In the early 18th century, within the picturesque West Country of England, the affluent landowner, Squire Allworthy, discovers an abandoned infant nestled in his bed. Mistakenly believing the child to be the offspring of his unwed servants, Jenny Jones and Partridge, he promptly dismisses them from his service while deciding to raise the boy as his own. This boy is destined to be a companion for his legitimate son, Blifil.
Fast forward, and the foster child has blossomed into Tom Jones, a ruggedly handsome and charismatic young man possessing an innocent charm but with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. With an adventurous spirit, Tom often finds himself captivated by various women, including the local bawd, Molly Seagram. When Molly becomes pregnant, her family shuns her, refusing to divulge the father's identity, leaving Tom as a prime suspect.
After a religious service, a group of upset peasant women, led by the fervent Goody Brown (portrayed by Barbara Hicks), violently confronts Molly in the churchyard, where she is subjected to an onslaught of cabbages, tomatoes, and mud. Luckily, Tom intervenes, coming to her aid just in time.
Despite this chaos, Tom harbors deep affections for the virtuous Sophie Western, the daughter of the affluent but lecherous Squire Western (played by Hugh Griffith). Unfortunately, Sophie's aunt, Miss Western (Edith Evans), pressures her to marry Blifil, a contemptible character who secretly covets Tom's carefree allure and effortless attraction to women. During an extravagant stag hunt on Squire Western's estate, Blifil’s envy shines through.
As their wedding approaches, Sophie defies her family's expectations and declares her love for Tom, leaving Squire Western humiliated. In a fit of rage, he enlists the assistance of his greedy instructors, Square and Thwackum (Peter Bull), to unleash accusations against Tom, leading Squire Allworthy to believe the fabricated claims and banish him to London in disgrace.
Accepting his fate with a nonchalant demeanor, Tom embarks on his journey towards the bustling city. Along the way, he encounters Jenny, now under a different name, and they share a delectable forty-dish meal at a roadside inn, where a passionate connection ignites, culminating in a night of unrestrained desires, despite the hinted maternal ties between them.
Once in London, Tom catches the eye of the alluring Lady Bellaston (Joan Greenwood), who seeks to refine his romantic pursuits. While she introduces him to gentility, back in the West Country, Sophie yearns for Tom and departs with her cousin, Mrs. Fitzpatrick (Rosalind Knight), who finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage.
In London, as Lord Fellamar (David Tomlinson) attempts to woo Sophie, Mr. Fitzpatrick, her husband, mistakenly believes Tom has abducted her, leading to a duel where Mr. Fitzpatrick is injured in the scuffle.
Meanwhile, Squire Western, still reeling from being rejected, orchestrates a false theft accusation against Tom, placing him in jeopardy of execution. Just as the noose threatens to tighten around his neck, the truth emerges, revealing Squire Western himself as the orchestrator of the deceit.
Ultimately exonerated, Tom Jones reunites with Squire Allworthy, who discovers that Jenny was not his mother; instead, Tom is the son of Allworthy's late sister, Bridget. This revelation solidifies Tom’s claim as Allworthy’s nephew.
Filled with anticipation, Tom and Sophie look towards their future together, celebrating their undeniable love and the promise of imminent marriage.
