The Great Gatsby Film Versions

The Great Gatsby is a 1974 American romantic drama film. It was directed by Jack Clayton and produced by David Merrick, from a screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola based on the novel of the same title by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This film is the 3rd filmed version of the novel.



The previous two, also made by Paramount, were: The Great Gatsby (1926), The Great Gatsby (1949), directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd as Gatsby, Betty Field as Daisy, Shelley Winters, Macdonald Carey, Barry Sullivan, and Howard Da Silva.



The 1926 Film version of the Great Gatsby was made as a silent film. This was the first filmed version of the novel. It was made by the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and Paramount Pictures. The film was a famous example of a lost film. This film was directed by Herbert Brenon. Warner Baxter played Gatsby, Lois Wilson as Daisy Buchanan, and Neil Hamilton as Nick.

Dan Cody was Gatsby’s best friend. Dan Cody played a very big part in Gatsby's life. Gatsby also has a picture of him hanging in his wall. Gatsby’s new life began on the lake when he met Dan Cody. Dan Cody was a wealthy copper minor from Montana. Gatsby and Cody both sailed around the world together three times over the next five years. During this time, Gatsby served as steward, mate, skipper, and secretary for Dan. Gatsby had to jail Cody on occasion to prevent him from committing dangerous acts.



Dan Cody was a somewhat coarse man who became very wealthy during the Gold Rush. The transactions in Montana copper made Cody a great millionaire. Cody was softminded, and naive, and many young women took advantage of this. He mentored Gatsby, when he was a young man and gave him a taste of elite society. He taught him how to do business, and he taught him all he knew.



Plus, he had an insatiable thirst for alcohol and drank continuously. Before Dan Cody died, he left Gatsby a large amount of money, because Gatsby had helped and taken care of him. Also, Dan Cody did influence Gatsby in many ways; most importantly, watching Cody's excessive drinking, made Gatsby drink very little. A portrait of Cody hangs on Gatsby's wall. Gatsby used this money to start the business that he is now in. And he uses what Dan Cody taught him to run his own business. (http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/q-and-a/chapter-6-great-gatsby-87159)