The Great Gatsby

Released Jul 13, 1949

1 hr. 32 min.

Drama

List

33%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

41%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Nick Carraway (Macdonald Carey) resides among Long Island's elite during the 1920s. His enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Alan Ladd), invites him to a party at his mansion, where they become acquainted. Nick slowly gets caught up in Gatsby's obsession with his lost love, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan (Betty Field), who is now married to Tom Buchanan (Barry Sullivan). Nick foresees inevitable tragedy as Gatsby undertakes bolder and bolder advances toward Daisy.

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kevin w

Although this version pads the story more than F. Scott Fitzgerald elected to do, filling out the details of Gatsby's "mysterious" past (how can it be mysterious if they tell you all about him, eh?), the general idea of the tale remains, that of a decent guy from the poor side of the tracks seduced to a kind of blindness by the allure of prosperity and social standing. The casting aids substantially, with Alan Ladd excellent as the dreaming-while-awake Gatsby, Shelley Winters as his female doppelganger on the wrong side of town, and Ruth Hussey and Macdonald Carey as Jordan and Nick, members of the in-crowd now doubting whether membership means anything in the face of a blatant disregard for humanity. This is a decent version of the story, close to the era from which it first sprung.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Ladd is a excellent choice for Gatsby and Shelley Winters perfect for Myrtle but the film is hampered by miscasting in most every other role. The flat look of the film betrays the luxury settings inherent in the book. Not bad but surely not a definitive version.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

This adaptation is very dark and gripping - more so than any other version I've seen thus far. Ladd is the best Gatsby to date and if you are not too particular about a faithful book adaptations, this movie will keep you entertained. The only reasons I wouldn't give it 5 stars is a super low production value and the fact that it seems to be set in late 30's/early 40's rather than in the roaring 20's (based on the costumes, interiors, cars - etc). That makes it confusing with the story line. :) Unlike Redford's wooden performance and DiCaprio's gross overacting, this Gatsby is much more vulnerable, subtle and I dare you not to root for him. I double dare you...:)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Static version of the novel, with Betty Field miscast as Daisy Buchanan.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Seems rather lacking in ambition, skimming lightly through most of the story. Occasional particularly effective scenes stand out; Gatsby displaying his stuff (which brought me to realize that James Franco's character, Alien, in SPRING BREAKERS is modeled on Gatsby), and Gatsby's demise among them.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Far superior to the Robert Redford 70's version. Hopefully the 2012 remake will hold up to this one. Saw this in May at the Palm Springs Film Noir Festival in a packed house. Alan Ladd does a more gangster and gentleman take on the role, while still being subtle. He is our unsung hero throughout the film. His death scene is memorable and haunting even by today's standards. The set pieces are stunning and the cars are phenomenal.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Elliott Nugent

Director

Alan Ladd

Jay Gatsby

Betty Field

Daisy Buchanan

Macdonald Carey

Nicholas 'Nick' Carraway

Ruth Hussey

Jordan Baker

Barry Sullivan

Tom Buchanaan

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The F. Scott Fitzgerald characters never come entirely to life. Alan Ladd tries hard as the fated young opportunist.

Jul 25, 2019

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TIME Magazine

Unfortunately, the movie version misses many of its opportunities.

May 8, 2013

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Variety Staff

Variety

Elliott Nugent's direction skips along the surface of the era depicted. The script doesn't give him much substance to work with.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Fr. Chris Carpenter

Movie Dearest

An interesting, film noir-ish take on the novel. The screenplay takes some liberties with the source material but (Alan) Ladd gives an exceptionally sensitive performance as the lovelorn millionaire. Excellent supporting cast.

Rated: B

May 3, 2014

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Elliott Nugent directs with some atmospheric touches, but can't counter screenwriter Richard Maibaum's verbosity.

Rated: 2/5

May 8, 2013

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TV Guide

A large part of what makes this version work is the glacial central presence of Alan Ladd, who's quite convincing as a man with a mysterious past.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 8, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

Nick Carraway (Macdonald Carey) resides among Long Island's elite during the 1920s. His enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Alan Ladd), invites him to a party at his mansion, where they become acquainted. Nick slowly gets caught up in Gatsby's obsession with his lost love, the beautiful Daisy Buchanan (Betty Field), who is now married to Tom Buchanan (Barry Sullivan). Nick foresees inevitable tragedy as Gatsby undertakes bolder and bolder advances toward Daisy.

Director: Elliott Nugent
Screenwriter: Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 1949, Original