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In this blog we are going to discuss about two very famous short stories which became great movies in the early era of the movies. The shorts stories and movies are “Daisy Miller” and “the most dangerous game”. The stores were very famous and were written in the late 1800s.
Daisy Miller (1974)
“Daisy Miller” is a short story penned by the great American author Henry James in the year 1878. Daisy Miller was made into a drama film produced and directed by the American producer Peter Bogdanovich in the year 1974. The lead of the movie was Cybill Shepherd playing the role of Daisy Miller. The production house was the legendary paramount pictures
Daisy Miller was a very successful short story and the movie was super successful as well. The movie had a great team working with lavish costumes all set to the 1800s. The grand sets were done by experts who were well versed with the era.
In the movie as well as the short story, the protagonist is a young American woman called Daisy Miller. Daisy Miller is very beautiful and loves to socialize and make friends with men which is very rare in a very conservative society. The movie dives into many themes such as rigid social classes, adherence to gender roles, and the vast cultural differences.
The movie starts in Switzerland, where the protagonist Daisy Miller meets and becomes friends with the male protagonist Mr. Winterbourne, a role played by Barry Brown. Winterbourne is fascinated by Daisy’s beauty and charm, but he is also puzzled by her behaviour. Daisy is more interested in having fun and socializing than in following the strict social conventions of the time. She flirts with several men, including an Italian named Giovanelli, which leads to gossip and criticism from the other Americans living abroad.
Winterbourne becomes increasingly interested in Daisy Miller and wants to pursue a romantic relationship with her. However, he is hesitant because he is unsure whether Daisy’s behavior is appropriate for a woman of her social class. He ultimately decides to break off their relationship when he sees her with Giovanelli late at night in the Colosseum in Rome.
The movie ends tragically when Daisy becomes ill and dies, presumably from malaria. Winterbourne visits her before her death and realizes that he was wrong about her. He sees that she was not simply a flirtatious girl, but rather a young woman who was trying to assert her independence in a society that did not allow it. He regrets not having stood by her and defended her against the judgment of others.
In the movie, Winterbourne is shown to struggle with his own class prejudices and is unsure whether he should pursue a relationship with Daisy. His decision to break things off with her ultimately leads to her tragic end.
In the movie, the audience is exposed to the difference between Europe and America. Daisy Miller and her family are Americans, and they are visiting Europe for the first time. They are unfamiliar with European customs and social conventions, which leads to misunderstandings and miscommunications.
The Most Dangerous Game (2022)
“The most dangerous game” is a short story written by Richard Connell and first published in 1924. The Most Dangerous Game was made into a horror film in 1932 and was directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and Irving Pichel. The lead of the movie was played by Joel McCrea, Fay Wray and Leslie Banks.
The plot of the movie is very exciting and it concerns a great hunter who stays in a desolate island which is surrounded by rocks. Many people who sail near the island hit the rocks and are stuck on the island. He then takes the passengers and hunts them for sport.
A great hunter and the main hero of the movie is Robert Rainsford also called as Bob. The ship hits the rocks and everyone drowns except for Bob. Bob is a strong swimmer and able to swim to the small island. Bob finds a large house where he meets Count Zaroff. He becomes the guest of Russian Count Zaroff, another great hunter. Zaroff is very familiar with the hunter Rainsford and his books.
Zaroff tells Bob abouthis obsession with hunting became boring until he discovered “the most dangerous game” on the island. Zaroff explains that he hunts humans. Rainsford calls him a madman and is very angry. Zaroff offers Rainsford an opportunity to escape by being the next prey.
The most dangerous game is simple. Rainsford will be turned loose at dawn, given a hunting knife and some provisions. He will be allowed the entire day to roam the island until midnight, when Zaroff will begin hunting with his dogs. If Rainsford survives until 4 A.M., then he wins the game and he can leave the island.
Eve goes with Rainsford and the two spend most of the day setting a trap for Zaroff. Zaroff is very clever and discovers the trap and begins chasing Rainsford. He is then attacked by a hunting dog. Zaroff fires a shot with his rifle and both Rainsford and the dog fall off the cliff into the water below.
Zaroff decides that Rainsford is dead and takes Eve back to his house. Zaroff is surprised when Bob returns safe. Zaroff is very happy and admits defeat. However Rainsford discovers Zaroff being a cheat and holds a gun behind his back. Rainsford fights Zaroff and mortally wounds him. Zaroff succumbs to his wounds and falls into the pack of his frenzied hunting dogs below, implying that he has now become their “prey”.
Conclusion
Both “Daisy Miller” and “The Most Dangerous Game” are timeless short stories that have been successfully adapted into intriguing films. Each story explores different themes and offers unique insights into human nature and society. “Daisy Miller” delves into the complexities of social norms, cultural differences, and the struggle for independence, while “The Most Dangerous Game” serves as a thrilling exploration of human morality, survival instincts, and the limits of obsession. Through captivating narratives and unforgettable characters, these stories and their film adaptations continue to captivate audiences, leaving a lasting impact on both literature and cinema.
