David Lean goes To Russia with Love

Rating: 5/10 (4 July 2009)

Handsome Omar Sharif (as Yuri Zhivago) is a poet and doctor during World War I and the Russian Revolution. Beautiful Julie Christie (as Lara Antipova) becomes the object of his desire. The two fall in love; but, they are separated by circumstances and spouses. Composer Maurice Jarre's "(Lara's Theme) Somewhere My Love" rocketed onto 1966 easy listening music charts with a passion that enhanced the on screen romance. There are strong supporting performances from Tom Courtenay (as Pasha Strelnikov), Rod Steiger (as Viktor Komarovsky), and Geraldine Chaplin (as Tonya Gromeko). Director David Lean's "Doctor Zhivago" is long and confusing - it begins with scenes which, hours later, are revealed to be from both the future and the past; then, the story becomes linear. The film can be described as Mr. Lean painting a landscape; the picture becomes clearer as Lean strokes the screen. Depending upon your mood, this can be either like watching paint dry, or like observing an artist create one of his less satisfying works.
***** Doctor Zhivago (12/22/65) David Lean ~ Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Tom Courtenay, Rod Steiger