The Great
Gatsby
Portfolio Task: Fourth Genre – Film
Page to Film
By: Aarti Datharam
Movie: Jack Clayton 1974
Book: Scott F Fitzgerald
Movie: Baz Luhrmann 2013
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Part A:
Scene 1: Tom Buchanan breaks Myrtle Wilsons nose at the hotel
Tom Buchanan has a mistress, Myrtle Wilson. He bought an apartment for her in New
York City. Tom and Nick went with her to the apartment where they hosted a party with
a few friends. After a lot of consumed alcohol, Tom and Myrtle have a face-to-face
discussion whether Myrtle had any right to say Daisy’s name, who is Tom Buchanan’s
wife. Myrtle thereafter repetitively says Daisy’s name which makes Tom furious. This
leads to Tom breaking Myrtle’s nose.
Extracts:
31
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Scene 1 (1974):
In Jack Clayton’s, The Great Gatsby adaptation, Myrtle gets upset because of Tom and goes to her
room slamming the door in his face. Tracking is used to show that Myrtle is upset. Tom is wearing a
grey suit during this scene showing his superiority and that he is of a higher status (extremely rich)
compared to everyone else in the room who is wearing informal clothing. When Daisy’s name is said
repetitively by Myrtle after Tom and Myrtle exit the room, a two-shot is used to capture the anger
between Myrtle and Tom, as well as an over the shoulder shot to show how each person (Tom and
Myrtle) view each other’s emotions for Daisy. It also shows the extreme emotions Myrtle has towards
Daisy, as her face turning red depicts her hatred towards Daisy. When Tom hits Myrtle, her nose
bleeds. A close up shot is used to emphasise her nose bleed and to show Tom’s abusiveness as a
character, but also his loving characteristic towards Daisy, as he couldn’t stand Myrtle saying Daisy’s
name repetitively. It also shows his guilt towards having an affair. The red tie he uses also
emphasises his guiltiness of the affair. The loud cries from Myrtle which turn to a silenced room
thereafter is more dramatic to capture the intensity of the scene and to show how big of a role Daisy
plays in their relationship. Synchronous/ diegetic sound is used and no background music. This
captured the viewers’ attention and makes the scene more melodramatic and ominous as when Tom
breaks Myrtle’s nose, its heard, and makes the viewer feel how Myrtle felt.
Scene 1 (2013):
In Baz Luhrmann’s, The Great Gatsby adaptation, Tom is dressed untidier with his belt and shirt open
where you can see his vest. This doesn’t show the difference in class between Myrtles friends and
Tom as described in the book and shows him as an equal with all the others. When Tom and Myrtle
come out the room, the scene is rushed with the pace/ tempo being fast. Tom hits Myrtle with the
back of his hand where she falls in slow motion. This shows the intensity of the slap and Toms
abusive nature. The sound of the slap was synchronous, which also emphasises how hard and brutal
it was. The music in the background, asynchronous sound, is very fast and slows down when Myrtle
is hit. It gives the viewers a sense of uncertainty. This is also describing Myrtle and Toms relationship.
It is very uncertain regarding what’s going to happen when and if it’s going to be long lasting or not.
Scene 1 (1974 & 2013):
Jack Claytons adaptation of the scene where Myrtle gets hit is much more effective and truer to the
book. In the 1974 movie, the blood dripping from Myrtle’s nose is shown and the impact of the deft
hand movement from Tom is heard. It is also more effective of a scene as there isn’t any background
music. Only synchronous sound is used, and this makes the viewer feel how Myrtle it and evokes
emotions. The clothing used is much better showing the difference in class. It also depicts well that
while both characters are wilful, impulsive, and driven by their desires, Tom is violently asserting here
that his needs are more important than Myrtle's. After all, to Tom, Myrtle is just another mistress, and
just as disposable as all the rest. Baz Luhrmann’s movie is too rushed and doesn’t evoke any emotion
when Myrtle is hit and no visual is used such as blood by her nose like what Jack Clayton has done.
