A comparison between The Great Gatsby (1974 & 2013) films

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Need research paper on film comparison and summary. 1500/words required
Films Great Gatsby old and new. Compare and contrast summary

Essay paper on film comparison and summary with MLA cites. 1500/words required
Films Great Gatsby 1974 (old film) and Great Gatsby (2013 new film). Please share how the films are similuar and difference in the way they were filmed, produced, and story line. Includ how the directors may have made the films this way. Provide how new technology, tools, and aesthetic approaches in both filmmaking and film viewing between the 1970s and the 2000s might have influenced the director’s decisions on set and in the editing room. This includes the soundtracks, the camerawork and actors as well.

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A comparison between The Great Gatsby (1974 & 2013) films

Introduction

The two films, The Great Gatsby 1974 (old film) and The Great Gatsby 2013 (new film) are all based on a novel, The Great Gatsby, published in 1925 and authored by  F. Scott Fitzgerald. The primary concern of the story is that of a young rich millionaire, Jay Gatsby who had an obsession and passion for a Daisy Buchanan who was a former debutante (Scott). The themes explored include idealism, decadence, social upheaval, resistance to change and excess. Fitzgerald drew inspiration from the many parties that he had attended while on a visit to Long Island’s north shore. The book received a poor reception selling about 20,000 copies on its first year and by the time Fitzgerald died in 1940, he probably had thought himself a failure and that his work would be forgotten. Things however took a twist after WW2 and became part of the school curricula in America and a number of stage film adoptions that followed in the later years.

The Great Gatsby 1974 (old film) and The Great Gatsby 2013 (new film) are romance films that were based on this novel. The two films have similarities and differences some which include the cast, the production and most importantly, the differences in technologies used keeping in mind the rapid evolution of technology in the past few decades.

General Storyline of the film

The plot for these two films has some differences which will be highlighted although the story behind them is more or less the same. In the film, Nick pays a visit to his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. There is trouble in this family because Tom apparently has another woman, Myrtle. Nick then stays next to Gatsby, who was young and rich and he watched as men and women entered his building for parties. Gatsby was holding parties so often with his aim being to attract Daisy so that she can also attend. The reason why he wants Daisy to be there is because he has been in love with her for many years. The only reason why Daisy had not accepted him is because he was poor although Gatsby promised her that he will one day get reach. So Gatsby takes nick for lunch during which he requests him to tag along Daisy for a party invite at his home.

Daisy accompanied by her husband Tom together with Nick agrees to go to the party. While there, Tom flirts with other women allowing time for Daisy and Gatsby to reconnect. Soon this two begin getting along well and Daisy is falling in love with Gatsby again. When Tom gets suspicious, he confronts them and they admit that they are in love. Tom is angered by this and when Gatsby drives back home, he hits Myrtle and kills her. When her husband Wilson learns of the death, he takes a gun and goes to Gatsby’s place where he kills him.

Differences between the two films

Casting and filming (The Great Gatsby 1974)

This American romantic drama was produced by David Merrick and directed by Jack Clayton. The film stars Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby, Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan alongside, Bruce as Tom Buchanan, Karen Black as Myrtle Wilson, Sam Waterston as Nick Carraway, Scott Wilson as George Wilson, and Lois Chiles as Jordan Baker. The screen play for this film was done by Francis Ford Copolla (Francis). In terms of filming, the Marble house and Rose cliff mansions in Newport, Rhode Island were selected as Gatsby’s houses while Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire were used as scenes for Buchanan’s home. At Windsor Great Park, there was one driving shot done there. The rest of the other scenes were shot in Massachusetts, Uxbridge and New York. The production budget was $7 million.

(The Great Gatsby 2013)

Similar to the romantic theme of the 1974 film, this 2013 film was co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann. Catherine Martin was the designer and producer. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, Tobey Maguire as Nick, Joel Edgerton as Tom, Isla Fisher as Myrtle, Jason Clarke as George and Elizabeth Debicki as Jordan. Filming commenced in September 2011 up to to December 2011 at Fox studios Australia although additional filming was done later in January. The scenes of the film were shot in Balman, New South Whales as the land situated in between New York and West Egg. Manly Business School in Manly acted as Gatsby’s mansion while the house of Nick was situated in Centennial Park. The production budget for the film stood at $190 million.

