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Two Things In The Book That I Missed In The Movie

posted 13 years ago by futhark985
6 replies | jump to latest

Ok, I understand that this is already a long movie, so there are things in the book that could not have been included in the movie due to time constraints. However, when I read the book as a freshman in high school (in 1964), I was impressed by

1) Harris' struggle to win a bet by telling a story in the ship's mess about a former shipmate without resorting to profanity or vulgar language.

2) Jake Holman teaching Po-han about the Law of Conservation of Energy by showing him the continuity of the fire in the boiler and the foaming wake of the ship. "White horse never die" says Po-han when he catches on to the concept. As a science teacher I always wanted to find occasion to read this passage to my students. Now that I am retired and going into post-retirement service as a substitute, maybe I'll try to find a paperback I can carry around in case I ever have the occasion to use it.

[–] jakholman 13 years ago

I really enjoyed the parts of the book where Jake decided to fix the engine, once & for all, from the bottom on up, with help from Pohan & the Royal navy sailor. Basically what he did was realign the crankshaft bearings from the keel. And all those rusty nuts & bolts! The roadshow version has an extended part when they repair the rod bearing on the LP pump. Hammer! Hammer! Hammer!

[–] futhark985 13 years ago

Thanks jakholman (love your imdb handle), I remember Hammer! Hammer! Hammer! now that you mention it, although it is getting close to 50 years since I read the novel. Part of the appeal of the book for me was Holman's attachment to the machinery. This book and the engine rooms scenes motivated me to apply for admission to the California Maritime Academy engineering program, but I was rejected because of poor eyesight. However, I've never lost my interest in engines and other mechanical things.

[–] Etherdave 12 years ago

The 'Hammer! Hammer!' episode is an unfortunate loss to the cinematic release of the film, as it gives context to Holman's coaching of Po-Han during the boxing match.

[–] phillipsdan83 11 years ago

I miss Scharf, a German civilian engineer who can only be in China with the permission of the Chinese themselves, and as a result is never bothered by them. When Holman starts telling him of his growing sympathy for the Chinese people, Scharf sadly tells him that it isn't his revolution and hints that Holman himself is part of what the Chinese are rebelling against...which Holman himself only understands on the point of death.

[–] joscco 11 years ago

I know not all the language from the book could have been used when Po-Han was being murdered, but I wish it had been. When I reread the novel not long ago I was struck by the intensity of the exchange between Holman and Lieutenant Collins:

"Offer a thousand!" Lt. Collins told Shing. He turned white, sweat-streaming. "Holman, get back to your station!"
"Go to hell. Shoot. Do something."
The officer drew his pistol. "Go below or I'll shoot you for a mutineer!" He whispered it hoarsely. His eyes were terrible.
Bronson was tugging at Holman's arm. Holman slammed his gun butt into Bronson's belly and the quartermaster went down.
"Shoot, God damn you!" Holman said. "Shoot somebody, you yellow son of a bitch!"

Like Holman told Miss Eckert at the beginning of the movie, it really wasn't your "brother's" Navy.

"I told you it was off." The Jackal

[–] joscco 11 years ago

Oh, one other thing. I don't think the movie made it clear that the real cause of Jake's grief over Po-Han wasn't that Holman had pulled the trigger, but that Jake could have saved Po-Han's life but had been afraid. In the novel, Holman confides this to Miss Eckert:

"It ain't that I shot Po-Han, my finger on the trigger," he said at last, haltingly. "It ain't only that."
She said nothing.
"I knew our orders," he said. "I'm an American. I could have run down there and made it legal to save us both." His throat was tight. "I was afraid," he whispered. "I stayed on board."
She was silent. Her hand lay warm and unflinching between his hands. The strident buzzing back of his ear softened. He swung his head against her shoulder.
"All the time I was glad it wasn't me," he whispered.

"I told you it was off." The Jackal