Jack Clayton adaptation was also more suspenseful with the silence after Tom hit Myrtle. The shots
used by Jack Clayton, with the close ups on Myrtle face, the over the shoulder shot and two shot,
created a more engaging scene for the viewer. Therefore, the Jack Clayton adaption of the scene
where Tom breaks Myrtle’s nose is truer to the book as well as better cinematic techniques has been
used.
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Still 1 (2013 film):
A three-shot is used between Myrtle, Tom,
and Nick. They are also placed in a triangle
showing that Nick is third person viewing the
relationship knowing its wrong but not saying
anything. It shows that Nick is a bystander in
the affair just as how he is in Gatsby’s and
Daisy’s affair. Toms attire looks scruffy and
makes him look cheap with his shirt undone
and his vest visible. The champagne bottle on
the table indicates that they’ve been having a
party and that they are all intoxicated. The warm colours in the room, particularly red, is an indication
of Toms violent behaviour as well as his need of superiority by having an affair with a woman of a
lower class. It also shows the guiltiness of everyone in the room. Myrtle’s facial expression of her
mouth being wide open shows her shock of being hit. Her hand in the air creates movement,
showing her about to hit the floor due to the impactful movement made by Tom, breaking her nose.
Tom’s red face shows his anger being taken out on Myrtle. The woman and man on either side acting
as bystanders shows the power men had in society in the 1920’s. No one would stop them if they
abused a woman. The clothing Myrtle is wearing is symbolism of clothing woman wore in the 1920’s
(roaring twenties). The dull lighting is an emphasis of how plain and boring their own lives are (Tom
and Myrtles) and that in order to live a more risky and exciting life they have decided to have an
affair with one another. The red door being open shows that Tom and Myrtles relationship is not a
legitimate one, it’s not a closed relationship where they’d be married one day; it’s just to get away
from their spouses and feel free once in a while.
Still 2 (1974 film):
An over the shoulder shot is used between
Tom and Myrtle in Jack Claytons movie.
Myrtle’s nosebleed is a faithful representation
of what happened in the book. It shows how
violent Tom is in the relationship and makes
him feel superior. Tom is dressed in a suit. This
is to show the class difference and that he’s
having an affair with Myrtle to feel better
about himself and more manly. Myrtle’s eyes
and open mouth is an indication that she is
shocked that Tom would ever hit her. Toms
stern face is red which also shows his frustration and anger for Myrtle’s nuisance. It also is an
indication of Tom’s guilt for what he has just done. The lighting is cameo lighting. Light is only shone
on Tom’s and Myrtle’s faces to show they the main characters in the scene. The shadow on Myrtle’s
face foreshadows that something devastating is going to happen later in the film as shadows
symbolize gloom, despair and often death. The colour Myrtle is wearing, orange, characterises her
bold and dramatic personality. The low-key lighting is used to show that their relationship is deceptive
and secretive. Tom’s red tie also shows his aggressive personality. His sweaty skin is seasonal cinema
and is to show that it’s currently summer. Tom’s grey suit shows that he’s in the “grey zone” as he’s
uncertain what’s going to happen between him, Myrtle, and Daisy.
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Scene 2: The car that Daisy and Gatsby are in knocks Myrtle Wilson, leading
to her death
Gatsby, Tom, Nick, Daisy, and Jordan go to town to a suite in the Plaza Hotel. After a
heated discussion about Daisy between Tom and Gatsby, on who Daisy loves, Gatsby
drove back to Daisy’s house with her, in the car Tom, Jordan, and Nick came to town
with. On the way back, Myrtle escapes the room she’s trapped in and runs out into the
dusk, waving her hands to stop the car. However, it is too late, and she is already run
over causing her death.
