Robinson Crusoe en El Cine

7/25/2019 Robinson Crusoe en El Cine

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THE MANY FACES OF DANIEL DEFOE'SROBINSON CRUSOE: EXAMINING THECRUSOE MYTH IN FILM AND ON TELEVISION

A Dissertationpresente to

t!e Fa"#$t% o& t!e Gra#ate S"!oo$at t!e Uniersit% o& Misso#ri(Co$#)*ia

In +artia$ F#$&i$$)ento& t!e Re,#ire)ents &or t!e De-ree

Do"tor o& +!i$osop!%

*%SO+HIA NI.OLEISHVILI

Dr/ Has0e$$ Hinnant1 Dissertation S#perisor

DECEM2ER 3445


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T!e #nersi-ne1 appointe *% t!e ean o& t!e Gra#ate S"!oo$1 !ae e6a)ine t!e issertationentit$e

THE MANY FACES OF DANIEL DEFOE7SROBINSON CRUSOE:EXAMINING THE CRUSOE MYTH IN FILM AND ON TELEVISION

presente *% Sop!ia Ni0o$eis!i$i1

a "aniate &or t!e e-ree o& o"tor o& p!i$osop!%1

an !ere*% "erti&% t!at1 in t!eir opinion1 it is 8ort!% o& a""eptan"e/

+ro&essor Has0e$$ Hinnant

+ro&essor Geor-e 9#sti"e

+ro&essor Deone% Looser

+ro&essor Cat!erine +ar0e

+ro&essor +atri"ia Cro8n


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AC.NOLEDGEMENTS

T!is issertation 8o#$ not !ae *een possi*$e 8it!o#t t!e !e$p o& )% aiser1

Dr/ Has0e$$ Hinnant1 to 8!o) I 8o#$ $i0e to e6press t!e eepest -ratit#e/ His

"ontin#a$ -#ian"e an persistent !e$p !ae *een -reat$% appre"iate/ I 8o#$ a$so $i0e

to t!an0 t!e )e)*ers o& )% "o))ittee1 Dr/ Cat!erine +ar0e1 Dr/ Geor-e 9#sti"e1 Dr/

Deone% Looser1 an Dr/ +atri"ia Cro8n &or t!eir ire"tion1 s#pport1 an patien"e1 an

&or t!eir "on&ien"e in )e/ T!eir re"o))enations an s#--estions !ae *een

ina$#a*$e/

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TA2LE OF CONTENTS

AC.NOLEDGEMENTS///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////ii

INTRODUCTION///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////;

CHA+TER

; Noe$ to Fi$) +ro*$e)ati"////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////34

3 Trans&errin- Danie$ De&oe'sRobinson Crusoeinto Fi$)//////////////////////////////////////


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INTRODUCTION

We do not usually think of Ro*inson Cr#soeas a novel.

efoe!s first full"len#th $ork of fi%tion see&s to fall &ore

naturally into 'la%e $ith Fa#st( Don 9#an( and Don #i6ote(

the #reat &yths of our %ivili)ation.*

Ian att/ Robinson Crusoeas a M%t!/

!en )% &riens an st#ents !ear t!at )% issertation st#ies t!e "ine)ati"

ersions o& Danie$ De&oe7sRobinson Crusoe1 t!eir i))eiate rep$% is t!at t!e% are &a)i$iar

8it! t!e Cr#soe stor%/ !en I as0 8!et!er t!e% !ae rea t!e *oo01 !o8eer1 )ost a)it

t!at t!e% !ae not/ Yet1 a$$ o& t!e) 0no8 8!o Ro*inson Cr#soe is/ Eer%one re"a$$s t!at

!e is a "asta8a%1 s!ip8re"0e an )aroone on a eserte is$an &or )an% %ears/ As &or

t!e rest o& t!e stor%1 ea"! !as a i&&erent ersion o& it/ So)e re)e)*er Man Fria%

Cr#soe7s &ait!$ s$ae ot!ers )ention "anni*a$s an Cr#soe7s "r#sae 8it! t!e) an

t!ere are t!ose 8!o t!in0 o& Fria% as Cr#soe7sfe&ale"o)panion1 s#rprise to &in o#t

t!at in t!e *oo01 t!e Fria% &i-#re is1 in &a"t1 a )an1 not a 8o)an/ It is o*io#s t!at 8!at

)% &riens an st#ents 0no8 a*o#tRobinson Crusoe"o)es &ro) t!e &a)e Cr#soe7s

"!ara"ter !as )aintaine t!ro#-!o#t %ears/ T!eir re"o$$e"tions are *ase not on t!e

ori-ina$ ersion o& De&oe7s noe$1 *#t rat!er on its n#)ero#s a*ri-)ents an eitions1 or

on ario#s "ine)ati" aaptations an rete$$in- o& t!e Cr#soe stor%/

Robinson Crusoe!as #no#*te$% attaine t!e stat#s o& a )%t!1 an "ontin#es to

$ie o#tsie its ori-ina$ "onte6t1 ti)e an "#$t#re/ S"!o$ars &re,#ent$% re&er to t!e Cr#soe

)%t!1 Spaas >J1 t!e Cr#soe p!eno)enon 9a)es ;J/ Mar-aret Dra**$e states t!at

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De&oe "reate one o& t!e )ost &a)i$iar an resonant )%t!s o& )oern $iterat#re ,t/ in

Spaas >J Ian att "$ai)s t!atRobinson Crusoeis a$)ost #niersa$$% 0no8n1 a$)ost

#niersa$$% t!o#-!t o& as at $east !a$& rea$1 an t!at it "annot *e rese t!e stat#s o&

)%t! Robinson Crusoeas a M%t! =;=J Fren"! "riti" Ar$ette 2o#$o#)ie 8rites t!at

Cr#soe is a )%t!o$o-i"a$ "!ara"ter t!ro#-! t!e )ere &a"t t!at !e !as *e"o)e a#tono)o#s

,t/ in Spaas >J/ To Mi"!e$ To#rnier1 one o& t!e *est 0no8n Fren"! noe$ists1 an an

a#t!or o&Friday and Robinson a re8ritin- o& De&oe7sRobinson Crusoe t!e Cr#soe

)%t! is one o& t!e )ost topi"a$ an ita$ t!at 8e possess1 one t!at in &a"t possesses #s

;>=J/ Neer !as a )%t! *een )ore $iin- t!an t!at o& Ro*inson Cr#soe1 To#rnier

e"$ares in a ; interie8/

Inee1 t!e stor% o& Ro*inson Cr#soe !as *een reis"oere1 reto$ an

reinterprete t!ro#-! -enerations/ T!e stren-t! an &as"ination o& t!e stor%1 en"aps#$ate

*% De&oe *#t not restri"te to !is te$$in-1 is t!at it es"apes a$$ ieo$o-i"a$ stri"t#res an

"ontin#es to s#--est a$ternatie reain-s an pro)pt re8ritin-s &ro) a$ternatie anta-e

points1 2rian Sti)pson asserts in t!e pre&a"e toRobinson Crusoe. Myths and

Meta&or'hoses i6J. Certain$%1 sin"e its p#*$i"ation in ;5;1Robinson Crusoe!as -one

t!ro#-! !#nres o& ersions/ Mi"!ae$ Seie$ "$ai)s t!at no sin-$e *oo0 in t!e !istor% o&

estern $iterat#re !as spa8ne )ore eitions1 trans$ations1 i)itations1 "ontin#ations1 an

se,#e$s t!an Crusoe >J/ +at Ro-ers7 st#% $ists at $east 344 En-$is! eitions1 in"$#in-

a*ri-e te6ts ;;4 trans$ations ;;? reisions an aaptations an 355 i)itations *%

;44 ;;J/ T!e Cr#soe stor% !as a$so *een renere in poe)s1 an opera *% O&&en*a"!1 an

i"e(s!o8 *% To) Arno$ an "o#nt$ess 2ritis! panto)i)e1 t!e ear$iest e6a)p$e *ein-

Robinson Crusoe1 or+arle,uin Friday1 per&or)e at t!e Dr#r% Lane T!eater in ;5>;/

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T!at t!e Cr#soe )%t! e6tens *e%on $iterat#re is o*io#s &ro) n#)ero#s non(

$iterar% )ateria$s1 ran-in- &ro) potter% an paper o$$s to "artoons an sta)ps/ Ian att

)entions a resta#rant tree1 "a$$e Ro*inson1 8!i"! 8as opene #p *% an enterprisin-

Fren"! in#stria$ist in ;> near +aris/ A$so in Fran"e1 #n Ro*inson !as *e"o)e a

pop#$ar ter) &or a $ar-e #)*re$$a Ro*inson Cr#soe as a M%t! =;3J/

Robinson Crusoe!as -enerate )an% ne8 stories1 #s#a$$% re&erre to as

Ro*insonaes/ Ro*insonae1 to e&ine it *roa$%1 repeats t!e t!e)es o&Robinson

Crusoe #s#a$$% it in"orporates or aapts spe"i&i" p!%si"a$ aspe"ts o& Cr#soe7s e6perien"e

an is an o*io#s re8ritin- o& t!e Cr#soe stor%/ Ot!er ti)es1 it s!ares ieas or narratie

st%$e Fis!er ;=4J/ T!#s1Robinson Crusoeaaptors !ae )eta)orp!ose De&oe7s

"asta8a% into a o-1 a 8o)an1 a "!i$1 a &a)i$%1 a o"tor1 an an i%$$i" $oer1 a)on- )an%

ot!ers/ Ro-ers7 st#% "ata$o-s a -reat n#)*er o& i)itations o& De&oe7s noe$/ An

in"o)p$ete $ist o& pop#$ar Ro*insonaes in"$#es t!e &o$$o8in- 8or0s: -he oya#es(

an#erous /dventures( and I&&inent Es%a'es of Ca'tain Ri%hard Fal%oner;534J1 9o!n

2arnar7s/shton Me&orial;53?J1 9o!ann R#o$p! %ss7s -he S$iss fa&ily Robinson

;>;3(35J1 Captain Marr%at7sMaster&an Ready;>4J1 -he

Catholi% Crusoe;>3J1 Si0 +undred Robinson Crusoes;>55J/ Serio#s reisions o&

Robinson Crusoe"ontin#e to *e )ae/ T!e )ost re"ent per)#tations o& t!e Cr#soe stor%

in"$#e Dere0 a$"ott7s Casta$aypoe)s1 M#rie$ Spar07sRobinson;?>J1 Mi"!e$

To#rnier7sFriday and Robinson ;53J an 9/ M/ Coet@ee7sFoe;>J/

M% issertation &o"#ses on t!e "ine)ati" ersions o& t!e Cr#soe stor%/ Startin-

&ro) t!e ear$% ;44s1 a si-ni&i"ant n#)*er o& &i$)s #se t!e Cr#soe )%t! as t!e te6t &or an

entire )oie1 or as a set pie"e 8it!in a &i$)/ Un%in- &as"ination 8it! a )%t!i" &i-#re o& a

"asta8a% $e n#)ero#s &i$))a0ers to re8rite1 reinent1 an re8or0 t!e Ro*inson Cr#soe

=


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stor%/ So)e o& t!e "ine)ati" aaptations o& De&oe's &irst noe$ in"$#e t!e &o$$o8in-

8or0s: Otis T#rner7sRobinson Crusoe;;=J1 Geor-e Marion's/&eri%an Robinson

Crusoe;;J1 Ro*ert Leonar'sRobinson Crusoe;;5J1 E8ar C$ine's1ittle Robinson

Crusoe ;34J1 ire"te *% Rana$ .eiser

Ca$e* Des"!ane$'s Crusoe;>J Ro*ert e)e"0is's Cast /$ay3444J1 a pop#$ar rea$it%

TV s!o8 Survivor3444J/


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T!e p#rpose o& )% issertation is to e6p$ore t!e re$ations!ip *et8een "ine)ati"

Ro*insonaes an De&oe's noe$/ M% ai) is to st#% t!e i&&erent ersions o& t!e Cr#soe

)%t!1 *% interpretin- not on$% t!e 8a%s t!e% i&&er &ro) one anot!er1 *#t a$so t!e 8a%s t!e%

sta% t!e sa)e/ !at narratie e$e)ents1 t!e)es1 iss#es1 an )oti&s persist in t!e ario#s

rete$$in-s o& t!e Cr#soe stor% an 8!% !at 0in o& appetite oes t!e Cr#soe stor% &ee

ie8in- a#ien"es o& )an% i&&erent -enerations an "#$t#res !at o t!e &i$)i"

Ro*insonaes sa% a*o#t De&oe's noe$ an 8!at o t!e% te$$ #s a*o#t a parti"#$ar ti)e an

"#$t#re in 8!i"! t!e% 8ere pro#"e

T!e en#rin- po8er o&Robinson Crusoe1 I *e$iee1 $ies in its )#$tip$i"it%/ Is t!is an

aent#re stor% a*o#t an inii#a$'s p!%si"a$ s#ria$ Or is it a spirit#a$ a#to*io-rap!%

Is De&oe ao"atin- e"ono)i" inii#a$is)1 or t!e reerse Is Cr#soe p#nis!e &or !is

iso*eien"e to !is &at!er1 or as !is 8ea$t!% state at t!e en o& t!e noe$ )a% s#--estJ is

!is re*e$$ion re8are Sin"e ;441 "riti"s !ae ee$ope ierse1 een "on&$i"tin- an

"ontrai"tor%1 reain-s o& De&oe7s noe$/ It !as *een interprete as a ree)ption narratie1

as e"ono)i" para*$e1 as s#ria$ stor%1 as a pie"e o& pre("o$onia$ist propa-ana I& Vir-inia

oo$& seesRobinson Crusoeas a noe$ 8it!o#t a so#$1 in 8!i"! Go oes not e6ist

Ro*inson Cr#soe =45J1 Ni-e$ Dennis "$ai)s t!at t!ere neer 8as a *oo0 in 8!i"!

