Re: The Fate of Jack....

Posted by MMMMarcia on May 12, 1999 at 10:50:28:

In Reply to: Re: The Fate of Jack.... posted by Gayle on May 12, 1999 at 08:40:37:

Gayle wrote:

: Here comes the old Cooperphile, on cue, again. Jack was not a character in the book. Neither were the Camerons or Nathaniel Poe. I think Mann created Jack and the other settlers as well as the Camerons and their cabin to provide explanation and context for Nathaniel Poe's character and actions. All these gave him human ties which he was ready to die to defend, and the scenes gave him an opportunity to enlarge on his stances regarding the various crises. Also, the slaughter of the Cameron family provided an opportunity to let the viewer understand the contrast of emotion and pragmatism that characterized his decisions. All very effective ways of developing the character for the viewer.

Very interesting, Gayle. I seem to remember that the Camerons (or a similar family) were massacred in the earlier film version of LOTM, from which Mann took a large part of his story, so I don't think *they* were his idea, completely. Can't remember if Jack's character was in that version. I like your thoughts on these frontier people allowing us to understand Hawkeye's character better. I watched this older version in 1993, after seeing Mann's film, and the contrast between the two is amusing, in many ways. But there were many parallels between them, also. The hardest thing for me to watch in the older film were the Indians being portrayed by non-Indian actors, poorly made up and speaking in a stereotypical "Me, Injun...you White Man" style. I know it was the way it was done at that time in Hollywood, so I'm not putting down the film itself. It's just strange to look at that from today's perspective. Check it out sometime.

MMMMarcia

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• Re: The Fate of Jack.... Rich 11:50:17 5/12/99 (0)

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Comments:
: Gayle wrote:

: : Here comes the old Cooperphile, on cue, again.  Jack was not a character in the book.  Neither were the Camerons or Nathaniel Poe.  I think Mann created Jack and the other settlers as well as the Camerons and their cabin to provide explanation and context for Nathaniel Poe's character and actions.  All these gave him human ties which he was ready to die to defend, and the scenes gave him an opportunity to enlarge on his stances regarding the various crises.  Also, the slaughter of the Cameron family provided an opportunity to let the viewer understand the contrast of emotion and pragmatism that characterized his decisions.  All very effective ways of developing the character for the viewer.

: Very interesting, Gayle.  I seem to remember that the Camerons (or a similar family) were massacred in the earlier film version of LOTM, from which Mann took a large part of his story, so I don't think *they* were his idea, completely.  Can't remember if Jack's character was in that version. I like your thoughts on these frontier people allowing us to understand Hawkeye's character better. I watched this older version in 1993, after seeing Mann's film, and the contrast between the two is amusing, in many ways.  But there were many parallels between them, also.  The hardest thing for me to watch in the older film were the Indians being portrayed by non-Indian actors, poorly made up and speaking in a stereotypical "Me, Injun...you White Man" style.  I know it was the way it was done at that time in Hollywood, so I'm not putting down the film itself.  It's just strange to look at that from today's perspective.  Check it out sometime.

: MMMMarcia


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