THE GREAT GATSBY
US, 1974, 142 minutes, Colour.
Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston, Karen Black, Bruce Dern, Lois Chiles, Scott Wilson.
Directed by Jack Clayton.
The Great Gatsby had a huge Hollywood promotion and the critics reacted by giving the film very bad reviews. However, if the advertising paraphernalia and the critical ballyhoo is ignored, the film can well be judged as a good one. It is entertaining; it is well-made and it is quite thought-provoking.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel has become a classic and people have their own ideas about the book and the characters. There was a previous film version in 1949 with Alan Ladd and Betty Field. This film is considered to adhere closely to the book. Whatever the merits or demerits of this, the present film presents arresting characterisations and the picture of an era. Gatsby himself seems to represent America in its self-made naivety and its propensity for destruction. Robert Redford’s performance, whilst looking rather bland, may capture the enigma of America. The rest of the cast is very good indeed.
Direction is very careful, even studied, and is by Englishman Jack Clayton, maker of only a few films including Room at the Top, The Innocents and The Pumpkin Eater. Screenplay is by Francis Ford Coppola of Patton, Godfather, Conversation fame. The production details are lavish but are profitably used.
1. The significance and tone of the title? Has Gatsby great? The focus of attention on Gatsby? The fact that he did not appear much in the first half-hour of the film, only appearing enigmatically? The focus of attention on Robert Redford's performance? How important was this for appreciation of the film?
2. How much quality was there in the nature of direction and attention to detail - smooth editing, photography and use of colour, decor of the scenes and settings? The atmosphere of expense, e.g. staging of the parties, visualisation of an age? The symbolic use of the billboard with the eyes and its reference to God? The film's use of seasons in its screenplay? The use of music and the old 1920's sons - especially "What will I do"? The poignancy of the theme for the romance of Gatsby and Daisy? In examining these details do they convince you of the quality of the film? Why?
3. How important was the theme of society and class? Your response to this -people observing rich society but not wanting to live in it? How aristocratic were these Americans? What was the basis for it, the importance of riches in their lives? Tom Buchanan's remarks about racism? The contrast of the Buchanans with Gatsby and his self-made aristocracy? The contrast with Nick and his moderate wealth? Then the contrast with the Wilsons and their squalor? How important was this for the personal themes of the film?
4. Develop the theme of people moulded by their society. The Buchanans, Gatsby' ambitions, Nick living his life according to patterns and conventions, Jordar. in society? Myrtle moving from one society to another? The irony at the end with Wilson out of place in rich society, killing the rich man?
5. How important were the themes of love in the film? The tangled relationships, the theme of dreams, Gatsby living in a dream, remembering the past and not seeing reality? Devoting his ambitions to a dream of Daisy? The clash of reality, especially about Daisy?
6. The importance of Nick in the film? His narrative role and observation of the world? Was there too much reliance on the novel? What ideals did he have at the beginning, and how did they change? His loyalty to Daisy and growing knowledge of Gatsby? Relationship between himself and Jordan? Love?
7. Has the character of Gatsby clearly portrayed in the film? Did you agree with Robert Redford's performance? His nervous disposition, meeting Nick Caraway, the fact that he did not participate much in his parties? Was his background well explained, apart from the stories he told of himself - Oxford, his earlier life? How criminal was he in his deals? How did he use people? How did he use Nick? The gradual revelation of his love for Daisy? Were your surprised? The romantic aura of their love? The challenge he made to Tow Buchanan? Would he have gone with Daisy and would she have gone with him? Here you surprised when Daisy killed Myrtle? How noble was he in saving Daisy? The fact that she betrayed him? Was he ready for death? Here you shocked at his death or was it inevitable?
8. How attractive was Daisy as a person - fickle, flirtatious family background? Her love for Tom Buchanan, her love for Gatsby changing for Buchanan, her boredom? The affect of wealth and status on her? Which sequences illustrated her nature best - the reaction on her encounter with Gatsby again, reliving the past, the confrontation in the hotel room, being torn between Tom and Gatsby? Her responsibility for Myrtle's death? How could she be so callous in allowing Gatsby take the blame? What were your final impressions when Nick knew the truth and she forgot all about her guilt?
9. How well drawn was the character of Tom - a typical rich man, boorish, double standards? How did he reveal himself in his relationship with Myrtle? Why did he not like Gatsby? His relationship to Nick? His attitude towards Wilson and deceiving him? His betrayal of Gatsby at the end? His blithe disregard of the guilt and Daisy's guilt? Did he have any redeeming features? What incidental features were repulsive in him - his racism etc?
10. How did Wilson contrast with Buchanan and Gatsby? Life at home, poverty, hard work, the Buchanan's arriving for petrol?
11. Myrtle - the contrast with her home life and life with Buchanan? Her flightiness in moving in the two worlds, disregard of Wilson? The violence she suffered at Wilson's hands? Truing to escape and her death? Was her death a relief? The effect on Wilson? The religious overtones of his reaction, his vengeance, his obsession?
12. How much retribution was there in Gatsby's death? Were you shocked at Wilson's behaviour, his reaction to Buchanan? How evil was he in killing Gatsby, how full of sorrow? Shooting himself?
13. How does Gatsby represent the United States - self-made, living on a dream, using people, building up of wealth into a dream world, self-centred yet destroyed and killed? Naive and generous? How, therefore, is the film a symbol of the modern United States?
14. How good a film was this? How successful a commercial film was it? How well did it explore values?
