Movie News · Reviews Why Critics Deemed Robert Redford Miscast in The Great Gatsby 1974 Film critics widely contested Robert Redford's casting as Jay Gatsby in Jack Clayton's 1974 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, arguing that his inherent screen confidence clashed with the character's underlying desperation. Roger Ebert notably deemed the star miscast sight-unseen, later elaborating that Redford appeared too substantial and assured to embody the novel's tragic, self-invented millionaire. April 19, 2026 · 6 min read