MovieChat Forums > The Raven (1963) Discussion > This movie is not same as poem.

This movie is not same as poem.


The 1963 movie “The Raven” is very loosely, if at all, based on Edgar Allen Poe’s masterpiece of the same name. Although the differences are countless, and a list of them would run as long as the movie itself, the main differences can be summed up in three basic groups. The three major differences between “The Raven” the movie and “The Raven” the poem are the setting, characters, and plot.
In the poem, the entire plot takes place in the main character’s chamber. The narrator never leaves the room. In the movie, the first scene takes place in the main character’s, or Craven’s house, not totally unlike the poem. The tide turns, however, when the action moves outside on a trip to the castle of the antagonist, Scarabus. The majority of the movie take place at this castle, until the very end when the plot is ended back in the main characters house. This array of different settings is completely different from the single room of the poem.
Similar to with the setting, the movie again separates itself with an abundance, now of characters. As compared with the one unnamed narrator of the poem, the movie contains nine characters. These characters include Dr. Erasmus Craven, the protagonist; Dr. Scarabus, the antagonist; Dr. Adolphus Bedlo, who assists both Craven and Scarabus; and Lenore, the supposedly late wife of Craven. Other characters include Craven’s daughter Estelle, Bedlo’s son Rexford, and three other very small characters. Not one of these characters is similar to the narrator of the poem, though, it is supposed that Craven is meant to portray him.
The final difference between the movie and the poem is the plot. In the poem, the narrator is reading, when interrupted by a raven, who he believes might be there to console the loss of his wife Lenore. The poem ends with him yelling at the raven as it sits above his door. In the movie, Dr. Bedlo tells Dr. Craven that Craven’s late wife Lenore is not really dead, but living with Dr. Scarabus. This notification seems to be of Bedlo’s own accord, but it is later revealed that it is part of Scarabus’s plan to steal Craven’s powers. Scarabus captures Craven and Bedlo, and as punishment for treachery turns Bedlo into a raven. The action comes to a climax when Craven defeats Scarabus and his castle falls to the ground. The movie ends when Craven refuses to turn Bedlo back into a human. The appearance of Bedlo as a raven and the appearance of the deceased Lenore are the only two similarities between the movie and poem.
The name “The Raven” is shared by Poe’s poem and the movie, but neither the setting, nor the plot, nor the characters of them are similar. The movie would have been better off leaving out the Poe element completely.

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This writer is aware that this film is totally unlike Poe's famous poem.
But how could you make a successful feature film photographed on one set with one character who does nothing but talk in rhyme to a raven about his lost love for one or two hours?It would be a really boring film.
To Better Days,
BRAD

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You are correct...however incorrect about something.

The tide turns, and it stops being like the poem, as soon as the Raven speaks (which is a joke on this scene as everyone expects him to say 'Nevermore') rather than when they leave for Scarabus's home.
Hence we don't have the Raven turning into a man...etc...in the poem.

I sort of like the way this has very little to do with the Poem...it's almost a spoof of all the other Corman/AIP Edgar Alan Poe adaptations (this was obviously the intention) in that they always deviated a fair bit from the plot of the poems/stories.

Some are close but sort of expanded like 'Masque of The Red Death' where the actually plot as written by Poe features at the end of the film.

"Nothings gonna change my world!"

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Indeed! Also the Poe connection should remain as it is a spoof of the poem and Corman films (as you have said).

'The Masque of The Red Death' is an almost-forgotten gem; a really good adaptation of a short story by Poe.

Regards,
The Count

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 07

"Imagine"

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I can only hope the OP has matured past the need to offer the obvious in a length that rivals War And Peace. Yes.....we all know it has nothing to do with the poem.

Remember When Movies Didn't Have To Be Politically Correct?

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The Sherlock Holmes movies of the 40's with Rathbone and Bruce were only loosely related to the actual stories as well, but they told a good tale. For that matter Mr. Price made "The Haunted Palace" which is only loosely based on an H.P. Lovecraft story. And Hollywood often adds in or removes details in order to make a good movie even today. What difference as long as a good tale is told?

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