Opening Night Gala: Far From the Madding Crowd (1967)

John Schlesinger’s sumptuously evocative version of Thomas Hardy’s story of love and betrayal, shot on locations across Dorset 60 years ago.

Starring three British screen icons of the 1960s – Terence Stamp, Julie Christie and Alan Bates – Schlesinger assembled the cream of British cinema for the project. Frederic Raphael (Eyes Wide Shut, Rogue Male) adapted the novel, after working with Schlesinger on Darling. The spellbinding cinematography, capturing the characters in the vast Wessex landscape, is by Nicolas Roeg who would later go on to direct Don’t Look Now and The Man Who Fell to Earth. And the haunting score, by BAFTA-winning composer, Richard Rodney Bennett, incorporates traditional folk songs into the elemental sounds of the landscape.

Raw, earthy and epic – with locations from Abbotsbury to Maiden Castle to Weymouth – Far from the Madding Crowd was very much Made in Dorset! Chris Chibnall

UK, 1967. Director John Schlesinger. Screenplay by Frederic Raphael from the 1874 novel by Thomas Hardy. With Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, Alan Bates. 170 mins + 20 min interval. U

Introduced by Chris Chibnall.

Julie Christie also stars in Fahrenheit 451 (François Truffaut, 1966) screening on Thu 23 Apr at 2.15pm.

Screening sponsored by

Drinks by Dorset Nectar Cider and New House Farm. Flowers by Meadowsweet Flowers and Floristry.

Screening at BAC
£9.50/£8.50/£7
25-and-under £5
10% off for BAC supporters

BFI programme notes

380557