Brave New World (1998 film)

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Brave New World
GenreDrama
Sci-fi
Written byDan Mazur (teleplay)
David Tausik (teleplay)
Directed byLeslie Libman
Larry Williams
StarringPeter Gallagher
Leonard Nimoy
Tim Guinee
Rya Kihlstedt
Sally Kirkland
Miguel Ferrer
Music byDaniel Licht
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerDan Wigutow
ProducersMichael R. Joyce
Todd Sharp (associate producer)
CinematographyRonald Víctor García
EditorCindy Mollo
Running time87 minutes
Production companiesDan Wigutow Productions
HOF Productions
Michael R. Joyce Productions
Studios USA Pictures
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseApril 19, 1998 (1998-04-19)

Brave New World is a 1998 television movie[1] loosely based on Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel of the same name.[2] The film stars Peter Gallagher and Leonard Nimoy. It is an abridged version of the original story.[3] The film aired on NBC on April 19, 1998.[4]

Plot[edit]

The movie loosely follows the plot of Huxley's novel, but adds a twist to the end.

Just as Bernard Marx is about to take over the job of Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, replacing the disgraced previous director, Lenina informs him that she is pregnant with his child. She conceived it the night that John Savage fell to his death. She did not use her birth control that night. Bernard suggests that she say it was an accident and have an abortion, but she makes it clear that she will not, and so prefers banishment.

Bernard lets her go – secretly – and takes the job he has aspired to throughout his career, but he is soon unhappy, and no amount of Soma can change that. He has seen and learned to appreciate genuine emotions and human experiences thanks to knowing John, as has Lenina. As a result, Bernard follows Lenina into exile from society.

Director Mustapha Mond looks for Bernard at their scheduled meeting, and is handed a note. The messenger explains that Bernard got away from society by authorizing a trip for himself. Mond laughs out loud to himself, indicating that he will not pursue them. The final scene shows a beach with Lenina and Bernard. They appear to be playing with their natural born daughter on the shore.[citation needed]

Cast[edit]

Reception[edit]

The New York Times' Caryn James said:"The film fails to deal coherently with what is frightening about modern life and why".[6] Radio Times's David Parkinson said: "the over-simplification of the premise...will disappoint admirers of the novel".[7] City University of New York's Brittany Franklin finds the 1998 movie excludes the praise of Ford.[8] The Ringer's Keith Phipps notes "Adapting it, on the other hand, proves far trickier. That’s partly because much of the novel is short on incident and long on ideas..."[9] ScreenRant says: "Society Was Not Dominated By Religion"[10] ScreenRant's Padraig Cotter says the 1998 TV movie has "a happy ending".[11][12]

Further reading[edit]

  • Izzo, David Garrett; Kirkpatrick, Kim, eds. (July 15, 2014). Huxley's Brave New World: Essays. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8003-6.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Brave New World (1998)". Archived from the original on March 1, 2016.
  2. ^ Huxley, Aldous (1962) [1932]. Brave New World. New York City (original London): Bantam Books (original Chatto & Windus). ASIN B000GG6OGM.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. ^ Tom Shales (April 18, 1998). "FEARFULLY GOOD 'BRAVE NEW WORLD'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  4. ^ Linden, Sheri (April 15, 1998). "REVIEW: Brave New World". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Brave new world 1998". Alamy. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  6. ^ James, Caryn (April 17, 1998). "TV WEEKEND; It's New, but Is It Brave? Huxley Redux". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Brave New World (1998)". Radio Times. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Franklin, Brittany (May 14, 2014). "Brave New World Novel > Brave New World Movie 1998". Utopias & Dystopias: ENG 2000: Perspectives in Literature, Professor Jill Belli, Spring 2014. City University of New York. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  9. ^ Phipps, Keith (July 15, 2020). "Why Is It So Hard to Adapt 'Brave New World'?". The Ringer. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Brave New World: 10 Differences Between The Novel And The 1998 Movie". ScreenRant. December 16, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  11. ^ Cotter, Padraig (October 27, 2019). "Brave New World 1998 Foolishly Adds A Happy Ending". ScreenRant. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Brave New World: Movie Adaptations". SparkNotes. Retrieved August 24, 2022.

External links[edit]