The battle between old money and new wages again as Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the role of Jay Gatsby in a new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1926 novel “The Great Gatsby.” The film, which begins shooting soon in Australia, will be helmed by director Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge,” “Romeo + Juliet,” “Strictly Ballroom”).
While DiCaprio as Gatsby is an intriguing casting choice — not to mention Toby McGuire as Nick — I was more interested in who would wear the riding boots of WASP prick Tom Buchanan (Bruce Dern is pictured above in the 1974 production).
Buchanan, a Yalie, will be played by Joel Edgerton, whom you’ll no doubt recognize as Owen Lars from the “Star Wars” films “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.”
(Actually, I just remembered that in high school we had a Gatsby costume party and I was chosen to portray the Old Money prick.)
No word if Ralph Lauren will provide costumes, as he did in 1974. — CHRISTIAN CHENSVOLD
Here are some fun recollections of the 1974 version filmed in Newport:
http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/lb_great_gatsby_extras_01-16-10_D7H4587_v8.1eeeb49.html
Hahaha, nice hot-linkage.
Heh.
It’s a great book, probably one of the greatest American novels ever written. I haven’t seen the 1974 movie, but maybe I’ll look into it… I wonder if it’s on netflix…
I hope it’s better than the over hyped Australia. Baz Lurmann’s movies since Strictly Ballroom haven’t lived up to expectations I am afraid.
Of course Buchanan was a prick, he was from Yale after all.
I was out at Martin Greenfield’s a couple weeks back and they had a whole rack of suits and sports coats for Gatsby ready to go (fine looking tweeds and the such). Based on that I would guess in-house costume designer going the Boardwalk Empire route with MG though I could be mistaken.
Always though Bruce Dern as too small to play Buchanan. Buchanan was supposed to be a big, bluff, bravado-y guy. Dern is kinda’ diminuitive and squeaky.
We love the WASP – prick link!
I’ve hated Bruce Dern since he was in Hang em High. Clint should have used real bullets.
“…as Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the role of Jay Gatsby” You have got to be kidding me. It’s a sick, sick world.
No idea why I’m on this mailing list, but just received:
The upcoming Warner Brothers movie “The Great Gatsby” is now casting co-starring roles for filming in September!
This major drama movie will star Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.
Eight roles are being cast for filming in Mid-September.
Please confirm your interest in this audition by replying to this email with the word “GATSBY” in your subject line.
Sincerely,
THE ACTOR CLUB
http://www.ripoffreport.com/modeling-talent-agencies/the-actors-club/the-actors-club-explore-talent-53464.htm
The film crew old-timers still talk about how much alcohol and coke they consumed during the production back in ’73.
DiCaprio?
Rename it the great Goysby.
Seems like Leo is at least a decade too old for this role. Not excited about Maguire either.
Aside from the casting, which is not particularly apt (I don’t know that Dicaprio can pull of Gatsby’s particular kind of vulnerability), does anyone believe Luhrman has any business making this film? i am sure he’ll sex it up and all, but will he hit upon any of the subtleties of the book? To put it plainly he is a dreadful “writer,” even more so than Coppola, who adapted the 70’s version, and is too conceited to appreciate the brilliance of, say, the scene in myrtle’s apartment, where the entirety of the story can be found despite that the two principal characters are absent.
No man who’s ever worn a pair of Uggs is worthy of being cast as Gatsby.
This movie is impossible to cast, because the characters — especially Gatsby — are mythical. This one is bound to disappoint, just as the Ford-Coppola version did.
I enjoyed the 1974 movie just on the merits of the old cars, sets and fashions. That yellow Rolls Royce was the real star of the movie. If I remember correctly, most of the mens’ clothes in the movie were readily available. The bold vested chalkstripe, wide lapel suits were correct attire in 1974. I remember buying a Panama hat in 1975, identical to the one Redford wore. In 1975, a few guys still wore hats. I mean real dress hats. Today, a man looks ridiculous wearing a Panama or fedora. Even my beloved snap brims are rarely worn. Nobody outside a courtroom wears a suit anymore. I went to a funeral recently, and it seemed all the men wearing jackets were of the navy blazer variety. Sad part is that some men only wore sport shirts.
Enjoy the movie for its own sake. Hopefully, despite poor casting and acting, we can reflect on at least a more formal era. An era that may have only been a fantasy to begin with.
Just a post script on the Panama hat. A few years back, my sister-in-law had a yard sale, and we had a few items for sale. Because it was hot and sunny that day, I wore that hat. The hat was in mint condition, only been worn a few times. Anyhow, during the course of the sale, an elderly gentleman accompanying his wife made conversation with me. He remarked how beautiful that hat was, where did I get it, etc. I told him that it was thirty years old, bought at Tucker Hats on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh. I think I paid around $ 20 for it. I thought he was just joking around with me, but I asked him if he wanted it. He was dead serious about that hat. I finally told him he could have it for free. I was happy to give it to him because he wanted it. He said he had to pay me something, so I told him “How about $ 2.” He gave me the money, told his wife about the beautiful hat, and left a happy man.
I hope his wife let him wear it.
Christian, what happened between you and WASP 101?
As for non-fiction WASP icons, there’s a documentary in the works about George Plimpton: http://www.plimptonmovie.com. It should be out this fall or winter.
Excellent casting was featured in the 1949 version, starring Alan Ladd as Gatsby, Barry Sullivan as Buchanan, and in an inspired choice the perfect Shelley Winters as Myrtle. Ladd carries the lead with underplayed tension and menace, just as he should as the former gangster Jimmy Gatz. Compared with Redford and DiCaprio, he’s of a similar type but with a powerful, violent presence these later actors can’t muster. As for clothing, they were by the ubiquitous Edith Head, so I have no opinion of its classic style. It’s also fascinating to know that the original director of this 1949 film, John Farrow, was the father of the 1974 Daisy, Mia Farrow.