Go7s !an 8as *#sier ,t/ in E$$is ;J/ I& Dottin &ins t!e ates an &i-#res o& De&oe7s

noe$ #n"onin"inan ina$i1 Gan@e$7s st#% tries to e)onstrate t!at o& t!en#)ero#s

re&eren"es to ti)e inRobinson Crusoe1 t!ere is on$% one error ,t/ in E$$is J/ 9o!n

2ener sees De&oe7s prota-onist as t!e personi&i"ation o& an oppressie penitentiar%

)enta$it%1 8!i$e Ian att ie8s Cr#soe as an e)*oi)ent o& se$&(s#&&i"ient1 iso$ate1 an

o%$ess "apita$is)/ Do8nie $o"ates De&oe7s *oo0 into t!e trae$ traition1 8!i$e H#nter

stresses t!e noe$7s si)i$arit% to +#ritan "on&essiona$ $iterat#re/ !i$e i&&erin- ie8points

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are not!in- ne8 in $iterar% "riti"is)1 t!e &a"t t!atRobinson Crusoe"an pro#"e so )an%

"ontrastin- reain-s is re)ar0a*$e1 i& not #ni,#e/ As .ein Cope o*seres1 one 8o#$ *e

!ar p#t to &in an% instan"e in $iterar% !istor% o& a 8or0 t!at !as so &$#ent$% an

perasie$% e$i"ite s#"! "ontrar% responses ;?4J/

2e"a#se o& t!e *asi" "ontrai"tions o& t!e stor% as 8ritten *% De&oe 9a)es 5J1 a

sin-$e "riti"a$ approa"! is in"apa*$e o& #n8rappin- a$$ t!e $a%ers o&Robinson Crusoe1 an

re"on"i$in- t!e so)eti)es parao6i"a$ e$e)ents o& t!is intri"ate noe$/ T!e "ontrai"tions

an in"onsisten"ies in!erent in De&oe7s *oo0 )a0e t!e narratie open to )#$tip$e reain-s/

Lo#is 9a)es ar-#es t!at Ro*inson Cr#soe

/ / /P e)*oies a st#r% inii#a$is)1 t!e a$#es o& t!e En-$is!%eo)an/ Yet1 in r#$in- oer !is $itt$e 0in-o)1 Cr#soe a$so s!o8sa )onar"!ist esire &or orer an "ontro$/ Cr#soe i$$#strates t!e"apita$ist iea$ o& a",#irin- an pro#"in-1 an een 0eeps a storeo& -o$ soerei-ns/ Yet !e a$so in!a*its an is$an 8!ere t!e"apita$ist a$#e s%ste) o& e6"!an-e is entire$% a*sent1 an 8!ere)onetar% 8ea$t! is #se$ess/ Most nota*$%1 t!e is$an is *ot! $ossan p$enit#e1 a p$a"e o& e6i$e an a re-e/ Cr#soe sa$a-eseer%t!in- !e nees &ro) t!e 8re"01 een pen1 paper1 -#ns ana))#nition1 an $ies a parai-) o& *o#r-eois respe"ta*i$it%1een o8n to !is "at1 o- an !is #)*re$$a/ Yet !e is a$soportra%e as )ere nat#ra$ )an1 str#--$in- 8it! !is *are !ansa-ainst t!e eniron)ent1 an &or"e to )a0e &or !i)se$& t!e )ost*asi" o*e"ts a spae1 "oo0in- pots an *rea &ro) see !e !as!a to p$ant/ Ma-i"a$$%1 *ot! i)a-es o& Cr#soe e6ist sie *% sie1an &e8 reaers ,#estion t!e "ontrai"tion/ 9a)es 5J

Robinson Crusoe's pop#$arit%1 t!en1 $ies in t!e &a"t t!at it is a te6t t!at $eaes #s 8it! )an%

open(ene ,#estions 8!i"! $ater 8riters reisit an respon to/ Fi$))a0ers1 $i0e $iterar%

"riti"s1 !ae approa"!e De&oe7s te6t ario#s$%/ Ea"! "ine)ati" ersion o& t!e Cr#soe

stor% o&&ers an ori-ina$ perspe"tie on Cr#soe's "!ara"ter an sees t!e eents &ro) a

i&&erent point o& ie8/ So)e are intereste in Cr#soe's re$ations!ip 8it! Fria% an t!e

ra"ia$ iss#es ino$e/ In !is ;53 &i$)Man Friday1 Arian Mit"!e$$1 &or instan"e1 rete$$s


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Ro*inson Cr#soe's stor% t!ro#-! t!e e%es o& Fria%/ 2#n#e$'s ;?3 ersion1 Des"!ane$'s

Crusoe;>>J1 an Mi$$erKHar%'s )ore re"ent aaptation ;J a$so !ae t!e Cr#soe(

Fria% re$ations!ip at t!e "ore o& t!eir )otion pi"t#res/ Ho8eer1 ea"! 8or0 portra%s a

er% i&&erent Cr#soe &i-#re/ T!eir &i$)s1 t!en1 are t!e "riti"a$ responses to1 rat!er t!an t!e

$itera$ aaptations o& De&oe's noe$/ Ot!ers "enter on De&oe's o)ission o& 8o)en &ro)

Robinson Crusoe1 an t!#s1 re8rite t!e stor% so as to &i$$ in t!e -ap in t!e ori-ina$/ E8ar

S#t!er$an'sMr. Robinson Crusoe1 t!#s intro#"es Sat#ra%1 a *ea#ti$ natie 8o)an1 as

Cr#soe's "o)panion on t!e is$an/ Yet ot!er &i$))a0ers seeRobinson Crusoeas a -oo

"!i$ren's stor%/ Fi$)s $i0e S$iss Fa&ily Robinson*% Disne% St#ios an ;4s TV series

2illi#an3s Islandi-nore Cr#soe's so#$(sear"!in-1 an )a0e a n(&i$$e1 aent#ro#s

o#rne% o#t o& t!e Cr#soe )%t!/ T!ese aaptations a$so a ne8 "!ara"ters to t!e stor%

so1 instea o& one so$itar% "asta8a%1 ie8ers e6p$ore t!e is$an 8it! a &a)i$% o& si6 in

S$iss Fa&ily Robinsonan seen "asta8a%s in2illi#an3s Island/ e)e"0is's Cast /$ay1

on t!e "ontrar%1 is a ra)ati" re8ritin- o& t!e Cr#soe )%t! t!at &o"#ses on iso$ation o& an

inii#a$1 an !o8 so$it#e "!an-es t!e "!ara"ter e)otiona$$%1 ps%"!o$o-i"a$$% an

p!%si"a$$%/

M% issertation 8i$$ a$so e6a)ine ot!er1 so)e8!at "$oa0e e6a)p$es o& t!e

"onte)porar% a"t#a$i@ations o& t!e Cr#soe stor%/ Moies s#"! as Si0 ays( Seven Ni#hts1

-he Blue 1a#oon1 -rouble in 4aradise1 as 8e$$ as t!e pop#$ar TV series1ost1 an t!e

rea$it% te$eision s!o8 Survivorare1 I 8i$$ ar-#e1 a$$ trans&or)ations an ariations on t!e

Cr#soe )%t!/ T!e% #se De&oe7s noe$ as a ra8 )ateria$1 to ,#ote 2e$a 2a$a@s1 an *%

-iin- t!e "asta8a% stor% a i&&erent e)p!asis1 t#rn it into an ori-ina$ 8or0 8it! a i&&erent

)eanin-1 si-ni&i"an"e1 an point o& ie8/

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Despite t!ese i&&eren"es in interpretation1 ie8point1 &o"#s1 an interest1 a$$ o& t!ese

&i$)s repeat t!e t!e)es o& De&oe7sRobinson Crusoe1 an t!#s s!are )an% "!ara"teristi"s

t!at -ro#p t!e) to-et!er as Ro*insonaes/ A n#)*er o& "entra$ )oti&s e)er-e t!ro#-!

t!e )an% "ine)ati" ersions o& t!e Cr#soe )%t!/ First o& a$$1 a$$ t!e 8or0s is"#sse !ere

in"orporate t!e spe"i&i" p!%si"a$ aspe"t o& Cr#soe's e6perien"e t!at is1 t!e prota-onist o&

ea"! one o& t!ese &i$)s is in a si)i$ar sit#ation: t!e% are a$$ "asta8a%s on an #nin!a*ite

is$an/ !et!er *% a""ient1 or o$#ntari$%1 t!ese "!ara"ters &in t!e)se$es iso$ate &ro)

eer%t!inan eer%one t!e% 0no8 an "are a*o#t/ T!e% !ae to $earn to s#rie not on$%

p!%si"a$$%1 *#t e)otiona$$%1 )enta$$%1 an ps%"!o$o-i"a$$% as 8e$$/

Se"on1 a$t!o#-! in t!e e6traorinar% "ir"#)stan"es1t!e "!ara"ters t!e)se$es are

not e6traorinar%/ Li0e De&oe's Cr#soe1 t!ese "asta8a%s are aera-e1 nor)a$1 o8n(to(

eart! inii#a$s/ As in De&oe's noe$1 not!in- )ira"#$o#s !appens in t!e p$ot o& t!ese

&i$)s/ T!e "!a$$en-es t!e% &a"e are to#-! %et a$so orinar%: !o8 to -et &oo1 8ater1 &ire

an s!e$ter !o8 to e&en t!e)se$es &ro)8i$ *easts !o8 to "ope 8it! iso$ation/// T!e

is$an1 t!#s1 *e"o)es a )aor "!ara"ter in t!ese 8or0s/

T!e t!ir e$e)ent t!at #nites t!ese &i$)s is t!e presen"e o& t!e Fria% &i-#re1 or t!e

"entra$ representatie o& t!e ot!er "#$t#re/ Ho8eer1 ea"! 8or0 in"orporates t!is t!e)e

i&&erent$%/ In so)e )otion pi"t#res1 as in De&oe's noe$1 Fria% is Cr#soe's serant an

$i0e De&oe's prota-onist1 !e is #s#a$$% sae *% t!e Cr#soe &i-#re #ner t!e si)i$ar

"ir"#)stan"es/ Yet in ot!er &i$)s1 Fria% )a% *e not a p!%si"a$ person1 *#t an o*e"t o& t!e

"entra$ "!ara"ter's i)a-ination1 s#"! as i$son1 an i)a-inar% &rien o& C!#"0 No$an1 a

so$itar% "asta8a% in e)e"0is's Cast /$ay/ i$son in rea$it% is #st a o$$e% *a$$1 *#t &or

C!#"0 !e *e"o)es a "o)panion #rin- !is &o#r %ears o& iso$ation/ it! t!e !e$p o&

i$son1 C!#"0 )aintains !is sanit%/ For ot!er "asta8a%s1 t!e ot!er )a% *e pirates1