Extracts:
104
105
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Scene 2 (1974):
In the Jack Clayton movie of The Great Gatsby, the scene where Myrtle is hit with a car, and dies, is
not shown. Jack Clayton uses a two-shot scene between Myrtle and Mr Wilson to show their fight and
her trying to escape onto the road. Asynchronous sound is used to effectively show Myrtle’s cry for
help as she’s locked in the room. The viewers only find out what happened to Myrtle once Tom
reaches the scene. There is a narrator saying the story of what happened between Myrtle and the car
passing. A close is used on Myrtle’s face when she is lying on the table in the garage. Her face is pale
to show she has passed. The music in the background is suspenseful. This is an indication that
Myrtle’s death may not be as it seemed and it’s a mystery for now as to who hit her.
Scene 2 (2013):
In Baz Luhrmann’s, The Great Gatsby, many close-up shots are used for each character; Mr Wilson,
Myrtle, and Gatsby. This is used to show each character’s emotions. Mr Wilsons wide eyes and open
mouth with wrinkles all through his face shows his distress and anger as well as his desolation. An
establishing shot is used to set the scene of Mr Wilsons garage where the accident takes place. Low
key lighting is another strong element used as it shows that further darkness is filling the Valley of
the Ashes after Myrtles death. The high key lighting when the headlights shine on Myrtle makes her
look angel like, as an indication of her forthcoming death. Before Myrtle is hit, a close up of Gatsby’s
ring is shown. Close-up shot used to put emphasis on the signet ring and engraving. The engraving is
of his initials (wealth, status etc) but is also ringed by what seems to be a daisy (links to his undying
love and obsession regarding Daisy Buchannan). Gatsby is dressed in light colours to indicate his
innocence, purity, and good intentions. The impact of Myrtle getting hit is shown well as diegetic
sound is used to emphasise it. The slow motion of Myrtle in the air which glass pieces around her
furthermore grabs the viewers’ attention. The song Love is Blindness playing in the background sums
up the current situation. The eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg is shown with a close-up shot to indicate
that God always sees the truth. In this case it’s to indicate that the truth will finally reveal itself of
who killed Myrtle.
Scene 2 (1974 & 2013):
The Baz Luhrmann adaptation of the scene where Myrtle gets hit and passes on is better than Jack
Claytons adaptation. Baz Luhrmann is true to the book and enacts everything that happens in it more
faithfully. He shows Myrtle rushing out into the dusk waving her hands, as well as her life being
violently taken from her. It is more impactful to show the exact scene that happened than narrate it,
which was done in Jack Claytons adaptation(narration). Baz Luhrmann used better cinematography
techniques such as the establishing shot; setting the scene of the accident. He used a close-up shot
on Doctor T.J Eckleburg’s eyes showing that God is always watching, as Mr Wilson believes. He also
used slow motion for more of a dramatic effect when Myrtle is hit and is in the air looking angel like
and this depicts that she’s going to be taken to heaven soon. The scene also included close-ups of
each character’s face showing the emotion they felt for Myrtle. The music that Baz Luhrmann used,
Back to Blindness, was also another cinematic element used, music, to perfectly portray what is
happening and to “narrate” it through the song as well. Baz Luhrmann adaptation of this scene is
therefore way better than Jack Clayton’s. It is more faithful to the book and much better cinematic
techniques had been used.
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Still 1:
A long shot is used to
show the whole of Myrtle’s
body. Her feet are lifted off
the ground making her
look angel like. It
foreshadows that she is
going to end up passing
on. Myrtle looks very small
compared to the yellow
coupe. This shows that her
worth compared to rich
people is very little as she is from lower class. In the blue building in the background, only the top
bedroom light is on and not the bottom. This is an indication that only the upper class, Tom, and
Daisy, are going to succeed and there will be light in their life only. But the lower-class people, Myrtle,
and George (Myrtle husband) will accomplish little to nothing and lead a dull and miserable life. This
is shown after when George is depressed after Myrtle passes on. The cameo lighting on Myrtle and
the car is used to create emphasis on the role the yellow coupe and Myrtle have later on. They are
what drive the other deaths to happen. Low-key lighting is used to create suspense on what’s to
happen next.
