Tom Jones (1963)

Micheál MacLiammóir: Narrator

Quotes 

• Narrator : Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us, and many of us much worse.

• Narrator : [after Tom celebrates Squire Allworthy's recovery with too much wine]  It is widely held that too much wine will dull a man's desire. Indeed it will... in a dull man.

• [last lines] 

  Narrator : Happy the man and happy he alone, he who can call today his own. He who secure within can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

• Narrator : [Near the beginning, when we first meet the now grown-up Tom Jones]  Our hero grew apace. A country lad far happier in the woods than in the study. A bad hero it may be, with many a weakness. But then, if Adam hadn't had such a weakness for apples, there would be nobody to tell Tom's story at all. And a part of that story tells of the sport that Tom found in the woods.

  [Tom Jones sees an owl on the tree branch, he winks and the owl winks him back] 

• Narrator : It is not true that drink alters a man's character. It may reveal it more fully.

• Narrator : [the women in the parish are about to brawl with Molly Seagrim]  Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God has made them so. Let bears and lions growl and fight, for 'tis their nature to. But ladies, you should never let such angry passions rise. Your little hands were never made to tear each other's eyes.

• Narrator : [upon the revelation of the real identity of the father of Molly's illegitimate child]  Molly's favors, after all, had not been bestowed on Tom alone. Our hero, unlike many other men, was fortunate enough to discover the father of his child in time.

• Square : [Tom's tutors are discussing his education]  You have only taught Tom to laugh at whatever is decent, and virtuous and right.

  Thwackum : I've taught him religion.

  Square : Mr. Thwackum, the word "religion" is as vague and uncertain as any in the English language.

  Thwackum : When I mention religion I mean the Christian religion. Not only the Christian religion, but the Protestant religion, and not only the Protestant religion but the Church of England.

  Square : I fear that Tom is the embodiment of the old truth: that foundlings should be left to the parish.

  Blifil : My dear tutors, I'm afraid that neither of you can touch his bastard's heart.

  Narrator : Neither indeed. But there was another who could...

• Narrator : Our hero, alas, was always being exploited by villains like Black George, for a generous man is merely a fool in the eyes of a thief.

• Narrator : It is hard when a woman leaves a man nothing but memories and a muff.

• Narrator : 'Tis said that hope is a bad supper, but makes a good breakfast.

• Narrator : To die for a cause is a common evil. To die for nonsense is the devil.

• [first lines] 

  Narrator : In the west of England there was once a Squire Allworthy. After several months in London he returns home.

• Squire Allworthy : [Upon discovering an abandoned baby in his bed, which they suspect Jenny, one of the servants, has put there]  Who is the father, Jenny?

  Jenny : Sir, I am under the most solemn ties not to reveal the father's name.

  Squire Allworthy : You must be sent away from this shame and degradation. As for your child I will bring him up as if he were my own son.

  Bridget Allworthy : What will you call him, brother?

  Squire Allworthy : Tom Jones.

  Narrator : ...of whom the opinion of all was that he was born to be hanged.

• Narrator : Mr. Thwackum and Mr. Square were Tom's tutors. Over the years they tried, with little success, to thrash into Tom a sense of virtue and religion. They had, however, a more apt pupil. Soon after Tom had been found, the Squire's sister Bridget married a captain Blifil and they had a son. This young man was quite different than Tom. He was sober, discreet and pious beyond his age and the whole neighborhood resounded in his praise.

• Narrator : [Molly Seagrim has become pregnant out of wedlock, presumably due to her consorting with Tom]  Molly's reputation was destroyed, and Tom's heart was heavy with remorse. Perhaps Mr. Square was right: that the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

• Tom Jones : [Drunkenly shouting the news of Mr. Allworthy's miraculous recovery from his carriage accident]  Mr. Allworthy has recovered! It's over! The fever's gone! He's sitting up. He's well again! The Squire's recovered! It's over!

  Narrator : It's not true that drink changes a man's character. It can reveal it more clearly. The Squire's recovery brought joy to Tom, to his tutors, sheer disappointment.

• Molly Seagrim : Are you aimin' to slit my throat, squire?

  Tom Jones : Would you like a sip of my wine?

  Molly Seagrim : Hmm, I've never had a sip of the gentleman's wine before.

  [She takes a swig from the bottle] 

  Molly Seagrim : Hmm, it's very potent!

  [Molly giggles, and Tom starts laughing hysterically] 

  Molly Seagrim : What are you laughing at, Tom?

  Tom Jones : I'm picturing Square in your bedroom!

  [Continues laughing] 

  Narrator : To those who find our hero's behavior startling, the answer is simple: Tom had always thought that any woman was better than none. While Molly felt that one man was quite as good as two.

• Narrator : Vauxhall Garden! Where people come to see and to be seen! In heaps they run, Some to undo, and some to be undone.