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natie in!a*itants o& t!e is$an1 or a person o& t!e opposite se6 &or 8!o) t!e% ee$op

ro)anti" &ee$in-s/ He or s!eJ )a% *e #ti$ an o*eient $i0e De&oe's Fria%1 or

re*e$$io#s1 !osti$e1 an een an-ero#s/

Fo#rt!1 prota-onists o& t!e Ro*insonaes is"#sse !ere #ner-o a rai"a$ "!an-e

#rin- t!eir e6perien"e on t!e is$an/ !et!er t!e% -et res"#e an -o *a"0 to t!e

"ii$i@e 8or$1 or e"ie to sta% on t!e is$an1 t!eir ie8 o& t!e 8or$1 t!eir a$#e s%ste)1

an priorities are si-ni&i"ant$% a$tere/ At t!e en o& t!e &i$)1 t!e% are or "$ai) to *eJ ,#ite

i&&erent "!ara"ters &ro) 8!at t!e% 8ere at t!e *e-innin-/

T!e "ontin#in- $i&e o&Robinson Crusoein "ine)a an on te$eision proes t!at

a&ter )ore t!an t!ree !#nre %ears1t!e Cr#soe )%t! sti$$ resonates/ !at is it a*o#t t!e

"asta8a% stor% t!at is so appea$in- to t!e t8entiet! an t!e ear$% t8ent%(&irst "ent#r%

&i$))a0ers an a#ien"es !at "onte)porar% nees an esires oes t!e Cr#soe stor%

satis&% Seera$ &a"tors "ontri*#te to t!e ita$it% o& t!e Ro*inson Cr#soe )%t! in &i$) an

on te$eision/ First o& a$$1 as I !ae a$rea% pointe o#t ear$ier1 one o& t!e )ain reasons &or

t!e en#rin- appea$ o& De&oe7s noe$ is its potentia$ &or )eta)orp!oses/ De&oe7s stor% "an

!ae )an% )eanin-s/ As Ti$$%ar notes in -he E'i% Strain in the En#lish Novel1 one "an

es"ri*e t!e p$ot o&Robinson Crusoein seera$ 8a%s an t!is possi*$e )#$tip$i"it% is one

reason 8!% t!e *oo0 !o$s #s so stron-$% ==J/ Mi"!ae$ Seie$ a-rees: t!e ,#estions t!e

Cr#soe stor% raises1 !e notes1 are so *asi" t!atRobinson Crusoeis a pri)er &or t!e s"ien"e

o& )an1 a &ie$ st#% &or t!e ant!ropo$o-ist1 t!e ps%"!o$o-ist1 t!e e"ono)ist1 t!e po$iti"a$

s"ientist1 t!e so"io$o-ist1 t!e -eo-rap!er1 t!e en-ineer1 t!e a-rono)ist1 t!e t!eo$o-ian1 an

een1 as t!e stor% ee$ops1 t!e )i$itar% strate-ist J/ Hen"e1 t!e )an% possi*i$ities

in!erent in De&oe7s te6t proie a &i$))a0er 8it! )an% an-$es &ro) 8!i"! to "!oose1

)an% t!e)es to ee$op1 sin"e t!e "asta8a% )%t! is ri"! in e"ono)i"1so"io$o-i"a$1


14/249

"#$t#ra$1 t!eo$o-i"a$1 po$iti"a$1 an ps%"!o$o-i"a$ i)p$i"ations/

Moreoer1 t!e Cr#soe )%t! attra"ts *e"a#se it is a s#ria$ stor%/ Most i)portant$%1

it is a stor% o& s#""ess/ It "e$e*rates !#)an in-en#it% an reso#r"e$ness1 an o&&ers an

opti)isti"1 &$atterin- i)a-e o& !#)an0in/ As 9a)es S#t!er$an points o#t1 t!e Cr#soe

stor% !as t!e -rati&%in- str#"t#re o& a )an esperate$% str#--$in- to s#rie a$one a-ainst

t!e 8or$1 s#riin- *% s!eer natie ener-%1 tri#)p!in- oer i&&i"#$ties1 an "reatin- !is

o8n $itt$e "os)os o#t o& 8!at1 i& !e !a *een ino$ent an !ope$ess1 )#st !ae re)aine

"!aos/ S#"! a positie o#t$oo0 on $i&e an !#)anit% is *o#n to re)ain a pop#$ar1 &or"e$

an po8er$ i)a-e/

F#rt!er)ore1 t!e is$an settin- o& t!e Cr#soe )%t! o&&ers &i$))a0ers a #ni,#e

spa"e 8it!in 8!i"! t!e% "an aress #niersa$$% an "ontin#a$$% &as"inatin- t!e)es o&

so$it#e1 s#ria$1 !ope1 an e6p$oration o& #n0no8n1 a)on- )an% ot!ers/ T!e is$an

settin-1 8!i"! peraes )ost "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes1 proo0es inii#a$ )at#ration an

ree$ation/ T!e 0in o& se$&(a8areness t!at is$an !eroes a"!iee is #s#a$$% seen as )ore

ra)ati" an re)ar0a*$e t!an t!e one t!at "o#$ *e a"!iee in a "ii$i@e 8or$/ T!e

is$an o& t!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes is a p$a"e 8!ere a$$ &or)a$ po$iti"a$1 re$i-io#s1 an

so"ia$ "onstraints *rea0 o8n an 8!ere peop$e "an is"oer t!eir tr#e ientities apart &ro)

a so"iet% an "ii$i@ation/ A&ter t!e is$an e6perien"e is oer1 t!e "asta8a%s &in

t!e)se$es &oreer "!an-e/ T!eir o#t$oo0 on $i&e1 t!eir priorities1 an t!eir a$#es a$ter

si-ni&i"ant$%/ T!e is$an1 t!#s1 !as as )#"! )eanin- an ept! in t!e "ine)ati"

Ro*insonaes1 as inii#a$ "!ara"ters/ Moreoer1 t!e esert is$an is parao6i"a$1 *ein-

*ot! a prison an paraise1 e6oti" an &orei-n1 %et !o)e an &a)i$iar/ Its parao6i"a$

nat#re is &as"inatin- to ie8ers *e"a#se t!e is$an7s parao6es "an *e "o)pare to t!e

parao6es o& $i&e itse$&/

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T!e e6perien"e o& en"o#nterin- t!e ot!er1 so "entra$ in t!e Cr#soe )%t!1 is

reiterate in t!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes as 8e$$/ It is not s#rprisin- t!at t!e i)a-e o& t!e

ot!er 8o#$ !ae t!e "ine)ati" appea$/ T!e presen"e o& t!e ot!er o&&ers "onsiera*$e

opport#nities &or "onte)porar% &i$))a0ers/ To so)e it proies a "!an"e to &o"#s ie8ers7

attention on t!e iss#es o& ra"e anKor et!ni"it%1 8!i$e ot!er &i$))a0ers e)p$o% t!e t!e)e o&

ot!erness to "reate an e6terna$ "on&$i"t1 an to inte-rate so)e a"tion into t!e stor%/ T!#s1

t!e naties *e"o)e a so#r"e &or a "o)i" a"tion in 2illi#an!s Island T!e orienta$ pirates in

-he S$iss Fa&ily Robinson)a0e t!is aent#re ta$e )ore e6"itin- an %na)i" In1ost

t!e presen"e o& t!e ot!ers *rin-s s#spense into t!e p$ot1 an "ontri*#tes to ie8ers7

eno%)ent1 as 8e$$ as t!eir interest in "ontin#a$ ie8in- o& t!e series T!e "reators o& a

pop#$ar TV s!o8 Survivor1 on t!e ot!er !an1 #se t!e "#sto)s an rit#a$s o& t!e ot!er

"#$t#res to "reate "!a$$en-es &or t!e s!o87s "ontestants/ T!e p$a%ers are t!en

"!a$$en-e to parti"ipate in t!e traitions o& t!e ot!er/

Last1 *#t not $east1 one o& t!e reasons &or t!e pop#$arit% o& t!e Cr#soe stor% a)on-

&i$))a0ers )a% *e t!e &a"t t!at &i$)in-Robinson Crusoe"an *e re$atie$% ine6pensie/

First o& a$$1 its a#t!or is $on- ea1 an a &i$))a0er oes not !ae to pa% &or t!e ri-!ts to

#se !is narratie/ A$so1 it "an *e a $o8 *#-et )oie1 #s#a$$% re,#irin- on$% a er% s)a$$

"ast1 an no e6pensie spe"ia$ e&&e"ts/ For e6a)p$e1 in 2#n#e$7sRobinson Crusoesi6t% o#t

o& t!e &i$)7s ninet% )in#tes is s!ot 8it! t!e Cr#soe "!ara"ter1 p$a%e *% Dan O7Her$i!%1

a$one on t!e s"reen;/ Si)i$ar$%1 in Goor#0!in7s an Des"!ane$7s aaptations1 as 8e$$ as in

e)e"0is7s Cast /$ay1 a so$itar% prota-onist a#stin- to !is ne8 eniron)ent is -ien

; T!is ar-#)ent oes not1 o& "o#rse1 app$% to a$$ &i$)i" Ro*insonaes/ T!ose rete$$in-s o& t!e Cr#soe )%t!t!at a aitiona$ "!ara"ters #s#a$$% are )ore a"tion(pa"0e an %na)i"1 an re,#ire t!e #se o& spe"ia$a&&e"ts1 8!i"! "onsiera*$% in"reases t!e "ost o& t!e pi"t#res/ For e6a)p$e1 Lost is one o& t!e )oste6pensie series on te$eision toa%/ Si)i$ar$%1 a *#-et &or S8iss Fa)i$% Ro*inson e6"eee &o#r )i$$iono$$ars1 8!i"! 8as "onsiere a er% !i-! e6pense in ;4/

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)ost o& t!e &i$)7s s"reen(ti)e/

M% issertation 8as er% )#"! in&$#en"e *% t!e &o$$o8in- "riti"s: Ro*ert Ma%er1

Ro*ert Sta)1 Cat!erine Cra&t(Fair"!i$1 Gi$$ian +ar0er1 Mi"!ae$ .$ein1 a)on- )an% ot!ers/

!ere I see )% 8or0 as o&&erin- so)et!in- ne81 !o8eer1 is t!at t!is is t!e on$% $$(

$en-t! st#% o& t!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes o& )ore t!an one -enre an )ei#)/ +art o&

t!e interest in seein- seera$ ersions o& t!e sa)e noe$ is in seein- 8!at "!oi"es t!e

&i$))a0er !as )ae in renerin- t!e Cr#soe )%t! on s"reen1 8!at !as *een retaine &ro)

t!e ori-ina$ narratie1 an 8!at !as *een is"are an 8!%/ Moreoer1 I tr% to

e)onstrate !o8 i&&erent &i$))a0ers e)p$o% t!e Cr#soe )%t! to s!ine a $i-!t on o#r o8n

ti)es/ As )% is"#ssion o& t!e ario#s &i$)s an TV s!o8s 8i$$ i$$#strate1 )ore o&ten t!an

not1 t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes sa% )ore a*o#t t!e "onte)porar% 8or$ t!an t!e% o a*o#t

t!e 8or$ o& De&oe/ T!e "ine)ati" rete$$in-s o&Robinson Crusoet!en are eep$% roote in

t!eir !istori"a$ ti)e an "#$t#re/ T!e pro-ression an trans&or)ation o& t!eCr#soe )%t!

e)onstrate t!at it !as "o)eto )ean a )#$tit#e o& t!in-s &or "onte)porar% a#ien"es

t!at1 to ,#ote To#rnier1 8ere "o)p$ete$% #n0no8n to ear o$ Danie$ De&oe/ T8o

!#nre &i&t% %ears ear$ier1 To#rnier states1 De&oe "o#$n7t !ae anti"ipate one one(

!#nret! o& 8!at I sa8 in Robinson CrusoeP1 or 8!at %o# see in it1 *e"a#se 8e rea it

8it! t!e e%es o& peop$e at t!e en o& t!e t8entiet! "ent#r%1 "ons"io#s o& t!e pro*$e)s o& t!e

T!ir or$1 )oern sports1 t!e C$#* Me ,t/ in 2e"0ett ;?J/

As I resear"!e t!is proe"t1 I 8as s#rprise to is"oer !o8 $itt$e !as *een

p#*$is!e on t!e &i$) an te$eision aaptations o& De&oe7sRobinson Crusoe/ It 8as

parti"#$ar$% s#rprisin- "onsierin- t!e &a"t t!at t!e aaptations o& ot!er "$assi"a$ 8riters7

&i"tiona$ 8or0s !ae *een t!oro#-!$% st#ie/ For instan"e1 seera$ *oo0($en-t! st#ies

!ae *een p#*$is!e on t!e aaptations o& S!a0espeare7s p$a%s1 or t!e noe$s *% A#sten1

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Har% an Di"0ens/ A$t!o#-! t!ere are n#)ero#s "ine)ati" ersions o&Robinson Crusoe1

t!ere are s#rprisin-$% &e8 s"!o$ar$% 8or0s on t!e)/ For e6a)p$e1 seera$ essa%s !ae *een

