Nineteen Eighty-Four

Nineteen Eighty-Four (often 1984) is a political novel written by George Orwell. The story takes place in a nightmarish dystopia where the omnipresent State enforces perfect conformity among members of a totalitarian Party through indoctrination, propaganda, fear, and ruthless punishment. The novel introduced the concepts of the ever-present, all-seeing Big Brother, the notorious Room 101, the ubiquitous thought police, and the bureaucrats' and politicians' language Newspeak. Many commentators draw parallels between today's society and the world of 1984, suggesting that we are starting to live in what has become known as Orwellian society. The novel was successful in terms of sales, and has remained one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

Adaptations

Films

Nineteen Eighty-Four has been made into a cinema film twice ? in 1956 (external link to IMDb entry) and in 1984 (external link to IMDb entry). The

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1984 cinematic film 1984 is a reasonably faithful adaptation of the novel, and was critically acclaimed. The film's soundtrack was performed by the band Eurythmics, and a single taken from this, "Sexcrime (1984)", was a hit in several countries. The film is notable for containing Richard Burton's last performance.

Related Topics:
1984 cinematic film 1984 - Eurythmics - Richard Burton

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The Terry Gilliam film Brazil can be understood as a 'tribute' to the novel.

Related Topics:
Terry Gilliam - Brazil

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Radio

The first radio broadcast of Nineteen Eighty-Four was a one-hour adaptation transmitted by the NBC radio network at 9.00 p.m. on August 27, 1949 as number 55 in the series N.B.C. University Theater, which adapted the world's great novels for broadcast. Another broadcast on the NBC radio network was made by the Theater Guild on Sunday April 26, 1953 for the United States Steel Hour.

Related Topics:
NBC - August 27 - 1949 - April 26 - 1953 - United States Steel Hour

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In the United Kingdom, the BBC Home Service produced a 90-minute version with Patrick Troughton and Sylvia Syms in the lead roles, first broadcast on October 11, 1965. In April and May 2005, BBC Radio 2 broadcast a reading of the novel in eight weekly parts.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - BBC Home Service - Patrick Troughton - Sylvia Syms - October 11 - 1965 - 2005 - BBC Radio 2

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Television

Nineteen Eighty-Four was adapted for television by the BBC in 1954, and again in 1965.

Related Topics:
Nineteen Eighty-Four - BBC - 1954 - 1965

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It was voted No. 7 in the ABC's television special, My Favourite Book, which sought to find Australia's favourite book.

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Opera

Lorin Maazel, better known as a conductor, has composed an opera based on 1984. The libretto is by Tom Meehan, who worked on The Producers and JD McClatchy, professor of poetry at Yale University. The opera premiered on May 3 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. See Science-fiction operas.

Related Topics:
Lorin Maazel - The Producers - May 3 - 2005 - Royal Opera House - Science-fiction operas

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