I haven't watched any of Miss Christie's films in quite some time, but the one specific movie that comes most readily to my mind, that I know I enjoyed her in the times I saw it, is 1965's Darling (that co-stars one of my all-time fave British actors, Dirk Bogarde).

Her performance in Darling is sublime - a star-making turn if ever there was one. The film itself, when I got to it, I must admit has not aged all that well, but it’s certainly an essential watch for Ms. Christie.

I love Bogarde, too, a superb actor indeed.

I'll aim to post more of these 'favourite performance threads'... please do contribute if you have the time, I always enjoy your posts.

I haven't seen Darling in years (probably five or so), and no longer remember it clearly, but generally recall how quintessentially mid-'60s British it is, and the stars' performances being terrific.

When I think of Julie Christie, I always think first and foremost of her in '60s films, and how ideally suited she was to that decade.

Now - if only she'd not had such conspicuously mid-'60s hair and makeup in Doctor Zhivago....

@genplant29 said:

Now - if only she'd not had such conspicuously mid-'60s hair and makeup in Doctor Zhivago....

LOL very true... while her performance was one of the few things I enjoyed in that lumbering film, she looked much too contemporary. She slotted into the period setting far more comfortably in Far from the Madding Crowd.

Yes, truly an icon of the '60s - but she continued to shine in the occasional film role up until Away from Her, a superb late-career performance.

Far from the Madding Crowd has to be ranked as one of those greatest classic novels with which Hollywood does not take liberties and mess up.

This made-for-TV adaptation is every bit as downbeat as any Hardy novel, but it's also watchable, compelling, entertaining, educating and very captivating, not only for Hardy's masterful craft, but also for Miss Christie's delightful performance.

She really captures the emotions of an isolated rural farm lass who finds herself torn among three dedicated suitors. Her motivation is universal. When you think of how many times this happens to you, you would probably react just the same way which Miss Christie hones her Bathsheba to do.

That just goes to show how well audiences can relate to this wonderful actress, but back to her hairstyles. No one with the possible exception of Joanne Lumly could possibly dream up such an exquisite Nineteenth-century updo as Bathsheba adorns during the murder sequence. Somehow you pay more attention to the lavish hairdo than the body falling down the staircase.

Julie Christie is lovely in everything, but her Bathsheba and her plight in life are well worth the watch in Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd.

Excellent comments, Quite!

By the way, you'd be terrific adding threads to the TMDb Movie and TV boards of your favourite titles; I don't believe I ever see you post on any of those boards (solely on the People-category boards), but for sure know I, for one, would enjoy and value if you decide to, since I know you're familiar with a lot of older movies and shows (that so far haven't gotten much, if any, TMDb attention), plus interesting trivia.

It's definitely one of my favourite adaptations of classic literature, one that captures the novel's tone and characters beautifully. Julie is utterly enchanting in it - one fully believes that the three very different men can all fall so hopelessly in love with her. I have yet to watch the more recent version of the story but - with respect to Carey Mulligan, a perfectly good, likeable and attractive actress - she does not have Christie's unique magnetism and beauty. I suspect that it's a hard novel to cast and adapt but Christie is the perfect Bathsheba.

And, @QuitePleasant, may I wholeheartedly second what @genplant29 said - it would be great to see you post on the Movies boards!