8ritten on 2#n#e$7sRobinson Crusoe t!ere are a !an$ o& arti"$es on e)e"0is7s Cast

/$ayanRobinson Crusoe on Mars1 *#t !ar$% an%t!in- on Des"!ane$7s Crusoean ne6t

to not!in- on t!e ear$%Robinson Crusoeaaptations1 or on t!e "onne"tion *et8een De&oe7s

noe$ an t!e TV s!o8s1ostan Survivor/ In &a"t1 espite t!e o*io#s para$$e$s *et8een

t!e Cr#soe stor% an t!e p$ot o& s#"! &i$)s as Si0 ays( Seven Ni#hts1 -he Blue 1a#oon1

an S$e't /$ay1 no one !as e6a)ine t!ese )otion pi"t#res in re$ation to De&oe7s te6t/

T!e on$% *oo0 $en-t! st#% a*o#t t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes is Anne H#tta Co$in7s

issertation -he Celluloid Crusoe5 a Study of Cine&ati% Robinsonades/ Ho8eer1 Co$in7s

8or0 8as 8ritten in ;>1 an so)e o& t!e *est an )ost "o)pe$$in- re8ritin-s o& t!e

Cr#soe )%t! appeare a&ter t!e ;>4s/ Co$in7s st#% t!en is ate an in"o)p$ete/

F#rt!er)ore1 Co$in isre-ars t!e ear$ier ersions o&Robinson Crusoe1 an *e-ins !er

st#% 8it! 2#n#e$7s &i$)1 8!i"! 8as re$ease in ;?3/ !% Co$in "!ose to &o"#s on post(

;?4 )ateria$ is $e&t #n"$ear/ S#"! ar*itrar% "#t(o&& ate $eaes reaers #n"ertain a*o#t t!e

ear$ier aaptations: Are t!ere no &i$)i" ersions o&Robinson Crusoeprior to t!e ;?4s I&

t!ere are1 t!en 8!% is &o"#sin- on post ;?4 i)portant Moreoer1 Co$in7s issertation

oes not ta0e into a""o#nt t!e ro)anti"i@e re8ritin-s o& t!e Cr#soe )%t!/ Neit!er oes

s!e e6a)ine !o8 t!e )ei#) o& te$eision appropriates t!e Cr#soe )%t!/ S!e oes ra8

reaers7 attention to 2illi#an!s Island*#t t!e re&eren"e is on$% )ae in t!e "on"$#sion an

is1 t!ere&ore1 er% *rie&/

Ot!er si-ni&i"ant st#ies on t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes in"$#e Ro*ert Ma%er7s

e6"e$$ent essa%s Robinson Crusoein Ho$$%8oo1 p#*$is!e in/''roa%hes to -ea%hin#

efoe!s Ro*inson Cr#soe1 eite *% Ma6i)i$ian Noa0 an Car$ Fis!er1 an T!ree

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Cine)ati" Ro*insonaes1 p#*$is!e inEi#hteenth Century Fi%tion on S%reen1 eite *%

Ma%er !i)se$&1 an Ro*ert Sta)7s "!apter Co$onia$ an +ost"o$onia$ C$assi"s: &ro)

Robinson Crusoeto Survivor &ro) !is1iterature throu#h Fil&. Realis&( Ma#i%( and the

/rt of /da'tation/ 2ot! Ma%er an Sta) o&&er insi-!t$ ana$%sis o& so)e o& t!e )ost

pop#$ar ersions o& t!e Cr#soe stor%/ For e6a)p$e1 t!e% is"#ss e)e"0is7s Cast /$ayan

t!e aaptations *% 2#n#e$7s1 Des"!ane$1 an Go$/ Ho8eer1 t!ese are s!ort arti"$es an1

t!ere&ore1 "annot "oer )an% areas/

It is o&ten "$ai)e t!at )oies an te$eision o not e#"ate or ao"ate "a#ses/

Yo# "annot )a0e a )essa-e pi"t#re1 Sine% +oitier states in BEntertain)ent1 +o$iti"s1 an

t!e Moie 2#siness/ A )essa-e pi"t#re is a state)ent1 a prea"!)ent1 a spee"! 8it!o#t

entertain)ent a$#es/ / / /P e are not a""#sto)e to t!at in A)eri"a an #nti$ s#"! ti)e

as t!e )otion pi"t#re is no $on-er t!e o)ain o& t!e pro&it(see0ers1 %o# !ae to prin"ipa$$%

entertain peop$e ,t/ in Man"!e$ 4J/ T!ose 8!o !i-!$i-!t t!e es"apist aspe"t o& &i$)

an te$eision &or-et t!at )an% ti)es t!e p#re entertain)ent e)p!asis o& A)eri"an

"ine)a re,#ires "ons"io#s or #n"ons"io#s s#ppression an e*ase)ent o& )inorit%1 or

ot!er "#$t#res1 in orer to a$iate t!e a$#es o& t!e o)inant -ro#ps1 or to "ater to t!eir

esires an e6pe"tations/ T!e stereot%pe i)a-es o& t!e ot!er )an% )oies an

te$eision s!o8s epi"t e&&e"t A)eri"an ie8ers7 attit#es1 opinions an i)a-ination/

O&ten ti)es t!e% aan"e ne-atie t!o#-!ts an per"eptions a*o#t )inorit% "#$t#res an

peop$e/ Hen"e1 &i$)s an te$eision !ae a -reat ps%"!o$o-i"a$ an so"io$o-i"a$ i)pa"t/

Linsa% +atterson1 an A&ri"an(A)eri"an inte$$e"t#a$1 &or e6a)p$e1 ar-#es t!at t!e in&$#en"e

o& &i$)s is &ri-!tenin-1 an notes t!at t!e e6isten"e o& ra"ia$ is"ri)ination in so)e

"o#ntries is a res#$t o& t!eir pop#$ations !ain- "ontin#o#s$% ie8e t!e *$a"0 )an as a

&oot(s!#&&$in- iiot in A)eri"an &i$)s +atterson i6J/

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!at oes a$$ t!is !ae to o 8it! De&oe7sRobinson Crusoe As )% ana$%sis o&

t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes e)onstrates1 "a$$in- attention to t!e so#r"e noe$7s tro#*$e

re$ations!ip 8it! Fria% as a nat#ra$ s#*e"t is one si-ni&i"ant 8a% &i$))a0ers interro-ate

De&oe7s te6t/ +arao6i"a$$%1 !o8eer1 een t!ose )otion pi"t#res t!at entai$ a "$ear "riti,#e

o& ra"ist an "o$onia$ist "onentions o& t!e ori-ina$ noe$ $apse into a""eptin- t!e noe$'s

ie8 o& t!e naties as r#t!$ess1 *ar*aro#s an saa-e/ It is tro#*$in- t!at none o& t!e

"ine)ati" Ro*insonaes e6a)ine in t!is st#% i)a-ines t!e natie "#$t#res an% ot!er 8a%

t!an *a"08ar1 pri)itie an #n"ii$i@e/ None o#*ts1 ,#estions1 or reinterprets natie

"anni*a$is)/ Man% epi"t t!e natie peop$e as stereot%pi"a$ *$a"0&a"e1 parti"ipatin- in

saa-e rit#a$s1 s#"! as "#ttin- ea"! ot!er's t!roats1 or rippin- o#t ea"! ot!er's !earts/

Deprie o& ps%"!o$o-i"a$ "o)p$e6it% an inii#a$ oi"e1 t!e natie "!ara"ters o& t!e

&i$)i" Ro*insonaes are re#"e to ra"ia$ t%pes/ T!e stereot%pe i)a-es o& t!e naties

#se in t!ese &i$)s an TV s!o8s represent a )ini)a$ atte)pt &ro) t!e part o& t!e

&i$))a0ers to #nerstan t!e natie "#$t#res/ Instea1 in orer to stress t!e entertain)ent

aspe"t1 t!ese &i$)s an TV s!o8s )a-ni&% t!eir pe"#$iarities an stran-eness1 an portra%

8estern iea$s an $i&est%$e as "#$t#ra$$% s#perior/ S#"! stereot%pi"a$ epi"tion o& ot!er

"#$t#res is er% pro*$e)ati"1 sin"e it in&$#en"es A)eri"an ie8ers7 nationa$ "ons"io#sness

as 8e$$ as t!eir persona$ en"o#nters 8it! &orei-n peop$e/ T!e% !e$p perpet#ate s#"!

ne-atie traits as "#$t#ra$ insensitiit%1 et!no"entri"it%1 narro8()ineness1 "!a#inis)1

an a--ressie patriotis)/ 2% positionin- &orei-n "#$t#res into t!e rea$) o& ot!erness1 t!e

&i$)i" Ro*insonaes a$$o8 A)eri"a to set itse$& apart &ro) t!e non(estern 8or$/

I *e$iee it is i)peratie t!at 8e inesti-ate t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes in $i-!t o&

8!at i)a-es t!e% present a*o#t &orei-n "#$t#res an peop$e/ I a$so *e$iee t!at t!e Cr#soe

)%t! !as a -reat potentia$ not on$% to entertain1 *#t a$so to e#"ate/ As "onseratie as

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20/249

De&oe7s noe$ )a% *e1 it "an *e p#t to pro-ressie ens/ T!e "ine)ati" rete$$in-s o& t!e

Cr#soe stor% "an *e a po8er$ 8a% to aress t!e iss#es o& ra"is)1 et!no"entri"it%1

"#$t#ra$ insensitiit%1 an to ao"ate to$eran"e1 a""eptan"e an appre"iation o& peop$e7s

i&&eren"es/ T!e% "an tea"! estern ie8ers t!at t!ere are no Qsaa-es17 on$% )en $iin-

in "ii$i@ations i&&erent &ro) o#r o8n To#rnier ;>J/

In a sin-$e st#% one "annot een $ist a$$ t!e i&&erent "ine)ati" rete$$in-s o& t!e

Cr#soe stor%/ For t!is reason1 I is"#ss 8!at I "onsier to *e t!e )ost interestin- an t!e

*est i$$#stratie e6a)p$es o& t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes o& a parti"#$ar -enre an )ei#)/

T!e issertation is "o)pose o& ei-!t "!apters/ C!apter One Noe$ to Fi$)

+ro*$e)ati" e6a)ines t!e re$ations!ip *et8een &i$) an $iterat#re an is"#sses )aor

approa"!es in aaptation t!eor%/ I is"#ss t!e ario#s 8a%s t!e reno8ne &i$) "riti"s an

t!eorists s#"! as Ser-ei Eisenstein1 Anre 2a@in1 2e$a 2a$a@s1 Geor-e 2$#estone1 Morris

2ea1 2rian M"Far$ane1 an D#$e% Anre8 a)on- )an% ot!ers1 ie8 aaptation/ T!e

e*ate "enters on t!e &o$$o8in- ,#estions: !% o &i$))a0ers "ontin#e ra8in- on

$iterar% so#r"es Ho8 s!o#$ one ie8 &i$)s *ase on noe$s as a reain- o& t!e ori-ina$

te6t or as istin"t 8or0s o& art !at a*o#t t!e ,#estions o& &ie$it% Ho8 &ait!$

s!o#$ a &i$) sta% to an ori-ina$ narratie

C!apter T8o Trans&errin- Danie$ De&oe7s Noe$ into Fi$) &o"#ses on t!ose

)otion pi"t#res t!at ire"t$% $in0 t!e)se$es to De&oe7s noe$/ I e6a)ine M/ et!ere$7s

Robinson Crusoe;35J1 E8ar S#t!er$an7sMr. Robinson Crusoe;=3J1 Lo#is

2#n#e$7sRobinson Crusoe;?3J1 Stanis$a Goor#0!in7s6hi)n I Udivitelnye

4riklyu%heniya Robin)ona 7ru)o;53J1 Ca$e* Des"!ane$7s Crusoe ;>J1 an Ro

Har%KGeor-e Mi$$er7sRobinson Crusoe;J/ M% ana$%sis o& t!ese &i$)s ee$ops &ro)

;


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an approa"! t!at ie8s aaptation as a pro"ess o& interte6t#a$ ia$o-is)/ T!is approa"!1

