I saw most of Dr. Zhivago, the classic film based on Boris Paternak's novel by the same name. But what I found fascinating was a film about the making of this film which followed. This is narrated by Omar Sharif, who played that character. The film itselfwas directed by David Lean, who had just finished Lawrence of Arabia, it seems.
The story has strong political (anti-communist) overtones, and was suppressed in book form by the Establishment in the Soviet Union. The film, however, was conceptualised as a love story of Zhivago and two women in his life- a wife and a non-wife. The roles were essayed by Geraldine Chaplin and Julie Christie. David has a fascination for the outdoors, obvious in Lawrence of Arabia too, and there are magnificient location shots in this film, shot in Finland and Spain. Spain, because they needed a studio with editing and other facilities. Snow-driven landscapes were sometimes created, and some shot in real time snow.
An ice-palace was a striking innovation created out of wax being plastered over furniture and being frozen into place. The first cinematographer left after disagreements. Many seasons had to be re-created on the same location, so leaves of trees got painted overnight sometimes to match spring or autumn.
It is a long film, and Zhivago does not meet the heroine (non-wife) until 2 hours into it. So, an initial scene was written in to tell viewers of the possibility of this happening. Omar Sharif was told to underplay his character, and was not too happy.
The movie missed out the best film Oscar to a worthy contender in 1966- The Sound of Music!
The story has strong political (anti-communist) overtones, and was suppressed in book form by the Establishment in the Soviet Union. The film, however, was conceptualised as a love story of Zhivago and two women in his life- a wife and a non-wife. The roles were essayed by Geraldine Chaplin and Julie Christie. David has a fascination for the outdoors, obvious in Lawrence of Arabia too, and there are magnificient location shots in this film, shot in Finland and Spain. Spain, because they needed a studio with editing and other facilities. Snow-driven landscapes were sometimes created, and some shot in real time snow.
An ice-palace was a striking innovation created out of wax being plastered over furniture and being frozen into place. The first cinematographer left after disagreements. Many seasons had to be re-created on the same location, so leaves of trees got painted overnight sometimes to match spring or autumn.
It is a long film, and Zhivago does not meet the heroine (non-wife) until 2 hours into it. So, an initial scene was written in to tell viewers of the possibility of this happening. Omar Sharif was told to underplay his character, and was not too happy.
The movie missed out the best film Oscar to a worthy contender in 1966- The Sound of Music!
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