PBS is showing a remake of the ribald British comic novel Tom Jones. Save your money, or your time, or whatever.

The 1963 Tony Richardson film, starring Albert Finney and Susannah York is a masterpiece. The romantic leads are jaw-dropping gorgeous, and the script, costumes, performances, and music, as well as the English countryside, are breathaking. 10 Oscar Nominations, 4 Academy awards. The first time I saw it (at a drive-in, I was in high school) I remember telling myself ‘this is the first truly modern movie. nothing like this has ever been done before, and from now on all movies will be different’. I still believe that.

If you’ve never seen it, find it and stream it. Now. Like I said, its a masterpiece, and one of the funniest movies ever made. You will not be disappointed.

The TV miniseries remake is pretty tame stuff. I gave up after the first installment. And the Sophie Western role has been given to a black actress, Sofie Wilde. She’s a delightful young woman, but a black Sophie in 18th century England? Man, they really had to twist the plot around to justify that! I suppose the UK has some restrictive politically correct regulations in their film industry, but this is ridiculous.

Hey, I’m a pretty woke kind of guy myself. But this show is just a bridge too far.