Like IMDb says, he's an icon of the 1960s, he dated the likes of Julie Christie, Brigitte Bardot and Jean Shrimpto. That says a lot - popular, star power & culturally important in real life, not just a romantic mythology to appeal to those who have a thing for his look.

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Anybody who thinks Bates had a minor role must not have seen the film.
Its that man again!!

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I agree, franzkabuki, that Bates was the real leading man of the film. Those who act like Oak is a minor character in this version clearly were not paying attention. Bathsheba realizes in the end how much Gabriel means to her and the prospect of losing him makes her see how foolish she has been. With Troy, it was one of those fiery, passionate romances that was already starting to burn out. She didn't really know Troy. Bathsheba's relationship with Gabriel was much deeper; he was the only man who loved her unselfishly. Anyone can see that he was the right man for her.

"He played a minor role up until the last few minutes. Terry Stamp was her great love from the beginning until the end".
The film that I saw had Bates as the leading man whom we followed around for the first half an hour while Stamp only made a couple of brief appearences until approximately an hour into the proceedings.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

Why on earth should Bates be on the cover of the DVD?
He played a minor role up till the last few minutes. Terry Stamp was her great love from the begining until the end. The film ends with a freeze frame on a figurine representing Sgt. Troy, while Bathsheba and Gabriel stand silent off screen.

Since Christie and Stamp had a well known romance in real life around the time of the film and Stamp was a kind of matinee idol at the time, it was probably better publicity for the movie.

I think yes and no. Sgt.Troy, with his obvious flaws in character, is really the salt and pepper of the story, and you could say that him being on the cover fittingly replicates the dramatic premise, namely that this cockroach undeservedly eclipses the worthy. But in the big picture FFtMC is not about Bathseba's romance with him, but Gabriel's persistence in waiting for her - the main focus is on his silent devotion throughout. So it's kind of strange that Bates' performance is not acknowledged "visually". So much the more as he has a much more appealing "poster head" than Terence Stamp IMO.

Each of the characters: Gabriel Oak, Fanny Robin, Wm. Boldwood, Bathsheba Everdene, in turn must taste the bitter heartache of rejection or unrequieted love. But Sgt. Troy has no such propensity and it is due to this insensitivity, that I find him elevated in the story and hence the cover.
It is really Bathsheba's story and Frank, you know, he broke her heart.
flfph