Trivia / The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling

Trivia for the Fielding novel and its film adaptation:

• Creator Backlash:
  • Despite winning Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars, Tony Richardson was dissatisfied with the final product, calling it "incomplete and botched."
  • Albert Finney first rejected the role because he thought it was too silly, only agreeing to take it for a larger percentage of the profits. As a result, he was quite sullen and withdrawn throughout filming.
• Enforced Method Acting: Squire Western's drunken pratfalls were not staged. Hugh Griffith was really that blitzed throughout filming.
• Fake Brit: Molly Seagrim is played by Diane Cilento, an Australian.
• Throw It In!: The infamous dinner scene was improvised by Albert Finney and Joyce Redman, filmed over three hours.
• Those Two Actors: Both Susannah York and David Warner would later play Superman's parents. York played Lara-El in Superman and its sequels, and Warner played Jor-El in Lois & Clark. Warner also starred in The Omen, which was directed by Superman's Richard Donner.