The Movie Whitewashed the Novel

I had not read the book, and I'm in the middle of watching the film now. I could not help but notice that every time Cassie spoke to Parris about her home situation when he came to visit her as a young adult, that one heard melodramatic thunder accompanying the lines! I think I will need to read the book to get the full flavor of this film--Code censorship makes it too easy to misread the meaning of a dramatic trumpet flourish (or musical "thunder"). Thanks so much for the elucidation!

I read the book many years ago (I think I was in my early 20s, but I could have been a teenager - I'm now in my 50s). The homosexuality in the book is practiced by a minor character who kisses Parris (it is not reciprocated) & subsequently becomes very introverted, eventually living with another man. I can't remember the character's name, but I think he ended up working in the local bank. I don't remember ANY hint of a sexual relationship between Parris & Drake.

I'm reading the novel now. One wonders why Warner Bros. - or any studio, for that matter - considered filming the novel, since so much of its contents were unacceptable to the Hays code. But it was the fashion to film bestsellers in those days, and Warners gave it their best shot. I suspect that Fox LATER encountered a similar situation with PEYTON PLACE.

It's a pity that the TV miniseries is virtually dead in the US, because that's the format most suitable for a novels such as KINGS ROW and Harold Robbins's THE CARPETBAGGERS.

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."

Perhaps I'm a bit off topic here but I have read the book twice and I never picked up on any Homosexual theme. The book intrests me because I live near the town the author grew up in.

One of the things I have noticed about old films especially films from the silent era is that you see many men holding each other in their arms. As the old directors died off you saw less and less of the embracing. perhaps the embracing we see in this film was a carryover from the silent era. of course I could be wrong.

I'll have to read the book again to see if I can find anything related to homosexuality. It's been years since I've read it and it was a good read.

You are definitely right about the movie being whitewashed version of the book.

With regard to the possibility that Cassie was a nymphomaniac, I have to say that the early scene where she and Parris -- as children -- went to the local water hole and stripped down to their skivvies or less pointed to a very early lack of self-consciousness that seems unlikely in children that age and in that era. Perhaps these kids were raised by parents who might have been very permissive, setting the stage for problems later on. We don't much, if anything about Parris's family, and maybe Cassie was a victim of incest even then, which might left her with no boundaries.

I just saw the movie and when Parris comes home to see Drake, Randy is overjoyed!
When Parris sits down and talks to Drake and embraces him as a friend would, Randy leaves the room, looks up to heaven and says thank you. I can't remember her exact words but she is giving thanks to Holy Mother for Parris being home.

any suggestion of homosexuality between the two friends is wrong and just someone who obviously did not read the novel or pay attention to that scene.

I hate the fact that a number of people on this thread are trying to defend the Hays Code, even suggesting it was a good thing. I do, however, think that whoever adapted the book into the screenplay we saw portrayed, did an excellent job. The main message I picked up watching the movie was that - hiding the truth actually leads to more problems than telling the truth. So ironic, considering how good this movie was in telling a story about horrendous but powerful truths whilst hiding the horrendous truths of the original novel.

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