Storyline

In the 1974 film, the introduction is more of visual when Gatsby’s mansion is seen and his scrapbook of Daisy and her photograph (Tasha). On the other hand, in 2013 it starts with off with nick having a talk with the doctor in the sanitarium. The other differences in the case of how characters played out their roles. With Mia, she brings out the character of a friendlier and sympathetic person compared to that of Carey who is more of cruel and detached in her tone. Redford gave his character a more of calm and cool approach with and was surrounded by the emotions of other characters. On the other hand, Dicaprio took an open and outgoing approach and he was the realizing his emotions to the other characters. In terms of scenery, the 1974 brings out the lifestyle in the 1920s with the jazzy and dancelike vibe. The decorations, music and flappers during the parties in Gatsby’s mansion are those of the 1920s. This is different from the 2013 movie which brings out the modern way of life. The parties are more of Disneyland themed and are more over the top that the other version.

Influence of technology

In 2013, technology had evolved quite a lot and there were more improved tools that were used for production. In shooting the scenes, red epic digital cameras together with Zeiss ultra prime lenses were used for 3D format. When setting up the exterior of Buchanan’s estate, technology played a great role. The inspiration for the mansion came from Old Westbury Gardens and digital enhancements were used to build a soundstage for the exterior. In the 1974 version, the air of damaged glamour during the jazz era is well captured with numerous elegantly composed long shots of lavish chosen grounds and rooms (Leigh).  In terms of sound, there is a huge difference between the two films. Baz in 2013 uses different soundtracks using contemporary music styles such as hip hop and artists. He wanted to have a mix of music of the then Jazz age in the 1920s and the modern spin. Baz gives music an important role taking a character of its own as opposed to the background situation in Clayton’s case. With Clayton, even aside from the soundtrack, the movie is just quiet. There is no shouting people don’t jump into the pool during the party compared to Baz where things are loud.

Inspiration for the film

The two films are based on the same book with the same characters and thus the storyline is quite similar. For Baz, he drew inspiration from its relevant theme of wealth in the current modern world. For him, he wanted to criticize the lifestyles of those wealthy people who always exhibit irresponsible characters. For Clayton, he wanted to remain true to the novel and give it its real interpretation. The reception for the two films was quite interesting. Even though that of 1974 was criticized for lacking emotions towards the jazz age, its financial statistics were commendable. With a budget of $7 million, it managed to make $26 million worldwide. There were a number of awards and accolades also won by the film. For 2013 version, it received quite a good reception making $353.6 million from sales against a budget of $190 million. The film received a number of awards and accolades in various competitions such as in the Grammy awards, academy awards, AACTA awards, and British Academy awards among others.

Conclusion

Initially published as a novel, The Great Gatsby was turned into a film and other productions with the aim of giving different interpretations. In these films, the novel was being given motion and making it more interesting and tells the original story in a different way. Since 1974 up to 2013, a lot has changed more with technology in the 21^st century. The use of different technologies influenced a lot during the filming and production of the two films. The director in’74 wanted to give the interpretation of the original book while the director for 2013 wanted to criticize the irresponsible wealthy persons. He also wanted to incorporate the modern way of life which many can be able to relate with. Due to the different times when they were filmed and the intentions behind their productions, the films have some little differences and this exists because the thinking is not similar. Everyone wants to pass across their own unique message in their own unique way although the major inspiration behind them is the original publication.

References

Francis Ford Coppola. Gatsby and Me. Town & country, APR 16, 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/reviews/a1042/francis-ford-coppola-gatsby-and-me/

Leigh Paatsch. Gatsby vs Gatsby: Di Caprio vs Redford. Which version is the greatest? News Corp Australia Network, MAY 13, 2013. Retrieved From: http://Www.News.Com.Au/Entertainment/Movies/Gatsby-Vs-Gatsby-Comparing-The-Two-Films-Is-Easier-Than-Youd-Think/News-Story/Dac9406d4607b384273dd256db0f8c38

Tasha Brandstatter. GATSBY VS. GATSBY: Comparing the 1974 film and Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation. Book riot, 05-22-13. Retrieved from: https://bookriot.com/2013/05/22/gatsby-vs-gatsby-the-1974-film-and-baz-luhrmanns-adaptation/

Scott, Fitzgerald F. The Great Gatsby. Рипол Классик, 2017.