*#i$t #pon Mi"!ae$ 2a0!tin7s "on"ept o& t!e ia$o-i"1 #nerstans aaptation as a persona$1

partia$1 inii#a$1 an )ost i)portant$%1 "riti"a$ reain- o& t!e so#r"e noe$/ T!#s1 t!ese

aaptors o not atte)pt to rep$i"ate De&oe7s te6t1 *#t rat!er1 enter into ia$o-#e 8it! it1

interpret it1 an "riti,#e it/ Moreoer1 a$$Robinson Crusoeaaptations are e)*ee in t!e

parti"#$ar ti)e an "#$t#re in 8!i"! t!e% 8ere pro#"e/ A "$ose ana$%sis o& t!ese )otion

pi"t#res a$so reea$s a parao6/ A$t!o#-! t!e &i$))a0ers atte)pt to "riti"i@e t!e so#r"e

te6t7s ra"ist an "o$onia$ist "onentions1 t!e% en #p repro#"in- De&oe7s ie8 o& ot!er

"#$t#res as #n"ii$i@e1 *ar*aro#s1 an r#t!$ess/ T!e epi"tion o& t!e naties is

stereot%pi"a$ in ea"!Robinson Crusoeaaptation e6a)ine in t!is "!apter/ Ea"! pi"t#re

!ei-!tens t!e natie "#$t#re7s ot!erness an pri)itieness/ S#"! ne-atie portra%a$

#ner)ines t!e anti("o$onia$ an anti(ra"ist perspe"tie t!ese &i$)s 8ant to ee$op/

C!apter T!ree A Voi"e o& Fria%: 9a"0 Go$7sMan Friday &o"#ses on 9a"0

Go$7s &i$)Man Friday;5?J e6"$#sie$%/ Go$7s aaptation ta0es a rasti"a$$% i&&erent

position on De&oe7s noe$/ First o& a$$1 it presents t!e eents so$e$% &ro) Fria%7s point o&

ie8/ Here t!e narrator is Fria%1 not Cr#soe/ T!is s!i&t in perspe"tie reinents t!e

"asta8a% stor% entire$%/ Go$1 #n$i0e an% ot!er &i$))a0er *e&ore or a&ter !i)1 re8rites

De&oe7s prota-onist in a 8!o$$% ne-atie 8a%/ His reision ree"ts t!e Cr#soe &i-#re

a$to-et!er/ T!e &i$)7s pessi)isti" enin- i)p$ies t!at t!e "#$t#ra$ *o#naries separatin- t!e

ra"es are ins#r)o#nta*$e/ T!e e6tre)e ne-atiis) o& Go$7s &i$) sets t!is ersion o& t!e

Cr#soe stor% apart &ro) t!e rest/

C!apter Fo#r Si)p$i&%in- t!e Cr#soe M%t!: Aaptin-Robinson Crusoe&or

C!i$ren e6a)ines t!ree "ine)ati" ersions o& "!i$ren7s Ro*insonaes: a$t Disne%7s

S$iss Fa&ily Robinson ;4J1 t!e ani)ateRobinson Crusoe344=J1 an a pop#$ar

;5


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sit"o) o& ;4s1 2illi#an!s Island/ C!i$ren7s Ro*insonaes &o"#s on satis&%in- t!e %o#n-

ie8ers7 !#n-er &or is"oer%1 aent#re an e6p$oration/ To t!at en1 t!e% $i-!ten t!e

intensit% o& t!e ori-ina$ te6t *% si)p$i&%in- t!e Cr#soe stor%1 )a0in- it a n(&i$$e1

o%o#s1 an e6"itin- es"apae/ Moreoer1 "!i$ren7s Ro*insonaes en!an"e t!e *asi"

Cr#soe stor% t!ro#-! t!e aition o& )ore "!ara"ters/ Hain- )ore t!an one prota-onist is

essentia$1 sin"e )ore "!ara"ters a$$o8 &or )ore possi*i$ities &or aent#re/

C!apter Fie Ro)anti"i@in- t!e Cr#soe M%t! e6a)ines t!e ro)anti"i@e

re8ritin-s o& t!e Cr#soe )%t!/ T!e )otion pi"t#res is"#sse !ere -he Blue 1a#oon

;>4J1 -rouble in 4aradise;>>J1 Si0 ays( Seven Ni#hts;>J1 an S$e't /$ay3443J

trans&or) t!e Cr#soe )%t! so t!at it $&i$$s t!e "onte)porar% )oie-oers7esire &or

ro)anti"is)/ T!ese )as0e e6a)p$es o& "onte)porar% a"t#a$i@ation o& t!e Cr#soe stor%

intro#"e t8o "asta8a%s1 a$8a%s a )an an a 8o)an1 8!o &in t!e)se$es strane on t!e

eserte is$an/ T!e pri)ar% &o"#s o& t!ese &i$)s *e"o)es t!e re$ations!ip *et8een t!e

t8o "asta8a%s1 rat!er t!an one so$itar% inii#a$7s orea$/ T!e st#nnin- "ine)ato-rap!%

o& t!e ro)anti"i@e ersions o& t!e Cr#se stor% "onitions t!e 8a% t!e a#ien"e respons to

t!ese &i$)s/

C!apter Si6 S"ien"e Fi"tion Ro*insonae e6a)ines 2%ron Has0in7s &i$)

Robinson Crusoe on Mars;


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C!apter Seen T8ent%(First Cent#r% Cr#soes an T!eir A#ien"es &o"#ses on

Ro*ert e)e"0is7s &i$) Cast /$ay3444J1 an a pop#$ar te$eision series1ost344


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CHAPTER ONE

Novel to Film Problematic

My task $hi%h I a& tryin# to a%hieve is( by the 'o$er of

the $ritten $ord( to &ake you hear( to &ake you feel 8 it

is( before all( to &ake you see. -hat 8 and no &ore( and

it is everythin#/

9osep! Conra/

-he task I!& tryin# to a%hieve is above all to &ake yousee/

;/ / Gri&&it!/

T!ese t8o &a)o#s passa-es1 one *% a "e$e*rate 8riter 9osep! Conra1 an anot!er

*% an A)eri"an &i$) ire"tor D/ / Gri&&it!1 are &re,#ent$% "ite in "o)parisons o& &i$)

an $iterat#re/ T!e is#a$ stress o& Conra7s ter)s1 "riti"s note1 )a0es t!e ai)s !e "ites

see) as appropriate to a &i$))a0er as a noe$ist/ In t!is "!apter I a) p#ttin- De&oe

so)e8!at into t!e *a"0-ro#n in orer to e6a)ine t!e re$ations!ip *et8een &i$) an

$iterat#re an to is"#ss )aor approa"!es in aaptation t!eor%/ I 8i$$ "onsier so)e

"o)positiona$ si)i$arities an i&&eren"es *et8een t!e t8o )ei#)s1 an e6a)ine t!e

ario#s 8a%s &i$) "riti"s an t!eoreti"ians ie8 aaptation an aress t!e ,#estion o& !o8

a &i$))a0er "an -o a*o#t aaptin- a noe$ into &i$)/

Eer sin"e &i$) arose as a stor%(te$$in- art1 t!ere !as *een a tenen"% *%

&i$))a0ers1 8riters1 "riti"s1 an a#ien"es a$i0e to asso"iate it 8it! $iterat#re1 as 8e$$ as an

insisten"e *% )an% peop$e t!at t!e asso"iatin- is &a$se or per!aps e"eptie1 Morris 2ea

o*seres in !is *oo0Fil& 9 1iterature;5J/ Inee1 )#"! !as *een 8ritten a*o#t &i$)7s

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re$ations!ip 8it! $iterat#re/ !i$e so)e "$ai) t!at &i$) an $iterat#re are as &ar apart as1

sa%1 "ae paintin- an a son- Mai$erJ1 ot!ers stress t!e $iterar% ori-ins an *a"0-ro#n o&

t!e &i$) &or)/ Man% "riti"s an t!eoreti"ians !ae ar-#e t!at &i$) s!ares a "$oser

re$ations!ip to prose &i"tion1 parti"#$ar$% t!e noe$1 t!an to ra)a/ D/ / Gri&&it!1 &or

e6a)p$e1 &$at$% states t!at )oies are pi"t#re stories not so i&&erent &ro) noe$sP ,t/

in Ross ;J/ Ro*ert Nat!an )a0es a si)i$ar ar-#)ent 8!en !e "$ai)s t!at t!e &i$) is $i0e a

noe$1 *#t a noe$ to *e seen instea o& to$ ,t/ in Ross ?J/

T!e &irst t!eoreti"ian1 8!o re8 para$$e$s *et8een &i$) te"!ni,#e an $iterar%

te"!ni,#e1 8as Ser-ei Eisenstein/ His &a)o#s essa%1 Di"0ens1 Gri&&it!1 an t!e Fi$)

Toa%1 e6a)ines t!e in&$#en"e o& t!e noe$s o& C!ar$es Di"0ens on t!e ear$% &i$)1 an

ar-#es t!at t!e )oies o& D/ / Gri&&it! o8e a e*t to Di"0ens/ Gri&&it! !as / / /P as )#"!

a Di"0enses,#e s!arpness an "$arit% as Di"0ens1on !is part1 !a "ine)ati" Qopti"a$

,#a$it%17 Q&ra)e "o)position1 Q"$ose #p17 an t!e a$teration o& t!e e)p!asis *% spe"ia$

$enses1 Eisenstein insists ;3?J/ T!e essa% een "$ai)s t!at Gri&&it!1 8!o is #s#a$$% seen

as a is"oerer o& one o& t!e )ost i)portant prin"ip$es in &i$) "o)position )onta-e

arrie at )onta-e t!ro#-! t!e )et!o o& para$$e$ a"tion1 an !e 8as $e to t!e iea o&

para$$e$ a"tion *% Di"0ens ;3?J/

Later s"!o$ars !ae ee$ope a "o)paratie )et!o een rt!er *% )a0in-

n#)ero#s ana$o-ies *et8een &i$) an $iterat#re/ 9o% Go#$ 2o%#)1 &or instan"e1 sees &i$)

as Ba ariet% o& $iterat#reB =4J/ S!e e6a)ines t!e si)i$arities *et8een "ine)ati" an

$iterar% $an-#a-es an "on"$#es t!at &i$)7s )oe o& "o))#ni"ation )a% *e irt#a$$%

ienti"a$ 8it! t!at o& $iterat#re 3=J/ Fi$)1 Go#$ 2o%#) ar-#es1 %an)a0e -enera$i@e

state)ents1 s#"! as t!e &o$$o8in- e6a)p$e &ro) 9ane A#sten7s4ride and 4re:udi%e: It is a

tr#t! #niersa$$% a"0no8$e-e1 t!at a sin-$e )an in possession o& a -oo &ort#ne1 )#st *e

3;


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in 8ant o& a 8i&e as easi$% as $iterat#re "an an )ore i)portant$%1 &i$) "an o so t!ro#-!

t!e er% sa)e )eans t!at is1 t!ro#-! 8ors1 8!et!er spo0en or 8ritten/ Moreoer1 *ot!

&i$) an $iterat#re1 Go#$ 2o%#) )aintains1 *#i$ -enera$i@ations inire"t$%/ Literat#re1 in

t!e )anner o& &i$)1 oes not arti"#$ate t!e)es1 *#t instea en"o#ra-es #s to "o)e to an

#nerstanin- o& t!e) t!ro#-! "!ara"ter an a"tion/ T!#s1 Go#$ 2o%#) "on"$#es1 t!e

)ost "r#"ia$ $i0eness *et8een t!e t8o $an-#a-es is t!eir er% spe"ia$ "apa"it% to "reate

t!ose "!ara"ters an a"tions1 to sit#ate t!e) in ti)e an p$a"e1 an #$ti)ate$% t!en to *rin-

#s into &i"tiona$ 8or$s/ / / /P In *ot! instan"es1 narratie an 8or$ are "reate =4J/

2ea's *oo0 )a0es a si)i$ar ar-#)ent/ As 2ea states in !is intro#"tion1 Bt!is

*oo0 "on"entrates on t!e art o& narrative1 t!e rea$) in 8!i"! 8ritten $iterat#re an &i$) are

)ost inti)ate$% "onne"te/ Inee1 it 8i$$ e6a)ine t!e possi*i$it% t!at 8ritten stories &or

e6a)p$e noe$sJ an &i$)e stories 8!at peop$e )ean *% 't!e )oies'J are rea$$% t8o

&or)s o& a sin-$e art ( t!e art o& narratie $iterat#reB 6iJ/ 2ea e&ines t!e noe$ as Ba $on-

&i"titio#s 8ritten narratie in proseB 33J an Bt!e t%pe o& &i$)s 8e "on"entrate in t!is

*oo0B as Ba $on- &i"titio#s narratie on &i$)B 3=J/ He ree"ts t!e ar-#)ent t!at &i$) is

e6"$#sie$% a Bis#a$B art an "$ai)s t!at it is a$so Ban art o& 8orsB ?


