1984

This masterly adaptation of George Orwell’s chilling parable about totalitarian oppression gives harrowing cinematic expression to the book’s prophetic dystopia. In a rubble-strewn surveillance state where an endless overseas war props up the repressive regime of the all-seeing Big Brother, and all dissent is promptly squashed, a profoundly alienated citizen, Winston Smith (thrillingly played by John Hurt), risks everything for an illicit affair with the rebellious Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), defiantly asserting his humanity in the face of soul-crushing conformity. Through vividly grim production design and expressionistically desaturated cinematography by Roger Deakins, Michael Radford’s 1984 conjures a bleak vision of postwar Britain as fascistic nightmare—a world all too recognizable as our own.

Film Info

  • United Kingdom
  • 1984
  • 110 minutes
  • Color
  • 1.85:1
  • English
  • Spine #984

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New 4K digital restoration, supervised by cinematographer Roger Deakins, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Two scores: one by Eurythmics and one by composer Dominic Muldowney
  • New interviews with director Michael Radford and Deakins
  • New interview with David Ryan, author of George Orwell on Screen
  • Behind-the-scenes footage
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by writer and performer A. L. Kennedy

New cover by Fred Davis

Purchase Options

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New 4K digital restoration, supervised by cinematographer Roger Deakins, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Two scores: one by Eurythmics and one by composer Dominic Muldowney
  • New interviews with director Michael Radford and Deakins
  • New interview with David Ryan, author of George Orwell on Screen
  • Behind-the-scenes footage
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by writer and performer A. L. Kennedy

New cover by Fred Davis

1984
Cast
John Hurt
Winston Smith
Richard Burton
O’Brien
Suzanna Hamilton
Julia
Cyril Cusack
Charrington
Gregor Fisher
Parsons
Credits
Director
Michael Radford
Written by
Michael Radford
Based on the novel by
George Orwell
Producer
Simon Perry
Executive producer
Marvin J. Rosenblum
Coproducer
Al Clark
Coproducer
Robert Devereux
Director of photography
Roger Deakins
Editor
Tom Priestley
Production designer
Allan Cameron
Music
Eurythmics
Music
Dominic Muldowney

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How Roger Deakins Conjured the Dystopian Darkness of 1984
How Roger Deakins Conjured the Dystopian Darkness of 1984

The Oscar-winning cinematographer recalls the “silver-tint” process that helped him create a palette strikingly close to black and white.

1984: Coming Soon to a Country Near You
1984: Coming Soon to a Country Near You

Brought to harrowing life in this film adaptation, George Orwell’s dystopian vision continues to ring true today. But so does his belief in the power of love and hope to overthrow the darkness.

By A. L. Kennedy