The Verdict
Today the book is Something Wicked This Way Comes, and the question is, how does the nineteen eighty three Disney movie compare?
Short answer. The film is a cult favorite with real atmosphere and a great villain, but it is a smaller, simpler story than the novel. The book is better, and I would read it first. This video has light spoilers, and I will flag anything big.
How The Film Happened
The movie has a surprising history, and it starts with a dancer.
According to several accounts, in the nineteen fifties Ray Bradbury pitched the idea to his friend Gene Kelly, the star of Singin’ in the Rain. Bradbury wrote a long treatment, and he called it Dark Carnival. Kelly liked it and wanted to direct, but he could not find the money, and the project was shelved.
So Bradbury turned it into a novel, published in nineteen sixty two, and he dedicated it to Kelly. Then, more than twenty years later, Disney finally made it.
The Cast
The film was directed by Jack Clayton, who had made the haunting ghost film The Innocents in nineteen sixty one. Bradbury himself wrote the screenplay.
Jason Robards played Charles Halloway, the janitor father. Jonathan Pryce played Mr. Dark, the Illustrated Man. Two young actors played Will and Jim. And Pam Grier played the Dust Witch.
By most accounts, the casting of the adults is one of the strongest things about the film. Pryce in particular gets a lot of praise as a smooth and menacing Mr. Dark.
What The Film Kept
Let me start with what works, because the movie does keep the soul of the book.
It keeps the setting, a small town in autumn, and the idea that the carnival arrives out of season. It keeps the two boys, one careful and one restless, who are best friends. It keeps Mr. Dark as a polite tempter instead of a mustache twirling demon, and it keeps the carnival’s hunger for human misery.
And it keeps the heart of the story, which is that Will’s father, who thinks of himself as old and tired, turns out to be the hero. If that is what you love about the book, the film hands it to you.
What It Changed
Now, the changes.
Reviewers point out that a lot of the book’s plot had to be dropped for time. The famous opening, with the train arriving in the night, was reportedly shot at great cost and then removed.
The book’s moral shades are also simplified. In the novel, Jim is drawn to the carnival in a way that is sad and a little dangerous. Critics say the film smooths that over, so the good boys are good and the carnival is bad, with less of the tension between the two friends.
And the book’s wild, poetic language, which is its best feature, is mostly gone. That is understandable. Those sentences are very hard to film.
A Troubled Production
There is also a story behind the camera. The film is known for a rough production. Bradbury said he did not approve of some changes that were made while it was being shot, even though he had written the script.
Reports say that expensive reshoots took place, and that the film was not a success when it came out. Over the years, though, it has gained a loyal following, especially among people who first saw it as kids.
I have to say, this is based on reviews and reported accounts. I would love to hear what you think if you have seen it.
Does It Hold Up
So, does it hold up?
Many fans say yes, as a Halloween movie. It has a real sense of dread, a villain people still talk about, and a tone that Disney rarely tried before or since. It is a dark fantasy for families who like a little chill.
But if you want the book’s big ideas, the fear of aging, the carousel’s temptation, the long night in the mirror maze, you will find them thinner on screen.
Which Should You Pick
Here is how I would choose.
Read the book first, if you like atmosphere, language, and a story that stays with you.
Watch the movie, if you want a short Halloween night watch and you are curious how it looks.
Do both, if you are a Bradbury fan, and compare them. That is the most fun.
Thanks for watching. Tell me in the comments, which do you prefer, the book or the film? And if you want more, my review and my books like it videos are linked below. See you next time.