Still 2:
A medium shot is used to
show Myrtle after being hit
by car. Blood is on her
mouth, cheek, and chest
to portray the severity of
the hit and run. Myrtle’s
pearls from her necklace is
on the ground. This shows
that no matter how
materialistic she was, it
doesn’t matter at the end
as when you pass on you don’t take anything with you. Myrtle’s face is pale to show that she is dead.
Her hand is reaching out indicating that there is more to come, and this isn’t the end. She is the main
focus in the frame, the background is blurred out. This puts the attention on her and makes the
scene more dramatic. Even in death, Myrtle's physicality and vitality are emphasized. The image of
her is overly sexual. Myrtle's breast is the part of clothing torn open and swinging loose, and her
mouth ripped open at the corners. This echoes Nick's view of Myrtle as a woman and mistress,
nothing more and that even in death she's objectified.
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Part B:
Scene: Gatsby is shot at the pool by his house my Mr George Wilson
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Jack Clayton Movie Adaptation:
Jack Clayton did not direct the scene well of Gatsby’s death. The main elements had been left out
such as Gatsby’s interaction with the butler about being with the phone in case Daisy calls. Another
part not directed true to the book is Mr Wilsons place of death. In the book he is said to be found a
little way of in the grass, however in the movie he is found by the fishpond in Gatsby’s house where
the gun has fallen into the pond.
Baz Luhrmann Movie Adaptation:
Baz Luhrmann has not directed the scene of Gatsby’s death well either. Gatsby is shot while he is on
the pool steps and not on his mattress in the pool as it says in the book. Another scene not true to
the book is that Mr Wilson dies in Gatsby’s house by the pool and isn’t found a little way off in the
grass. The phone rings in the movie and is answered by the butler, but in the book the phone doesn’t
ring at all. Gatsby’s last words are “Daisy” in the movie, however in the book he was just relaxing on
his mattress and said no words about Daisy while being shot.
My Interpretation of The Scene:
My direction of the scene would be as follows:
I would first do a long shot capturing Gatsby’s house to set the scene. The weather will be sunny
with heavy clouds to foreshadow something bad is going to happen (pathetic fallacy). I would then
do a change of scene to the butler in the living room with the phone and a two shot between the
butler and Gatsby having a conversation on the instructions about what will happen if the phone
rings. There would be a close up on Gatsby’s face to show him sighing, this will show the importance
this call has to him if it’s from Daisy and also show the little hope he’s holding onto that Daisy will
call. From that scene, it will shift to Gatsby laying in the pool on his mattress with a pin drop of
silence. An Ariel shot will be used to show Gatsby in the pool. By there being a pin drop of silence, it
will create an ominous mood for the viewers. After that, a low angle shot of the grass rustling and
footsteps being heard in the movie, diegetic sound, will be heard by viewers. A sudden appearance of
George will be shown near Gatsby by the pool. A close up of his face is used to show his extreme
emotions for Myrtle and the revenge he’s about to take. His clothes will be scruffy to depict his
terrible mental state. An extreme close up will be used to show the gun George takes out and a
motion shot to show the gun raised. A close up of Gatsby’s face will be used to show his eyes and his
life leaving him after getting shot multiple times. This will show the impact the gun shot had on
Gatsby’s body with extremely bright lighting on his face. The bright lighting will show that he’s not
going to survive and that he’ll be going to heaven. Then it’ll shift to an ariel shot, showing the ring of
blood surrounding Gatsby after he has sunken into the pool and then float up again to the surface.
George will then run off a little in the distance onto the grass. Tracking will be used to show him
running and then a medium shot of him looking up in the sky with a face full of tears and a close up
of the gun still in his hand. He then shoots himself and drops the gun. There’s another ariel shot that
captures both Gatsby and George lying in the pool and on the floor with a moment of silence to get
the viewers to feel the emptiness after both deaths. After a moment of silence, it is cut
to the next scene.
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