MovieChat Forums > The Story of Temple Drake Discussion > Wish I hadn't read the book first!

Wish I hadn't read the book first!

posted 13 years ago by lastmidnite2
4 replies | jump to latest

I would have liked this film, had I not read the book the month before. Not only is the movie a sort of cliff notes version of the novel, but it changes the novel's intention. The book is pretty graphic, describing rape with a corn cob, which naturally could not have been filmed back then anyway; but the film makes Temple a sort of a heroine, where in the book she turns out to be almost as bad as the roadhouse gang. The film has some great visuals though, especially Temple in the barn about to be attacked. The lighting is incredible.

[–] creightonhale 13 years ago

I haven't read the book in about 30 years, but you're right about Temple. If I recall correctly the book ends with Temple applying lipstick after the trial, implying that she hasn't been affected at all by all the nastiness. She's amoral at the beginning of the story and she's amoral at the end.

That said, I believe the regret was another concession made to the censors. And Miriam Hopkins is superb in the witness stand scene. I love how she almost whispers, "I killed him."

"The answers to all of life's riddles can be found in the movies."

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

I don't know how many movies are exact replicas of the books from which they're adapted. In fact, that's why they’re referred to as an adaptation. Also, the book and movie are products of different people so we should expect there'd be at least some differences. Perhaps we should learn to appreciate each thing for its own merits.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] Jennie_Portrait 8 years ago

It's odd. Terrific movies have been made out of so-so books (e.g. The Godfather, which as a book has some really weak sections). And some perfectly awful movies have been made out of great books (e.g. the Bonfire of the Vanities).

The way I see it is-- a book is a book and a film is a film. They work on very different levels. I think Temple Drake was a very good movie and I haven't read the book. But I really don't think it is appropriate to compare a book to a movie.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5947) 3 years ago

That happens almost always. One thing is that at a minute a page, a film can really only cover a short story or novella at best. So things need to get cut, and then changed in order to still make sense of the rest.