The Great Gatsby Nick and Gatsby actions
The Great Gatsby-Nick and Gatsby actionsThe differences of interaction between Nick and Gatsby in the movie and the novel is most prevalent in three instances: when Nick first meets Gatsby, when Gatsby asks Nick for favors, and finally Gatsby’s constant dominating tone in the film versus his somewhat passive tone in the novel.
The first instance of dialog between Gatsby and Nick in the movie occurs in the same time frame as the book; during Gatsby’s ostentatious party. I will use Robert Reford (the actor that played Gatsby in the movie) to portray Gatsby in the movie as to avoid any confusion, because since there are so many differences between the novel and film, confusion seems almost unavoidable. In the novel, Nick is having an easy-going time with Jordan when he encounters Gatsby by chance. Gatsby recognizes Nick as someone from the war and they converse in a relaxed mood between them. Nick depicts that Gatsby conveys a warm sense of kinmanship and that he seems quite a gentleman at first contact. This holds quite contrary to the fact in the film. The whole scene, down to the location, mood, tone, and dialogue are totally changed for the film version. Nick no longer meets Gatsby by chance in a comfortable setting. Instead, he is escorted by a bodyguard to Redford’s office; a bodyguard toting a gun at that! The fact that Nick is being escorted shows enough that this situation is one of tension and not ease. Once Nick is brought to Redford’s office, Redford dominates the conversation. Whereas, in the novel, Gatsby and Nick had about the same amount of dialogue speech, in the movie Redford conducts a one-sided conversation, asking Nick questions that, for the most part, can only be answered with a yes or no. Redford seems to know a lot about Nick, or treats people he has never met before as previous acquaintances which would prove his outgoing demeanor. Even though his dominance is apparent, you can still sense tension in Redford during the conversations as if he wants this meeting to go without a problem, as he does everything else. Again showing his dictorial characteristics in the movie, Redford chooses the time of their next meeting (“Perhaps we can have lunch sometime. Tommorow?”). In the orignal story Gatsby would like to meet him at “any time that fits you (Nick) best.”
To add even more contrast to the same scene, the action of the two during there meeting is completely different. Redford and Nick meet in Redford’s office where they talk from a distance, making it quite impersonal and somewhat uncomfortable for the two. Also, during the meeting, Redford recieves a phone call that foreshadows his illegal affairs through his tone and gives the viewer an almost shady and sinister view of Redford. This is ignored to an extent in the book until later in the novel.
Throughout the novel, Nick is asked for many favors by Gatsby. In the movie, he does the same, but is portrayed slightly different. Where in the book he seems to do these favors out of kindness and because of his friendship with Gatsby, in the book it seems that he does what he’s told as if he was a slave to Redford. Redford has proven to be a domineering character in the film and thus seems like he is demanding favors, rather than asking. In the novel, Gatsby can be compared to a little boy begging for a favor with his lower lip hanging out and his hands in a praying position. Redford though seems to act as if he is a king who knows he will get what he wants.