The 1926 lost version of The Great Gatsby, directed by Herbert Brenon an starring Warner Baxter as Jay Gatsby, had a running time of 80 minutes. It looks like torture. The 1949 Elliott Nugent verison with Alan Ladd, Betty Field and Shelley Winters ran 91 minutes. The 1974 Jack Clayton version with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow ran 144 minutes. Baz Luhrman‘s upcoming 3D version reportedly runs 72 minutes…kidding!
The Wiki page says the 1926 film “was designed as lightweight, popular entertainment, playing up the party scenes at Gatsby’s mansion and emphasizing their scandalous elements.” No telling if Luhrman’s version will emphasize the same, but I can guess. They’re definitely emphasized in the trailer.
