The Great Gatsby 1997
Distributed by Discovery Channel School
Produced by Elena Mannes
Director n/a
DVD, color, 60 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Literature
Date Entered: 06/18/2004
Reviewed by Maureen Puffer-Rothenberg, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GAThis episode of the Discovery Channel’s Great Books series offers a wide-ranging and engaging exploration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. Through dramatizations of key scenes from the novel, archival photographs and expert commentary, Fitzgerald’s classic work is explicated and placed in historical context. The program also provides biographical material and shows how The Great Gatsby’s themes grew from Fitzgerald’s personal experience.
Key scenes from the novel are shown through original dramatizations, augmented with a small number of scenes and stills from the 1974 film adaptation. Production values are high; professional performances are enhanced by period costumes and settings, and spoken dialogue and descriptions are taken directly from the novel.
The program introduces the novel’s main themes including the American dream of re-making oneself; the contrast between the innocent American Midwest with the corrupt East; consumerism (linked to today’s consumer culture) and romantic love. Primary symbols are explained, including Gatsby’s clock falling off the mantelpiece as he tries to stop time; the significance of Gatsby’s shirts; the billboard painting of T.J. Eckleberg’s eyes; the Valley of Ashes; the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanon’s dock, and the book’s final image of a man moving purposefully against the current.
Historical context for Fitzgerald’s work is provided, illustrated with archival film and photographs, and extensive biographical material relates Fitzgerald’s life and experiences to the novel.
The program is rich with commentary from scholars who explain The Great GatsbyAdded features include a video index dividing the program into four sections; six “thematic units” addressing more specific topics, and a slide show of seven captioned images. A “teacher resources” option merely directs viewers to the teacher’s guide and to the Discovery School Web site.
The DVD contains material designed to assist classroom teachers, but could also be used by students for independent study. The program is highly recommended for middle school and high school libraries and instructors, and will also be useful in introductory college courses.