Doctor Zhivago By Boris Pasternak – Starring Julie Christie – April 30th 1966 – Original Press Photograph

Publisher: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Price: £125.00
Date: 30th April, 1966
Photograph Size: 25.6cm x 19.7cm including margins
Format: Original Press Photograph
Condition: Very good
Edition: Not stated.

Details:

Stamped and dated by the Shields Gazette four days after the film’s UK release. Slightly creased and marked but in very good condition overall. Very scarce.

Doctor Zhivago: A Brief Description

The 1965 film Doctor Zhivago, directed by David Lean and based on Boris Pasternak’s novel, is a sweeping romantic epic set against the turbulent backdrop of the Russian Revolution and subsequent Civil War. Renowned for its grand cinematography, memorable score, and powerful performances, Doctor Zhivago explores the themes of love, loyalty, and the devastating impact of political upheaval on individual lives. With Omar Sharif in the titular role and a strong supporting cast, the film has become an enduring classic.

The story follows Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif), a compassionate poet and physician, as he navigates the personal and political turmoil of early 20th-century Russia. The film opens in the years leading up to the Russian Revolution and spans several decades, tracing Yuri’s life from his youth to his maturity. Yuri is married to his childhood friend, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin), a loyal and gentle woman who stands by him through hardship. However, Yuri’s life takes a profound turn when he meets Lara Antipova (Julie Christie), a beautiful and strong-willed woman who becomes the great, tragic love of his life.

As Russia is swept into revolution and civil war, Yuri is torn between his loyalty to his family and his powerful feelings for Lara. Their relationship is marked by chance meetings and moments of intense passion, but they are frequently separated by the chaos of war and the political turmoil surrounding them. Lara, in her own right, is involved in a complicated marriage to Pasha (Tom Courtenay), an idealistic revolutionary who becomes radicalised and eventually joins the Bolsheviks as the ruthless General Strelnikov.

David Lean’s direction is masterful, capturing both the sweeping landscapes of Russia’s countryside and the intimate, emotional struggles of his characters. The film’s cinematography by Freddie Young is especially celebrated; iconic scenes, like the journey to Yuri’s family estate in the snow, and Yuri’s gaze upon Lara framed by a cascade of autumn leaves, convey a haunting beauty that underscores the story’s emotional depth. Lean contrasts Russia’s stunning, natural beauty with the stark devastation brought about by war, illustrating how the revolution impacts every aspect of life.

One of the film’s defining features is Maurice Jarre’s unforgettable score, especially the haunting “Lara’s Theme,” which recurs throughout, evoking the tragic romance between Yuri and Lara. The score amplifies the emotions of each scene, imbuing their moments together with a timeless, bittersweet quality. This melody has become emblematic of the film, symbolising both Yuri’s longing and the transient nature of love in times of strife.

Doctor Zhivago explores themes of survival, moral compromise, and the cost of love in an era of revolution. Yuri, as a poet and doctor, represents the idealistic human spirit, but he becomes a casualty of the political forces around him, which strip him of his freedom and personal happiness. His poetry, though cherished, is stifled by the government, symbolising the suppression of individual expression in the new Soviet regime. The film doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of history, showing the effect of the revolution on Yuri and Lara, who suffer not only personal loss but also the erasure of the life they might have had together.

Omar Sharif delivers a restrained yet deeply emotional performance as Yuri, capturing the character’s quiet resilience and inner conflict. Julie Christie’s Lara is equally complex, embodying strength and vulnerability. Together, their chemistry conveys a tragic connection that lingers even in the absence of words.

While Doctor Zhivago received a mixed critical reception upon release—some critics argued that it was overly romanticised given its political context—it was a commercial success and has since been recognised as a cinematic masterpiece. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Score, solidifying its place in film history.

Doctor Zhivago endures as a story about love’s resilience and fragility in the face of monumental forces. Lean’s meticulous craftsmanship, the magnetic performances, and the film’s exploration of personal and political disillusionment have secured its place as a quintessential romantic epic, leaving audiences captivated by both its grandeur and its heart.

Julie Christie’s portrayal of Lara Antipova in Doctor Zhivago (1965) is one of her most celebrated performances, establishing her as an actress of remarkable range and depth. Under the direction of David Lean, Christie brought Lara to life with a mix of strength, vulnerability, and quiet intensity, making her a compelling focal point in the epic love story set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. Christie’s Lara is both the embodiment of resilience and a symbol of tragic beauty, her journey mirroring the chaos and disillusionment of the era.

Lara is a complex character, marked by her relationships with two very different men: her husband Pasha (Tom Courtenay), a passionate, idealistic revolutionary who becomes the ruthless General Strelnikov, and Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif), a gentle and poetic doctor who becomes her forbidden love. Christie’s performance captures Lara’s emotional depth as she navigates her feelings for these men, embodying the tension between love, loyalty, and personal freedom. Christie plays Lara as a woman of quiet, steadfast resolve, determined to survive despite the hardships imposed by war and political upheaval.

One of Christie’s standout qualities in Doctor Zhivago is her ability to convey complex emotions with minimal dialogue. Her expressive eyes and subtle facial movements convey the layers of pain, longing, and resilience within Lara, allowing audiences to connect with her plight and inner conflict. In her scenes with Sharif’s Yuri, Christie exudes both longing and restraint, showing how their love is tempered by the impossible circumstances that keep them apart. Their romance feels intensely passionate yet achingly fragile, with Christie’s performance embodying the bittersweet nature of their relationship.

Lara is also notable as a character who evolves over the course of the film, reflecting the harsh realities of the revolution and its impact on individuals. Christie portrays her as an innocent young woman at the film’s beginning, caught up in the manipulative schemes of the older and predatory Komarovsky (Rod Steiger). Over time, she matures into a resilient, resourceful woman who cares deeply for her child and for Yuri, yet remains haunted by the events that have shaped her life.

One of the film’s most iconic images is Lara against the backdrop of the snowy Russian countryside, her blonde hair and stoic expression epitomising her enduring spirit and beauty amidst the bleakness of war. David Lean’s direction and Freddie Young’s cinematography emphasise Lara’s symbolic role as a beacon of hope, love, and the human spirit, even as she is ultimately left without fulfillment or resolution. Christie’s portrayal of Lara gives her a tragic, almost ethereal quality, enhancing her role as both Yuri’s muse and as a representation of lost innocence.

Christie’s nuanced performance as Lara earned her widespread acclaim, further solidifying her as one of the defining actresses of her generation. Her work in Doctor Zhivago captures the multifaceted nature of love, sacrifice, and survival, and her portrayal of Lara remains a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Location: Map drawer C: Folder: 6001: 6002N 002492

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