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Een t!e te"!ni,#e to )anip#$ate so#n is not "ine)ati"1 an is part o& t!e $iterar%

e6perien"e1 Ri"!arson )aintains/ T!e )at"!in- o& an a"t#a$ so#n 8it! t!e 8or

es"ri*in- t!at so#n 8ors $i0e *#@@1 "!irp1 an !iss1 &or e6a)p$e is one 8a% $iterar%

artists !ae a&&e"te reaers7 i)a-ination/ Ri"!arson e6a)ines t!e &o#rteent! "ent#r%

8or0s1 s#"! as 2a$ainan -he2reen 7ni#htas a sp$eni #se o& so#n &or )aor

ra)ati" e&&e"t ;J1 an "on"$#es t!at e6perien"in- a $iterar% 8or0 is in $ar-e part t!e

e6perien"in- o& i)a-ine i)a-es an so#ns an t!at t!e $iterar% artist )#st 8or0 !arer

to stir t!e i)a-ination1 to "reate pi"t#res an so#ns t!at t!e reaer 8i$$ a"t#a$$%

e6perien"e1 *#t t!e er% &a"t t!at !e )#st 8or0 to a"!iee s#"! an e&&e"t -ies !i) a se$&(

"ons"io#sness a*o#t 8!at !e is oin- t!at )an% &i$) )a0ers neer rea"!1 si)p$% *e"a#se it

is so eas% to proie a"t#a$ i)a-esan so#ns


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sop!isti"ate1 rat!er t!an a )ass a#ien"e 8i$$ $ose )one% i& it is not seen *% at $east

"o#p$e o& )i$$ion peop$e/ Co))er"ia$ &i$))a0ers t!en )#st -et a#ien"es to pa%

a)ission to see t!eir &i$)s/ Ho8eer1 t!e &inan"ia$ ris0 !as *e"o)e 8ort!8!i$e1 sin"e t!e

)onetar% re8ars &or een a )oerate$% s#""ess$ &i$) are !#-e/ T!e p$i-!t o& a serio#s

&i$))a0er1 t!en1 to ,#ote 2ea1 is $ess enia*$e 8!en "ontraste to t!at o& t!e noe$ist1

poet1 )#si"ian1 s"#$ptor1 or painter ;J/ T!e $atter "an pra"ti"e t!eir arts 8it! a )ini)a$

&inan"ia$ o#tp$a%1 8!i$e no&i$))a0er "an a&&or sin-$e(!ane$% to pro#"e an "reate a

)aor &eat#re &i$) 2ea ;J/ In &a"t1 &i$)(pro#"tion "osts "onstit#te t!e )ost e6pensie

oer!ea o& a$$ art )eia Man"!e$ ;=44J/ Despite t!e &a"t t!at &i$)s "an *e rente or

p#r"!ase &or !o)e ie8in-1 a &i$) nees a t!eatri"a$ s"reenin- in orer &or )ost ieo

o#t$ets to "onert it &or sa$e or renta$ in ieo store/ Stores -enera$$% isp$a% on$% t!e top

&ort% *o6(o&&i"e !its/ Conse,#ent$%1 "o))er"ia$ &i$)s -enera$$% nee to appea$ to a

re$atie$% $ar-e pop#$ation/

T!e per"eption an appre"iation o& &i$) an $iterar% 8or0 are i&&erent as 8e$$/ O#r

&reeo) o& "!oi"e1 it !as *een ar-#e1 is )ore $i)ite 8it! respe"t to &i$) t!an $iterat#re/

!i$e reain- a *oo0 8e pi"t#re t!e episoes1 an i)a-ine 8!at t!e "!ara"ters $oo0 $i0e/

A reaer's i)a-ination is &ree1 een 8it!in t!e $i)its set *% t!e es"riptions o& an a#t!or/ A

&i$)1 on t!e ot!er !an1 i)poses t!e is#a$ i)a-es on ie8ers/ It is i)possi*$e &or #s to

oer"o)e t!e is#a$ i)a-e t!at is a$$ t!ere is1 it is ri-!t in &ront o& #s1 an 8e "annot )a0e

it an% i&&erent 2ea


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ee$op)ent o& te"!no$o-%/ For e6a)p$e1 DVD istri*#tion )a0es t!e e6perien"e o&

ie8in- a &i$) )#"! $ess issi)i$ar &ro) reain- a noe$/ T!e a"t o& seein- a )oie "an

no8 *e #st as priate as t!e a"t o& reain-/ Seein- a &i$) oes not !ae to *e a -ro#p

e6perien"e an%)ore1 ne"essari$% ino$in- a trip to t!e )oie t!eater/ Aai$a*i$it% an

ease o& possession !ae1 t!#s1 )ini)i@e t!e istin"tions in t!e e6perien"e o& &i$) or

8ritten $iterat#re/ No8 8e "an *#% o#r o8n &i$)s #st as easi$% as 8e o *oo0s 8e "an

*orro8 t!e) &ro) t!e $i*raries1 an "an een ie8 t!e) on o#r "o)p#ter s"reen/ O&

"o#rse1 8at"!in- a )oie in a t!eater is er% i&&erent &ro) 8at"!in- it on a te$eision1 or a

"o)p#ter s"reen: t!e si@e o& t!e s"reen an t!e ,#a$it% o& t!e i)a-e an so#n "an !ae a

)aor e&&e"t on t!e rea"tion an t!e e6perien"eo& a ie8er/

T!e e6a)ination o& t!e re$ations!ip *et8een &i$) an $iterat#re ne"essari$% ino$es

a "onsieration o& t!e iss#e o& aaptation/ As 2rian M"Far$ane o*seres in !is in&$#entia$

*oo0 on t!e t!eor% o& aaptation1Novel to Fil&;J1 as soon as t!e "ine)a *e-an to

see itse$& as a narratie entertain)ent1 t!e iea o& ransa"0in- t!e noe$ ( t!at a$rea%

esta*$is!e repositor% o& narratie &i"tion ( &or so#r"e )ateria$ -ot #ner8a%B 5J/ Inee1

aaptations are1 as anot!er "riti" p#ts it1 Bt!e $i&e*$oo o& t!e &i$) an te$eision *#sinessB

Se-er 6iJ/ Man% A"ae)% an E))% A8ar 8innin- &i$)s are aaptations/ For instan"e1

2ea reports t!at1 sin"e t!e in"eption o& t!e A"ae)% A8ars in ;351 B)ore t!an t!ree

&o#rt!s o& t!e a8ars &or '*est pi"t#re' !ae -one to aaptations an t!atP t!e a$$(ti)e *o6(

o&&i"e s#""essors &aor noe$s een )oreB 5>J/ T!e reason 8!% &i$))a0ers "ontin#e

ra8in- on $iterar% so#r"es1 M"Far$ane states1 appears to B)oe *et8een t!e po$es o& "rass

"o))er"ia$is) an !i-!()ine respe"t &or $iterar% 8or0sB 5J/ T!ere is t!e $#re o& pre(

so$ tit$e1 an t!e e6pe"tation t!at respe"ta*i$it% an pop#$arit% o& a noe$ )i-!t in&e"t a

&i$) as 8e$$/ 2ea a-rees t!at Bso)e i)portant i)p#$ses to8ar aaptations )a% not *e1

3?


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stri"t$% spea0in-1 '$iterar%' at a$$ t!e% are &inan"ia$1 per!aps1 or erie &ro) t!e s!eer nee

to "o)e #p 8it! )ateria$ to *e &i$)eB 55J/

T!e iss#e o& aaptation !as attra"te "riti"a$ attention &ro) t!e er% o#tset/ Criti"s

8rote a*o#t it as ear$% as ;;;/ Step!en 2#s!1 &or instan"e1 re-are )otion pi"t#res as a

pro)isin- )eans o& intro#"in- t!e $iterar% "$assi"s to t!e )asses: BIt is t!e *#siness o& t!e

)oin- pi"t#re to )a0e "$assi" noe$sP 0no8n to a$$1B 2#s! asserte ,t/ in Go#$

2o%#)


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entertainin- ersion o& 8!at t!e% !ae to sa%B ,t/ in Go#$ 2o%#) 5J/

Een Eisenstein )o"0s t!e iea t!at t!e &i$) is an a#tono)o#s1 inepenent art

&or) 8!en !e 8rites:

It is on$% er% t!o#-!t$ess an pres#)pt#o#s peop$e 8!o "anere"t $a8s an an aest!eti" &or "ine)a1 pro"eein- &ro)pre)ises o& so)e in"rei*$e ir-in(*irt! o& t!is art LetDi"0ens an t!e 8!o$e an"estra$ arra%1 -oin- *a"0 as &ar as t!eGree0s an S!a0espeare1 *e s#per&$#o#s re)iners t!at *ot!Gri&&it! an o#r "ine)a proe o#r ori-ins to *e not so$e$% as o&Eison an !is &e$$o8 inentors1 *#t as *ase on an enor)o#s"#$t#re past ea"! part o& t!is past in its o8n )o)ent o& 8or$!istor% !as )oe &or8ar t!e -reat art o& "ine)ato-rap!%/ Lett!is past *e a reproa"! to t!ose t!o#-!t$ess peop$e 8!o !aeisp$a%e arro-an"e in re&eren"e to $iterat#re1 8!i"! !as

"ontri*#te so )#"! to t!is apparent$% #npre"eente art an is1in t!e &irst an )ost i)portant p$a"e1 t!e art o& ie8in-/ ;=J

Anre 2a@in1 one o& t!e )ost in&$#entia$ an i)portant 8riters on "ine)a1 &or"e$$%

e"$are t!at it 8as a &i$))a0er7s responsi*i$it% to -ie a &ait!$ renerin- o& a te6t/

Un$i0e !is pree"essors1 2a@in oes not &in t!e re$ations!ip *et8een &i$) an $iterat#re

a)a-in-:

It is nonsense to 8a6 8rot! a*o#t t!e ini-nities pra"ti"e on$iterar% 8or0s on t!e s"reen1 at $east in t!e na)e o& $iterat#re/A&ter a$$1 t!e% "annot !ar) t!e ori-ina$ in t!e e%es o& t!ose 8!o0no8 it1 !o8eer $itt$e t!e% appro6i)ate to it/ As &or t!ose 8!oare #na",#ainte 8it! t!e ori-ina$1 one o& t8o t!in-s )a%!appen eit!er t!e% 8i$$ *e satis&ie 8it! t!e &i$) 8!i"! is as-oo as )ost1 or t!e% 8i$$ 8ant to 0no8 t!e ori-ina$1 8it! t!eres#$tin- -ain &or $iterat#re/ / / /P T!e tr#t! is1 t!at "#$t#re in-enera$ an $iterat#re in parti"#$ar !ae not!in- to $ose &ro)s#"! enterprise/ ;J

Ho8eer1 2a@in !i-!$% a$#es &ait!$ness to an ori-ina$ so#r"e1 ar-#in- t!at t!e &i$)(

)a0er !as eer%t!in- to -ain &ro) &ie$it% ;J/ T!e noe$1 2a@in )aintains is a$rea%

)#"! )ore !i-!$% ee$ope1 an "aterin- to a re$atie$% "#$t#re an e6a"tin- p#*$i"/

T!#s1 it o&&ers t!e "ine)a "!ara"ters t!at are )#"! )ore "o)p$e6 ;J/ In&ie$it% to an

35


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ori-ina$ te6t1 in 2a@in7s ie81 is a *etra%a$ o& *ot! $iterat#re an "ine)a/ / / /P t!ose 8!o

"are t!e $east &or &ie$it% in t!e na)e o& t!e so("a$$e e)ans o& t!e s"reen / / /P *etra% at

one an t!e sa)e ti)e *ot! $iterat#re an t!e "ine)a 3;J1 2a@in "$ai)s/

S#"! &aorin- o& $iterat#re oer "ine)a1 Ro*ert Ma%er o*seres in !is intro#"tion

toEi#hteenth"Century Fi%tion on S%reen1 see)s a$)ost ines"apa*$e in is"#ssion o&

aaptation t!e er% 8or1 a&ter a$$1 s#--ests a$teration or a#st)ent in orer to )a0e

so)et!in- &it its ne8 "onte6t or eniron)ent 8it!o#t1 !o8eer1 "!an-in- t!at so)et!in-

into so)et!in- e$se one Qaapts17 t!at is1 one oes not Qtrans&or)7 or Q)eta)orp!ose'/

