Vitals

Bruce Dern as Tom Buchanan, hulking polo player

Long Island, New York, Early Summer 1925

Film: The Great Gatsby
Release Date: March 29, 1974
Director: Jack Clayton
Costume Designer: Theoni V. Aldredge
Clothes by: Ralph Lauren

WARNING! Spoilers ahead!

Background

The 1974 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s landmark Jazz Age novel The Great Gatsby was my cinematic introduction to Bruce Dern, who celebrates his 90th birthday tomorrow! Born June 4, 1936 in Chicago, the actor’s birthday falls curiously close to the start of the action, when the irresponsible flapper Daisy Buchanan bemoans over dinner that “in two weeks, it’ll be the longest day of the year,” referring to the mid-June summer solstice. Continue reading →