MovieChat Forums > Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006) Discussion > Why all the changes from books?

Why all the changes from books?

posted 14 years ago by RustyShackleworth
4 replies | jump to latest

I certainly don't expect the films to be literal translations from the novels. But I don't understand why there are so many changes. And there seem to be some changes that were made simply for the sake of change. For example:

Stone now has an old dog name Boomer.
Stone lives in a somewhat isolated house instead of a condo in town
Stone gives Luther Simpson the nickname "Suitcase"
The Militia storyline is gone
The whole storyline of Lou Carson going to WY and being killed there is gone
Molly goes from being an Irish, wise-cracking cop to a more somber African-American woman

That said, I like the movie. I think Selleck is good for the role even if he is about 30 years older than the novel version.

What evil drives the Car?...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFWea3Eu97E

[–] Influence2009 14 years ago

I agree completely with the fact that Selleck was good for the role. He seemed like the type of person I pictured Jesse being in my head as I've read the 2 books in the series that I've now read. I'm currently on my third Jesse Stone novel. I'm excited to watch more of these films as I finish the books.

It seems in later years, they just took the movie "version" of Jesse and made films they wanted to make. Probably for reasons of budget, time, and once again budget. To make the plot as involved as it was in the book, they would have needed more cast members, longer shooting hours, more props, and more time for this thing to air.

However, some of the changes I think were made for other reasons. I think Boomer was added to make the viewer have an empathy for Jesse, and see his heart, whereas with the novel there was the station-cat, and the reader got to see Jesse's true heart and soul come out in little thoughts to himself.

As for Molly, I think they might have changed that simply because they liked the actress who got the role the best. (Just a guess?) I liked her in the role. Even though as I read it, the woman in my mind looked like more like Abby's actress in this film.

Lastly, I imagine some of the changes (The suitcase name story, House instead of a condo, perhaps even the dog named Boomer) were made just so the filmmaker/filmmakers/writers of the screenplay could put their "stamp" on it, which is kinda silly to do - but just a guess.

Either way, these films pleased the man himself, Robert B. Parker. On his blog, before his passing, he talked about how good Tom was for the role, so all and all, even with its faults, these films are better than nothing.

Anyway, I'm off to read "Trouble in Paradise." Jesse will always be better in the book than on film IMO.

[–] RustyShackleworth 14 years ago

I'm please that Parker did like Selleck's performance as Stone. He said something like, "he nails it". I wonder if CBS will continue to make Jesse Stone films based on original screenplays.

I agree with your theory on changes like the Suitcase name story and Boomer.

What evil drives the Car?...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFWea3Eu97E

[–] BoxOfficePoison 13 years ago

I'd already seen most of the movies before I started reading the books. Now the more I read, the more impressed I am with Selleck's performance. He's got Jesse down pat!

[–] grady-allstar 13 years ago

I've just read "Night Passage", and I agree that most of the changes were made most likely for budget concerns. Still, I thought the movie was good and Tom Selleck was perfect for Stone. Can't wait to read "Trouble in Paradise".

"If you kill me I'll haunt your ass!"