Inee1 so)e &i$))a0ers !ae ree"te t!e er% iea o& aaptation/ T!e Fren"! ire"tor

A$ain Resnais1 &or e6a)p$e1 on"e state t!at &or !i) aaptin- a noe$ &or one o& !is o8n

&i$)s 8o#$ see) ( sin"e t!e 8riter o& t!e *oo0 !as a$rea% B"o)p$ete$% e6presse !i)se$&B

( Ba $itt$e $i0e re(!eatin- a )ea$B ,t/ in 2ea 5J/ For Resnais1 t!e 8ritten &i"tion *rin-s a

pre(e6istent 8ei-!t to t!e "ine)a 8!i"! *#rens t!e pro"ess o& &i$))a0in-/ In-)ar

2er-)an1 on t!e ot!er !an1 8!o a$8a%s 8rites !is o8n s"ripts1 e"$ares &ir)$% t!at &i$)

!as not!in- to o 8it! $iterat#re 33?J an t!at 8e s!o#$ aoi )a0in- &i$)s o#t o&

*oo0s 33J/ 2er-)an "onne"ts $iterat#re 8it! 8ors1 an ar-#es t!at 8!i$e 8ors

intera"t 8it! t!e inte$$e"t1 &i$) intera"ts 8it! t!e i)a-ination/ T!e t8o art &or)s are

#s#a$$% in "on&$i"t1 !e ar-#es 33?J/ T!e irrationa$ i)ension o& a $iterar% 8or01 t!e -er)

o& its e6isten"e1 is o&ten #ntrans$ata*$e into is#a$ ter)s an it1 in t#rn1 estro%s t!e

spe"ia$1 irrationa$ i)ension o& t!e &i$) 33J/

Horton Foote1 an A"ae)% A8ar 8innin- s"reen8riter 8!o i &i$) aaptations

o& Stein*e"01 Fa#$0ner1 Harper Lee1 an O'Connor1 states t!at aaptin- t!e 8or0 o& ot!er

8riters to t!e s"reen is Bt!e )ost i&&i"#$t an pain$ pro"ess i)a-ina*$eB 5J an t!at !e

oes Ban%t!in- !eP "an to aoi itB 5J/ B!en %o#'re ea$in- 8it! %o#r o8n 8or01 %o#'re

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in!a*itin- a &a)i$iar 8or$1 an %o# "an )oe aro#n 8it! so)e "on&ien"e an &reeo)1B

Foote o*seres/ B2#t 8!en %o# tr% to -et insie t!e 8or$ o& anot!er 8riter1 %o#'re #ner

"onstant tension not to io$ate t!is person's isionB 5J/ In Foote's ie81 to *e rea$$%

s#""ess$ aaptin- anot!er 8riter's 8or01 a &i$))a0er )#st $i0e t!e ori-ina$/ BI on't !ae

to a$8a%s #nerstan it1 *#t I !ae to $i0e it an *e 8i$$in- to tr% to #nerstan it an -o

t!ro#-! t!e pain$ pro"ess o& enterin- so)eone e$se's "reatie 8or$/ An ea"! ti)e1 I

&in t!at entran"e into t!at 8or$ is i&&erentB 5J1 Foote points o#t/

2e$a 2a$a@s1 anot!er istin-#is!e ear$% t!eorists o& "ine)a as 8e$$ as a s"enarist

an a ire"tor1 enies t!e possi*i$it% o& an% trans&er1 or transposition &ro) $iterat#re to &i$)/

2a$a@s ar-#es t!at a$t!o#-! an aaptation ta0es t!e s#*e"t o& anot!er 8or01 it a"!iees

*ot! a "ontent an a &or) er% i&&erent &ro) t!e ori-ina$ narratie: / / /P 8!i$e t!e

s#*e"t1 or stor%1 o& *ot! 8or0s is ienti"a$1 !e a""ent#ates1 t!eir %ontentis neert!e$ess

i&&erent/ It is t!is i&&erent %ontent t!at is ae,#ate$% e6presse in t!e "!an-e &or)

res#$tin- &ro) t!e aaptation 5(>J/ To 2a$a@s1 eer% serio#s an inte$$i-ent aaptation1

is a re(interpretation ;;J/ T!e ori-ina$ *oo0 is a Bra8 )ateria$B &or a &i$))a0er1 rat!er

t!an a sa"re te6t: Ba &i$))a0erP )a% #se t!e e6istin- 8or0 o& art )ere$% as ra8 )ateria$1

re-ar it &ro) t!e spe"i&i" an-$e o& !is o8n art &or) as i& it 8ere ra8 rea$it%1 an pa% no

attention to t!e &or) on"e a$rea% -ien to t!e )ateria$B ;4J/

Geor-e 2$#estone1 8!oseNovels into Fil&;?5J1 is sti$$ "onsiere to *e one o&

t!e &o#nationa$ te6ts on &i"tion(to(&i$) pro*$e)ati"1 sees aaptation &ro) a perspe"tie

si)i$ar to t!at o& 2e$a 2a$a@s/ 2$#estone ar-#es t!at a$t!o#-! noe$s an &i$)s o& a "ertain

0in o reea$ a n#)*er o& si)i$arities1 t!e t8o )eia are )ar0e *% s#"! essentia$$%

i&&erent traits t!at t!e% *e$on- to separate artisti" -enera iiiJ1 as i&&erent &ro) ea"!

ot!er as *a$$et is &ro) ar"!ite"t#re ?J/ T!e noe$1 2$#estone )aintaines1 is a $in-#isti"

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)ei#)1 8!ereas t!e &i$) is essentia$$% is#a$ iiiJ/ Ea"! )ei#) is a#tono)o#s1 8it!

its o8n #ni,#e an spe"i&i" properties/

2$#estone o#t$ines t!e i&&eren"es in ori-ins1 a#ien"es1 )oes o& pro#"tion1 an

"ensors!ip re,#ire)ents t!at1 !e *e$iees1 rein&or"e t!e a#tono)% o& ea"! )ei#)/ I& t!e

rep#ta*$e noe$ !as *een s#pporte *% s)a$$1 $iterate a#ien"e1 !as *een pro#"e *% an

inii#a$ 8riter1 an !as re)aine re$atie$% &ree o& ri-i "ensors!ip1 2$#estone o*seres1

t!e &i$) !as *een s#pporte *% a )ass a#ien"e1 pro#"e "ooperatie$% #ner in#stria$

"onitions1 an restri"te *% a se$&(i)pose +ro#"tion Coe/ 2e"a#se o& t!ese

i&&eren"es1 8!at is pe"#$iar$% &i$)i" an 8!at is pe"#$iar$% noe$isti" "annot *e "onerte

8it!o#t estro%inan inte-ra$ part o& ea"!3// / /P An art 8!ose $i)its epen on a )oin-

i)a-e1 )ass a#ien"e1 an in#stria$ pro#"tion is *o#n to i&&er &ro) an art 8!ose $i)its

epen on $an-#a-e1 a $i)ite a#ien"e an inii#a$ "reation =(


35/249

T!e &i$))a0er1 !e "on"$#es *e"o)es not a trans$ator &or an esta*$is!e a#t!or1 *#t a ne8

a#t!or in !is o8n ri-!t 3J/

Man% s"!o$ars !ae "riti"i@e 2$#estone7s )ei#)(spe"i&i" approa"! as a ,#ite

asto#nin- eien"e o& a Q$a"0 o& &it7 *et8een 2$#estone7s "on"ept#a$ prin"ip$es an

intentions1 an !is atte)pts to app$% !is t!eories to rea$ "ase st#ies Car8e$$


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S"!o$ars 8!o ta0e t!e "o)paratie approa"! to aaptation e)p!asi@e on

$oo0in- &or t!e 8a%s in 8!i"! t!e sa)e narratie is to$ #sin- i&&erent "onentions

Car8e$$ ?J/ M"Far$ane1 8!oseNovel to Fil& ;J is one o& t!e )ost in&$#entia$

8or0s 8it!in 8!at Car8e$$ re&ers to as t!e "o)paratie traition1="riti"i@es t!e notion

t!at a &i$) is a &i$) an t!ere is no point in "onsierin- it as an aaptation ;


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a#tono)% as 8e$$ as &ai$in- to #nerstan t!e pro"ess *% 8!i"! t!e noe$ !as *een

transpose to &i$) 344J/

It is i)portant to e)p!asi@e !ere t!at in raisin- t!e iss#es o& interte6t#a$it%1

M"Far$ane oes not en% !o8 po8er$$% &or)atie t!e so#r"e 8or0 is in s!apin- t!e

response o& )an% peop$e to t!e &i$) ersion 33J/ He1 t!#s1 proposes t8o $ines o&

inesti-ation: aJ in t!e transposition pro"ess #st 8!at is it'ossible to trans&er or aapt

&ro) noe$ to &i$) an *J 8!at 0e% &a"tors ot!er t!an t!e so#r"e noe$ !ae e6er"ise an

in&$#en"e on t!e &i$) ersion o& t!e noe$ 33J/ Ho8eer1 a$t!o#-! M"Far$ane

re"o-ni@es t!e i)portan"e o& interte6t#a$it%1 t!e ana$%sis !e o&&ers in !is *oo0 oes not

in"orporate t!e e6a)ination o& a&i$)7s interte6t#a$ spa"e/

F#rt!er)ore1 M"Far$ane t!in0s t!at it is i)portant to assess t!e kindo& aaptation

t!e &i$) ai)s to *e 33J/ Man% aaptations1 !e o*seres1 !ae "!osen pat!s ot!er t!an

t!at o& t!e $itera$()ine is#a$i@ation o& t!e ori-ina$ or een o& Qspirit#a$ &ie$it%17 )a0in-

,#ite o*io#s epart#res &ro) t!e ori-ina$ 33J/ S#"! epart#res1 M"Far$ane e)p!asi@es1

)a% *e seen as a "o))entar% on1 or een a e"onstr#"tion o& t!e ori-ina$/ Ea$#atin-

t!e &i$) ersion o& a noe$ &ro) t!e ie8point o& a &i$))a0er7s ai) 8o#$ e$i)inate t!e

#se o& s#"! ter)s as io$ation1 istortion1 traest% an ne-ate t!e i)p$ie sense o&

t!e noe$7s s#pre)a"%/

Mi"!ae$ .$ein an Gi$$ian +ar0er1 t!e eitors o& -he En#lish Novel and the Movies

;>;J1 a$so a"0no8$e-e na)enta$ i&&eren"es *et8een t!e t8o )eia1 *#t re"o-ni@e

t!at t!ere is t!e possi*i$it% o& "oner-en"e/ T!e% iie aaptations into t!ree )ain

-ro#ps1 a""orin- to !o8 &ait!$ to t!e ori-ina$ te6t t!e% are/ 2e"a#se o& t!e e6pe"tations

o& t!e a#ien"e1 )ost &i$)s1 t!e% ar-#e1 atte)pt to -ie t!e i)pression o& *ein- &ait!$1

t!at is1 $itera$ trans$ations o& t!e te6t into t!e $an-#a-e o& &i$) J/ A se"on approa"! to

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aaptation is t!e one t!at retains t!e "ore o& t!e str#"t#re o& t!e narratie 8!i$e

si-ni&i"ant$% reinterpretin- or1 in so)e "ases1 e"onstr#"tin- t!e so#r"e te6t .$ein an

+ar0er;4J/ A t!ir an i&&erent approa"! is one t!at re-ars t!e so#r"e )ere$% as ra8

)ateria$1 as si)p$% t!e o""asion &or an ori-ina$ 8or0 .$ein an +ar0er ;4J/

Ot!er t!eorists a$so see0 to "ate-ori@e aaptations so t!at1 as M"Far$ane o*seres1

&ie$it% to t!e ori-ina$ $oses so)e o& its prii$e-e position ;4J/ Geo&&re% a-ner1 &or

e6a)p$e1 s#--ests t!ree &o$$o8in- -ro#p !eain-s: transposition1 in 8!i"! a noe$ is

-ien ire"t$% on t!e s"reen 8it! a )ini)#) o& apparent inter&eren"e a-ner 333J

"o))entar%1 or re(e)p!asis1 or re(str#"t#re1 8!ere an ori-ina$ is ta0en an eit!er

p#rpose$% or inaertent$% a$tere in so)e respe"t / / /P 8!en t!ere !as *een a i&&erent

intention on t!e part o& t!e &i$)()a0er1 rat!er t!an in&ie$it% or o#tri-!t io$ation a-ner

33J/ 2orro8in- t!e )ost &re,#ent )oe

o& aaptation is 8!en t!e artist e)p$o%s t!e )ateria$1 iea1 or &or) o& an ear$ier1 #s#a$$%

s#""ess$ narratie/ T!e s#""ess o& aaptation o& t!is sort1 Anre8 points o#t1 rests on

t!e iss#e o& &erti$it% not t!eir &ie$it% J/ Interse"tin-1 on t!e ot!er !an1 preseres t!e

