The glam Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. Image: IMDb
The Great Gatsby is a beautifully crafted story about glamorous people who do ugly things.
As far as we can tell, this timeless novel of the Jazz Age has been adapted to the big (and small) screen at least five times*.
Even if you haven’t read it, you’re familiar with the story: A wealthy, mysterious man named Jay Gatsby pursues a married woman, with whom he once had a romance, which results in Tragedy. It’s the great American novel of money and unrequited love, with language so lyrical it nearly sings.
Therein lies the problem when adapting it to the screen: How do you preserve the poetry and imagery of the novel?
For all its faults, we feel the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby nicely captures the mystic beauty of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story. It’s a strange, exquisite movie with breathtaking cinematography, and a script by Francis Ford Coppola that leans heavily on the novel.
In a film like this, with characters obsessed with ambition and passion, you need actors who portray their characters with ruthless honesty.
The person who does this best, we think, is Mia Farrow, who stars as Daisy, the object of Gatsby’s desire.
Before we look at Farrow’s performance, we must examine her wardrobe, because it offers clues to her character’s State of Mind.
There is always something that sparkles about Farrow-as-Daisy. For example, when we first meet her in the film, she’s dressed in a brilliant white gown sprinkled with crystal sequins. If her clothing isn’t glittery enough, her jewellery makes up the deficit – a not-so-subtle reminder of her wealth.
(Digression: There are many scenes where the key light is reflected in actors’ eyes. It’s best not to focus on this while watching the film, because the whole thing will collapse into a drinking game.)
Secondly, Daisy’s clothes are always soft and billowy. No tailored suits for our gal; nothing but ethereal, wispy silks, thank you ever so.
She dresses to Deflect. Your eye is caught by the sparkle of diamonds, or the flutter of her sleeve. Her wardrobe does not draw attention to her as a Real Person; it is designed to distract.
Farrow’s interpretation of this character, in our mind, is brilliant. She gives us a woman who works a little too hard at hiding behind couture.
Seeing Gatsby. Image: Flickr
Farrow’s Daisy is never photographed in a harsh light, and she’s stunning in every scene. Yet she furiously digs out unpleasantness like a gardener roots out weeds. She wrestles Real Life with money, flurries of activity, and faux charm. (“I always love to see you at my table!”)
She’s chipper and witty, quick to dole out meaningless flirtations and flattery. Life must be lived at surface level.
The truth is, Daisy is miserable and not a little weird. When Gatsby (Robert Redford) gives her a tour of his mansion, he reveals his collection of dress shirts by carelessly throwing them into the air and letting them tumble to the floor. Daisy clasps one of them as she sobs, “I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before!”
This is Daisy’s life’s work: Whenever Life gets too personal, she bursts into Tears Of Defeat, but her recovery strategy is swift. She escapes by running towards the Next Fun Thing.
One of Farrow’s most remarkable moments is when she sees Gatsby after an absence of several years. It’s as though she’s seen a ghost. She can’t believe it, it’s too good to be true, what’s to be done now. This is one of the few times she lets her true emotions surface, no artifice, no pretense. This is the real Daisy.
Even though she seems flighty, she knows exactly what she’s doing. Here is a woman who will always preserve her way of life, despite the consequences to others.
In a film of tragic figures, Farrow’s Daisy pretends to be unaffected. She simply buys her way out of misfortune. After all, she has the jewellery and wardrobe to prove it.
*The Great Gatsby film adaptations to date: 1926 (lost film), 1949, 1974, 2000 (for television), 2013.
This post is part of The MAGNIFICENT MIA FARROW Blogathon, hosted by Pale Writer.
The Great Gatsby: starring Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern. Directed by Jack Clayton. Written by Francis Ford Coppola. Paramount Pictures, 1974, Color, 144 mins.
Silver Screenings 
I agree. I always thought the ’74 version was the best. The casting was excellent as well as the visual. Excellent write up. Thank you.
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Every time I try to watch another version, I end up comparing it to the 1974 film. It can’t be helped! Thanks for dropping by.
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I recall Mia as Daisy being the first person on the Cover of People Magazine. The 1974 Gatsby was huge! Of course, it took me years to appreciate it and your insightful piece on Mia/Daisy/film has me aching to see it again.
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She was on the very 1st cover? Fabulous!
It took me a while to appreciate the film, too. When I first saw it, years ago, I thought Mia was a bit much, but after re-reading the novel, I think her performance is amazing.
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I never appreciated this one and I think it was because I was too young. I need to watch it again as I love Robert Redford!
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Me too! Robert Redford is quite dishy here.
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At the risk of sounding gushy, this review is as exquisite as the film itself.
The movie is one of my own favorites. And the novel!
I also particularly liked Sam Waterston as Nick. 🙂
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Debbi, thank you SO MUCH. You’ve made my entire weekend. 🙂
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I taught the novel numerous times–it
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Sorry about that–as I was saying, it was one of my favourites. I love the Coppola version for the sets and costumes, but the acting is not that great. The more recent version with Leonardo Di Caprio wasnèt as great when it came to the style, but the acting was terrific. Wish the two could be married together for one outstanding film!
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The novel is one of my faves, too. I read it every few years Just Because. What kinds of reactions did your students have to the novel?
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They really enjoyed it!
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I enjoyed this enormously. You have everything spot on. This was the first film I saw Mia in, and because I was about thirteen, I conflated she and the character and decided that she was beastly. Thankfully I grew up and realised that Mia is just magnetic as Daisy, from the way she makes her voice all fluttery and airy, to how she dresses, as you pointed out, in clothes that seem intangible and which she seems to wear only once. She and Robert Redford have exceptional chemistry, and by the end of the film, you are both baffled and convinced that Daisy is entirely capable of destroying everything and everyone. Thanks for such a great contribution to my blogathon.
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I think Mia’s performance is brilliant. When I first saw the film, years ago, I thought she was too much. But in the novel, Fitzgerald’s Daisy really is too much – she’s larger than life in her fluttery way.
Thanks for hosting the blogathon. I’m looking to reading the rest of the entries! 🙂
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I love your interpretation of Mia Farrow’s wardrobe as a point of deflection for Daisy. That sounds like the basis for a film essay (with a grade of A!). I’m not as fond of the movie and that’s principally because I just didn’t feel that Mia was right for the part. I know many others, though, who thought she was fine.
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Excellent – thanks!
Who would you have preferred in the part of Daisy?
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I really like how you analyzed this film, Ruth. Great point using Daisy’s costume as a reflection of character! It’s been a while since I’ve seen the film, but I remember being completely taken with it and by it.
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Thanks! This film really does transport you to the 1920s, doesn’t it?
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“I read it every few years Just Because.”
That belongs in your review ha. I love the novel. Who doesn’t mind? I’ve not seen that version ,adly on the most recent one. But Robert Redford does seem a perfect choice
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Haha – thanks! Robert Redford is a wonderful Gatsby. He seems unselfconscious, as though he doesn’t realize he’s Robert Redford…if that makes any sense?
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This is a beautiful interpretation of Daisy, and completely correct. We could be blinded by the sparkles in the outfits, but once we pay more attention, the outfits tell more than we expected.
Kisses!
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Thanks, Le! Like you said, the outfits do reveal more about the character than we sometimes expect.
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