Compare And Contrast The Movie And The Great Gatsby

The all-American novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the classic story of immense wealth and equally extensive loss through the eyes of Nick Carraway. Because of this, many film adaptations have been attempted, though few remain very true to the novel’s main intent and style. For example, the 1974 version and the 2013 film both show the exact same story yet attract the audience in different ways. However, the 1974 film of The Great Gatsby holds more true to the source material in conclusive theme, parallel style, credible characterization, and cinematic aspects, therefore making it a more favorable watch than the other. The aspects of each of these films deviate so widely that one can hardly believe they originate from the same

For example, in the scene where Daisy and Tom Buchanan first attend one of Gatsby’s parties, the film must show the alienation of those two characters amidst the joyous celebration, since Nick claims he “felt an unpleasantness in the air, a pervading harshness that hadn’t been there before” upon their arrival (Fitzgerald 104). As the couple first walks through Gatsby’s doors overwhelmed and admiring all the celebrities, the film shows them pointing to people, greeting superficially, and commenting on these acquaintances. This part of the scene directly references the beginning of Chapter IV, where Nick describes in copious detail Gatsby’s lavish parties and names the people who usually attend. While Tom and Daisy do not list every single person from this page, they make the same observations, showing how close this version parallels Fitzgerald 's intentions of dialogue and occurrences. The Great Gatsby (1974) creates a more realistic, less fanciful image of wealthy life in the roaring twenties, with historically accurate music and dancing, conversations as described in the book, and clothing resembling what would have been available during the time period. Thus, by dark lighting and the previously mentioned assets, the film successfully follows Fitzgerald’s

In reference to the scene where Nick Carraway first attends one of Gatsby’s parties, the 2013 film does not follow Fitzgerald 's mood at all. In the novel, Nick claims that he “was immediately struck by the number of young Englishmen dotted about: all well dressed, all looking a little hungry, and all talking in low, earnest voices to solid and prosperous Americans;” however, in the movie a mad stampede replaces these gentlemen, with crowds shoving and tripping over Nick as he talks to a butler about his invitation (42). Whereas Fitzgerald constructs the image of many large cliques loitering about Gatsby’s house in elegant yet rambunctious celebration, this film adaptation takes this a step too far. While the dialogue remains true and chronological to the source scene, the film did not pay Fitzgerald’s refinement justice by portraying the party as an insane mosh pit. The dancing and music, such as the “twerking” and rap, resembled nothing from this time period, thus diverting the audience’s attention from the actual events, making them question the artistic choices of the director and favor the older