DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

The second classic I'm looking at is the 1965 adaptation of the novel by Boris Pasternak with Omar Sharif in the title roll and who received a Golden Globe Award as best actor for that. The film itself earned five Oscars.

In essence it is the love story of ( or rather a love triangle between) the Doctor, his wife, Tonya (played by Geraldine Chaplin) and the actual love of his life, Lara (wonderfully portrayed by Julie Christie) all set against the Russian Revolution which took place during the early 1900's. But over the years the movie perhaps became move known for its hauntingly beautiful music score by famous French composer and conductor, Maurice Jarre; more specifically Lara's Theme (which has since been recorded by almost every orchestra of note!)

However, at more than three hours the movie tends to be a bit overlong. I think there are too many protracted shots of the bleak snow covered landscapes and one gets the impression that director David Lean tries too hard to use that in order to capture the somber mood of the story itself. Be that as it may, it still remains a very good movie of its era and as such I awarded it three out of five stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GkLjncctic  

   The 'Ice House'