Book vs the Movie
I think that the book was better than the book but was still fantastic. All of Edna Ferber's books had way more than the movies which were great in their own right.
shareI'd be interested to know how the book handled the marriage of Lotta and Swan ---
Why DID Lotta marry Swan ? With a broken heart, she could have gone back home, or even returned to the saloon --- no reason to get married ! Unless, of course, she was pregnant with Barney's child --- and Swan "did the right thing" by marrying her, so she would not become an unwed mother. (Which would make Barney's attentions to Lotta Jr. even creepier, if not downright ironic).
So, how does the book cover Swan's marriage of Lotta --- or is it just explained that Swan was "the kindest man" Lotta had ever known, as she says in the movie ?
Thanks in advance !
"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"
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After watching this movie on TCM the other night, I too would like to read the novel.
My thoughts on Lotta marrying Swan would be that she really had no other options. We can think today of a woman being able to do other things, go home, go to work or whatever, but back then maybe her only chance to survive was to marry Swan. The movie hinted that she loved Swan (the look on Lotta's face when she realizes he is the kindest man she ever knew) and she resigned herself to being a good wife.
I am interested in how the book deals with Lotta's (the daughter) attitude toward Barney. In the film she starts out aware of his intentions, she knows he is interested in her, not her father. She even calculates being late to dinner so he has to wait for her arrival. Later it's shocking to her that he is interested in her for something other than friendship with her father.
Was Lotta truly manipulative?
Gonna have to read the book.
I've read the book several times. In the book, Barney was much younger than both Swan and Lotta. Barney did not have an affair with Lotta in the book. Swan sympathized with Lotta because of her lurid past and married her; of course, she was beautiful also.
shareHey manage ---
So, in the book, Lotta was not "dumped" by Barney ---
...and Swan wanted to "redeem" Lotta, or else somehow give her a chance at a decent life, by marrying her ?
"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"
Correct. In the book there was no romance at all between Barney and Lotta.
Yes, I would say that in the book your characterization of why Swan married Lotta is correct.
In the book, when Barney first met Lotta, he was only about 18 or 19. Swan was about 10 years older than Barney. Still Barney always had feelings for Lotta, but nothing like in the film, where Barney and Swan were about the same age.
Great ---
Thanks very much for clearing that up ! Hollywood really "juiced up" THAT story !
"A bride without a head !"
"A wolf without a foot !"
In the book there is also a whole other story after the point the film ends with. It would have made too long of a film to include it. But you should read the book. It's fascinating. Frances Farmer, especially in the young role, was perfectly cast. But there are a number of differences between the book and the movie.
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