"Fahrenheit 451" was written by Ray Bradbury and released in 1953. I read this novel when I was in the 6th or 7th grade and it has remained vividly in my mind ever since. The title refers to the temperature at which books will burn. The story surrounds a "fireman" by the name of Guy Montag. In this dystopian future, people are chastised for independent and/or creative thinking, and their minds visions are guided by governmental plasma television screens which are installed in everyone's home. A "fireman" in Montag's world (he is generally addressed only by his last name) is a professional who actually goes around burning books with a team of other fireman -- of course because books require an imaginative thought process. When one is caught with books in their possession, the firemen are dispatched immediately to dispel of the menace (the books), if the owners object, they can be burned along with their books.
As usual, Ray Bradbury's novel is far superior to the film (and very different), but the film does capture the overall essence of the novel. The film "Fahrenheit 451" (1966) was directed by Francois Truffaut and it stars Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. There is one very famous scene in which Irish character actress, Bee Duffell, is set to flames along with her books because she simply wouldn't give them up. In the end, Montag's feelings about books are completely changed and soon his life will never be the same as he is suddenly faced with being on the receiving end of his own medicine. A remake of "Fahrenheit 451" is in the works for release in 2010 - why they want to mess with perfection is far beyond me........
*This original film version of Fahrenheit 451 can be watched entirely online from Netflix.
As usual, Ray Bradbury's novel is far superior to the film (and very different), but the film does capture the overall essence of the novel. The film "Fahrenheit 451" (1966) was directed by Francois Truffaut and it stars Oskar Werner and Julie Christie. There is one very famous scene in which Irish character actress, Bee Duffell, is set to flames along with her books because she simply wouldn't give them up. In the end, Montag's feelings about books are completely changed and soon his life will never be the same as he is suddenly faced with being on the receiving end of his own medicine. A remake of "Fahrenheit 451" is in the works for release in 2010 - why they want to mess with perfection is far beyond me........
*This original film version of Fahrenheit 451 can be watched entirely online from Netflix.
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