5: Film excerpts, "The Great Gatsby," 1974, 2000, and 2013.

5: Film excerpts, "The Great Gatsby," 1974, 2000, and 2013.

Since its publication in 1925, The Great Gatsby has been adapted for film multiple times. As with any creative adaptation, the directors of these films came up with their own interpretations, making choices about what to keep, what to change, and what to cut from the story.

Suggested Activity: A film adaptation is reflective not only of the original work, but also of the values and aesthetics of the filmmakers and of the time period in which it was created. Have students watch the scene between Meyer Wolfsheim, Jay Gatsby, and Nick Carraway from three different versions of The Great Gatsby. How has the director of each version chosen to portray Meyer Wolfsheim? To what degrees do the different versions of Wolfsheim draw upon Jewish stereotypes? Have students think about how they might deal with adapting a work of literature that contains a racist image or stereotype. Would they choose to stay close to the descriptions in the original work, or would they take creative liberties? Why?

Sources: “The Great Gatsby (5/9) Movie CLIP - Meyer Wolfsheim (1974) HD,” from The Great Gatsby (1974), YouTube video, 2:26, posted by “Movieclips,” November 22, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxL3vcwOL8E. [Excerpt from The Great Gatsby, dir. Jack Clayton, 1974.]

“The Great Gatsby Movie,” from The Great Gatsby (2000), YouTube video, 1:30:26 [excerpt of Meyer Wolfsheim scene begins at 25:24], posted by “Knowledge Builder,” April 18, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wAYG03qbEk. [Excerpt from The Great Gatsby, dir. Robert Markowitz, 2000.]

“Meyer Wolfsheim Scene,” from The Great Gatsby (2013), YouTube video, 4:52, posted by “Katherine KOIDIS,” April 27, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSq2B9NyEzU. [Excerpt from The Great Gatsby, dir. Baz Luhrmann, 2013.]