MovieChat Forums > The Prince of Tides (1991) Discussion > In the book, how strong is the rape scen...

In the book, how strong is the rape scene.

posted 12 years ago by singalongjonl-1
11 replies | jump to latest

I have seen the movie a while back, I remember bring kind of shocked about how strong the rape scene was in a movie at the time it was released. Google store is offering this at $1.00 and I was going to give it as a gift to a friend, however, I don't want to give it to the friend if the rape scene is too descriptive.

If someone has read the book, how strong is the rape scene? How is it described in the book, do they give too much descriptive while each member of the family is raped? I remember reading Mysterious Skin and that book literally told a step by step of how his coach raped the main boy character, is the book like that?

[–] cwbellor 11 years ago

From what I remember reading, there was a mention of bleeding resulting from the rape and he describes how it felt. Pretty sad and disturbing I'd say.

Personally, I wouldn't give it as a gift. I imagine the person would read about half way and before even getting to the rape, just deciding that it's too depressing to go any further. There are so many other books that would make great gifts.

"I like fixin' people gooood!"
- Papa Jupiter

[–] TrentinaNE 11 years ago

In the book, the attack happens just after Tom and Savannah's graduation from high school, so they are 17 or 18, rather than 13. It has been a while since I read the book, but I seem to remember this event being fairly graphic.

[–] The_Dougster 10 years ago

In the book, the attack happens just after Tom and Savannah's graduation from high school, so they are 17 or 18, rather than 13. It has been a while since I read the book, but I seem to remember this event being fairly graphic.

That’s correct. The part where Tom is describing the escaped convict "entering" him is really difficult to read. It’s extremely graphic and disturbing!

[–] longcooljolie 10 years ago

The rape scene also ends much differently in the book than in the movie.

It actually makes it more upsetting to make the characters 13 rather than 17.

[–] PacificHeights 10 years ago

The way it was described in the book and the way it was portrayed in the movie are both disturbing.

[–] poetcomic1 10 years ago

There's a tiger involved as well.

[–] duranduranruler 9 years ago

and the Wizard of Oz was watching it all, behind the curtain.

[–] VValkyrie 8 years ago

Love that Tiger & Luke! And of course goofy movie changes the scene, lame.

[–] catbookss 9 years ago

Although you asked 3 years ago and undoubtedly have long since decided one way or the other on give it as a gift, it is a good question so I'm answering anyway.

The first time I read the book, I'd taken it to a cafe and was sitting reading, utterly engrossed. A friend had given me a rave review, but had told me nothing about it. I was finding it as beautifully written as she said it was. Then, suddenly, the rape scene happened. It was horrific, greatly disturbing. A friend walked up to me to say hi, and all I could do was wave him away, barely able to speak. It was shocking, awful, and went on for quite a while.

I've since reread it a few times, but always skip over that part. I wouldn't say it's a step by step description, but the atmosphere Conroy creates of abject terror was overwhelming, and yes it's also graphic.

[–] bornskeptic 8 years ago

In the book, he says 'Just drop them pants boy....just get em on down'.
In the movie, he says 'Who's yer daddy?'

Clearly some yuge differences.

[–] sfwmson 7 years ago

The casual way they hide what happened to them is the worst part, honestly. The brother or mother gives tim a tampon to stop the bleeding. It was brutal.