Night Of The Iguana Movie Vs Play
Differences in film and play: "The Night of the Iguana"
May 13, 2006 John Houston carries a common theme throughout most of his movies, the theme of religion. The same holds true for his theatrical presentation of Tennessee Williams short play "The Night of the Iguana." The main character of the play, Reverend Shannon, is known to be a teacher of the word but this is not portrayed in the play even close to as much as it is in Houston's film. I will discuss three major differences between Williams play and the way it was interpreted onto the screen by Houston. The first and most obvious difference between play and film is the opening scene. In the opening of the film the Reverend Shannon is preaching a typical Sunday sermon from the pulpit when he starts to deviate from his speech. The reverend begins to lash out at the churchgoers saying he's tired of preaching the holy word in the wrong manner and in an evil, …show more content…
In the play Charlotte comes banging on Shannon's door until he finally agrees to come out and talk to her. Charlotte is eventually frightened away by Miss Fellowes yelling her name and leaves Shannon alone. In Houston's version of this scene it is much different. Charlotte comes running up and barges into Shannon's room, startling him. She once again tells Shannon that they should marry, but this time the conversation takes place inside Shannon's room instead of outside the door. Shannon can't get Charlotte to leave so he breaks a glass on the floor and threatens to walk on the broken pieces if Charlotte will not leave his room. Of course the stubborn teenager won't leave so Shannon begins to walk on top of the glass in an almost casual way as if the glass isn't even there. His feet are bleeding all over the place but he continues to walk back and forth across the broken
May 13, 2006 John Houston carries a common theme throughout most of his movies, the theme of religion. The same holds true for his theatrical presentation of Tennessee Williams short play "The Night of the Iguana." The main character of the play, Reverend Shannon, is known to be a teacher of the word but this is not portrayed in the play even close to as much as it is in Houston's film. I will discuss three major differences between Williams play and the way it was interpreted onto the screen by Houston. The first and most obvious difference between play and film is the opening scene. In the opening of the film the Reverend Shannon is preaching a typical Sunday sermon from the pulpit when he starts to deviate from his speech. The reverend begins to lash out at the churchgoers saying he's tired of preaching the holy word in the wrong manner and in an evil, …show more content…
In the play Charlotte comes banging on Shannon's door until he finally agrees to come out and talk to her. Charlotte is eventually frightened away by Miss Fellowes yelling her name and leaves Shannon alone. In Houston's version of this scene it is much different. Charlotte comes running up and barges into Shannon's room, startling him. She once again tells Shannon that they should marry, but this time the conversation takes place inside Shannon's room instead of outside the door. Shannon can't get Charlotte to leave so he breaks a glass on the floor and threatens to walk on the broken pieces if Charlotte will not leave his room. Of course the stubborn teenager won't leave so Shannon begins to walk on top of the glass in an almost casual way as if the glass isn't even there. His feet are bleeding all over the place but he continues to walk back and forth across the broken