The book The Great Gatsby is a wonderful masterpiece which has been adapted for many versions of movie. Each version has some difference with the original novel, and of course, the movies themselves are dissimilar to each other. Here I’m going to talk about the comparison of the scene when Gatsby first appears between the novel and the 1974 film.

First of all, in the book, Nick is invited to Gatsby’s luxurious party where he meets a man with who he talks for a moment. They feel familiar with each other and think that maybe they have met before. After a period of conversation, they are quickly acquainted with each other. At last, the first-met man even invites Nick to try his hydroplane out in the morning. Nick thinks that this man is just a common person who comes to the party for fun, till the man says, “I’m Gatsby.” It’s kind of dramatic, and apparently Nick never thinks he would meet Gatsby in such a situation.

However, the first meeting in the 1974 film is totally different. Gatsby doesn’t show up in the party but asks his servant to invite Nick to his room where they have a brief talk, after which Gatsby are busy answering the phone and then Nick leave.

It’s obvious that in the meeting part there is less surprise in the film than in the novel, to both Nick and the audience. In addition, Gatsby in the novel seems more approachable and talkative, while in the film, he is not so easy to be close to, even a little distant.

From the depiction in the novel, Gatsby is actually just a common person with affection, friendliness and hospitality. He’s alone, living in such a huge mansion with nobody to share with until Nick moves to the house next to him. It’s likely that Gatsby has observed his new neighbor for a long time, and he expects to know him. That’s why he tries to talk with Nick, introduce himself and even make an appointment with him. These all show us an approachable and real Gatsby who craves for love. In the film, however, Gatsby is a little indifferent from beginning to end. He stands by the window, looking the joyful crowd singing and dancing like it has nothing to do with him at all. It seems that his intention to ask Nick to his room is only to perform his duty of a neighbor. In my opinion, he is in fact not what he behaves. The reason why he hides his real feeling is because he lacks the sense of safety. Maybe he is afraid of being hurt again if he shows others what he is thinking. So he chooses to be aloof. I think the Gatsby in the film is more pathetic. The way that Gatsby appears to some degree demonstrates the character’s personality.

Of course, Gatsby’s character cannot be concluded through a few scenes. He’s a man with so many complex experience and extraordinary achievements. Maybe there is no one can really understand Gatsby. That’s why we call him Great.