast, I still enjoyed this version.

[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 5 years ago

Yes, he is too chubby and, frankly, looks too old to play a convincing Winston. When he comments to David Kossof's antique store owner that he must remember the days when Winston was a small child... well O'Brien was four years older than Kossof and even with the latter's old age makeup, there does not seem to be an age gap in the opposite direction. I generally like O'Brien as an actor but this is severe miscasting.

I don't think Jan Sterling worked in the role, either. Michael Redgrave was commanding, of course, and Pleasance was good in his brief role.

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 2 years ago

David Niven played it.on the radio. How about him for the Film?

[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 2 years ago

Hmm, an interesting thought… Niven always had something of the upper-class gentleman about him and it’s hard to imagine him as the downtrodden Winston, but maybe…

I could picture Niven as O’Brien actually. That could have been inspired casting, his dashing charm masking the sinister truth.

[–] liscarkat (16515) 2 years ago

When I recently read the book, before I knew O'Brien was cast in the movie, for some reason I imagined Oscar Werner as Winston. I know, not a British accent, but if they had made a movie of "1984" in the 1960s he was the right physical type and age, and had the right demeanor of melancholy.

[–] Jones70 (6195) 2 years ago

I’ll have to watch this sometime.