#ni,#eness o& t!e ori-ina$ te6t to s#"! an e6tent t!at it is intentiona$$% $e&t #nassi)i$ate in

aaptation/ T!e "ine)a1 as a separate )e"!anis)1 re"ors its "on&rontation 8it! an

#$ti)ate$% intransi-ent te6t J/ Fina$$%1 &ie$it% o& trans&or)ation is a 0in o&

aaptation 8!ere &i$) tries to )eas#re #p to a $iterar% 8or01 or o& an a#ien"e e6pe"tin- to

)a0e s#"! a "o)parison/ Here it is ass#)e t!at t!e tas0 o& aaptation is t!e

repro#"tion in "ine)a o& so)et!in- essentia$ a*o#t an ori-ina$ te6t ;44J/

=


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S#"! "ate-ori@ation as o&&ere *% .$ein an +ar0er1 a-ner1 an Anre8 is #se$

*e"a#se1 as Sara! Car8e$$ o*seres1 it oes not pres#ppose t!at ea"! aaptation ai)s &or

&ie$it% to its so#r"e te6t 4J/ Ho8eer1 Car8e$$ a$so points o#t so)e pro*$e)s 8it! t!e

)et!oo$o-% o& iiin- aaptations into -ro#ps/ I& t!e pri)ar% ai) o& t!e &i$) or

te$eision pro-ra))e is not&ie$it% to t!e so#r"e noe$1 s!e as0s1 !o8 are 8e to st#% an

ea$#ate s#"! aaptations

I& t!e *asis o& ana$%sis is "o)parison *et8een &i$) an noe$1t!en on$% t!ose e$e)ents in t!e &i$) t!at are a$so present in t!e*oo0 8i$$ *e !i-!$i-!te in t!e res#$tin- ana$%sis/ As t!esee$e)ents !ae a$rea% *een so#-!t o#t an note1 8e are $e&t8it! a "onsiera*$e proportion o& &i$)i" te6t t!at is not

e6p$i"a*$e in ter)s o& t!e so#r"e *oo0 an is t!ere&ore 8it!int!e "o)paratie )oe o& approa"!J $e&t #ninterprete/Car8e$$ 3J

F#rt!er)ore1 Car8e$$ )aintains1 re"o-nition o& t!e e6isten"e o& i&&erent t%pes o&

aaptation "an in#"e a pro"$iit% to8ars &aorin- one t%pe o& aaptation oer anot!er

=J/ For instan"e1 ana$o-% e&ine *% Anre8 as a )oe t!atP retes t!e

"o))onp$a"e t!at aaptations s#pport on$% a "onseratie &i$) aest!eti"s Anre8 ;44J

is #s#a$$% praise )ore t!an ot!er "ate-ories o& aaptation/ A""orin- to Car8e$$1 t!is

"o#$ *e *e"a#se t!is t%pe o& aaptation *est rein&or"es &i$) as an a#tono)o#s art &or)

=J/

Car8e$$ proposes an approa"! t!at re-ars aaptations in ter)s o& an eer(

ee$opin- )eta(te6t >J/ T!is ie8 re"o-ni@es t!at aaptations )a% ra8 #pon ear$ier

aaptations1 as 8e$$ as #pon t!e pri)ar% so#r"e noe$/ I& 8e st#% aaptations *% $oo0in-

&or e,#ia$en"ies in a $iterar% so#r"e1 Car8e$$ e)p!asi@es1 8e 8i$$ *e oer$oo0in-

e$e)ents o& t!e &i$) or te$eision pro-ra))e t!at are ita$ to its o8n1 parti"#$ar aest!eti"

appea$1 an its )eanin- as an art8or0 >J/

=?


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Here Car8e$$ *#i$s #pon anot!er )aor approa"! t!eorists ta0e on aaptation/

Ma%er "a$$s t!is )et!o t!e interte6t#a$it% )oe$ J/ Ro$an 2art!es1 8!o is one o& t!e

)ost in&$#entia$ s"!o$ars proposin- t!e interte6t#a$it% )oe$ &or st#%in- aaptations1

treats t!e $iterar% te6t as one o& )an% ite)s in t!e )#$tii)ensiona$ spa"e in 8!i"! a

ariet% o& 8ritin-s1 none o& t!e) ori-ina$1 *$en an "$as! I&a#e;


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t!e iss#e is not 8!et!er t!e aapte &i$) is &ait!$ to its so#r"e1 *#t rat!er !o8 t!e "!oi"e

o& a spe"i&i" so#r"e an !o8 t!e approa"! to t!at so#r"e sere t!e &i$)7s ieo$o-% 5=J/

One pro*$e) 8it! t!e interte6t#a$it% )oe$1 a""orin- to Ma%er is t!at

/ / /P on"e one !i-!$i-!ts Ro$an 2art!es7s Q)#$tii)ensio$a$spa"e17 t!e re$ations!ip *et8een a parti"#$ar te6t an a parti"#$ar&i$) )a% -et $ost at t!e er% $east1 t!e tas0 o& es"ri*inan%&i$)7s e)er-en"e &ro) its interte6t#a$ )atri6 see)s at *esta#ntin-1 an in so)e "ases "o$ossa$/ !i$e interte6t#a$it% a$$o8sone at $east t!eoreti"a$$% to p$a"e a &i$) t!at ra8s #pon a 8or0 o&&i"tion 8it!in its proper "onte6t1 seein- t!e "ine)ati" 8or0 ass!ape not on$% *% a parti"#$ar te6t *#t a$so *% a )#$tit#e o&e$e)ents 8it!in a "#$t#ra$ settin- in"$#in- ot!er &i$)s1 a star7spersona1 po$iti"a$ is"o#rse1 an potentia$$% a$)ost inn#)era*$enarraties an ot!er ite)s &ro) pop#$ar an e$ite "#$t#re #se o&

t!e interte6t#a$it% )oe$ )i-!t in so)e "ases ten to o*s"#re t!ere$ations!ip *et8een t!e t8o 8or0s/ J

Ma%er proposes re"ent reain- t!eor% *% Hans Ro*ert9a#ss1 Haro$ 2$oo)1 an Stan$e%

Fis! as t!e *est possi*$e so$#tion to t!e pro*$e)s pose *% t!e interte6t#a$it% )oe$7s

a""o#nt o& t!e &i"tion(to &i$) pro*$e)ati" 5J/ Reain- t!eorists p#t &or8ar an ar-#)ent

t!at reain- is a "reatie a"t1 rat!er t!an t!e e"oin- o& si-ns t!at %ie$s so)et!in-

essentia$ a*o#t a te6t s#"! as its Q*asi" t!e)e7J Ma%er 5J/ 9a#ss1 2$oo) an Fis!1 t!en1

rese to prii$e-e a te6t oer an% reain- o& t!at te6t/ T!e% ree"t ieas a*o#t in&$#en"e

an o*$i-ation an instea see t!e !istor% o& art in ter)s o& responses to ear$ier 8or0s an

artists t!at are t!e)se$es a#tono)o#s "reations 8it! no responsi*i$it% to t!e ear$ier 8or0s

een t!o#-! t!e% )a% ein"e a po8er$ interest in1 $i0e$iness to1 interro-ator% attit#e

to8ar1 or an6io#s ie8 o&1 t!ose ear$ier 8or0s Ma%er J/ 2#i$in- on t!is approa"!1

Ma%er o&&ers a si)i$ar ar-#)ent re-arin- t!e iss#e o& aaptation/ He ie8s a &i$) as a

reain- o& a noe$1 an ar-#es t!at &i$)s t!at erie &ro) noe$s an ot!er &or)s o& &i"tion

are istin"t 8or0s o& art 8it! no e*t to te6ts een t!o#-! t!e% !ae a "$ear an i)portant

$in0 to t!ose te6ts 3(=J/ S#"! approa"! to aaptation1 Ma%er )aintains1 so$es t!e

=5


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pro*$e) o& prii$e-in- te6t oer &i$) *e"a#se t!e ne8 8or01 8it! its parti"#$ar ans8ers to

t!e ,#estions pose *% t!e ear$ier 8or0s1 a$ters t!e prior 8or0 an as a res#$t t!e seera$

8or0s are / / /P "onte)porar% 8it! ea"! ot!er an ea"! e6ist in a &ie$ t!at !as $i0e8ise

*een trans&or)e *% t!e a"t o& re"eption >J/

So)e s"!o$ars ie8 aaptation as essentia$$% an a"t o& $iterar% "riti"is)/ In !is

*oo0Fil&in# 1iterature. -he /rt of S%reen /da'tation1 Nei$ Sin%ar ar-#es t!at

&i$))a0ers #se t!e "a)era to interpret1 not si)p$% i$$#strate t!e ori-ina$ te6t/ BA $eit)oti&

o& t!is *oo01B Sin%ar a""ent#ates1 is Bt!e proposition t!at t!e *est aaptations o& *oo0s &or

&i$) "an o&ten *est *e approa"!e as an a"tiit% o& $iterar% "riti"is)1 not a pi"toria$isation

o& t!e "o)p$ete noe$B ;;5J/ Sin%ar "o)pares a &i$) to a "riti"a$ essa%1 ar-#in- t!at $i0e

a "riti"a$ essa%1 a &i$) stresses 8!at it sees as t!e )ain t!e)e o& t!e ori-ina$ so#r"e/ T!e

aaptation se$e"ts so)e episoes1 an e6"$#es ot!ers it o&&ers a$ternaties1 an Bin t!e

pro"ess1 $i0e t!e *est "riti"is)1 it "an t!ro8 ne8 $i-!t on t!e ori-ina$B ;;5J/ T!e *est &i$)

aaptations1 t!en1 as Sin%ar sees it1 Bproie a "riti"a$ -$oss on t!e noe$sB ;;5J/

As so)e o& t!e )aor positions on aaptation o#t$ine in t!is "!apter e)onstrate1

noe$ to &i$) pro*$e)ati" "ontin#es to *e a e*ata*$e topi" o& in,#ir% a)on- "riti"s o& *ot!

"ine)a an $iterat#re/ As Ma%er o*seres1 t!e ario#s approa"!es s"!o$ars ta0e on t!e

iss#e o& aaptation Bare &ar &ro) *ein- )#t#a$$% e6"$#sieB ;=J/ M% ana$%sis o& t!e

re$ations!ip *et8een De&oe'sRobinson Crusoean t!e &i$)s *ase on t!e Cr#soe )%t! in

t!e "onse,#ent "!apters 8i$$ e)*o% a n#)*er o& t!ese t!eoreti"a$ positions/ ere I to

e)p$o% on$% one sin-$e t!eoreti"a$ approa"! in t!is st#%1 I 8o#$ *e &or"e to istort

De&oe7s noe$ to &it )% o8n interpretation/

Robinson Crusoeaaptations1 as t!e s#*se,#ent "!apters 8i$$ tr% to e)onstrate1

approa"! t!e Cr#soe )%t! i&&erent$%1 persona$$%1 partia$$%1 inii#a$$%1 an "riti"a$$%/

=>


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Instea o& rep$i"atin- De&oe7s te6t1 "onte)porar% &i$))a0ers interpret1 "riti,#e an

interro-ate it/ In t!e pro"ess1 t!e noe$ $oses its stat#s o& istin"tie prii$e-e1 an *e"o)es

s#*e"t to oert$% ieo$o-i"a$ rereain-1 en"o)passin- a see)in-$% ine6!a#sti*$e ariet% o&

instan"es o& &i$) -enres1 in"$#in- ra)a1 "o)e%1 &antas% an s"ien"e &i"tion1 an ran-in-

&ro) 2#n#e$7sRobinson Crusoeto .eiser7sBlue 1a#oonan Has0in7sRobinson Crusoe

on Mars/

It is i)portant to )ention !ere t!atRobinson Crusoeaaptations are not #ni,#e in

t!eir i)a-inatie renerin- o& t!e ori-ina$ te6t/ T!ere are )an% aaptations o& ot!er

8riters7 &i"tiona$ 8or0s1 t!at1 si)i$ar to t!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes1 o not ai) at &ie$it%

to t!e ori-ina$ so#r"e1 an ta0e -reat &reeo) 8it! t!e so#r"e noe$s/ For e6a)p$e1

A$&onso C#aron7s ;> 2reat E0'e%tations)a0es no atte)pts to see) a#t!enti"a$$%

Di"0ensian/ A$t!o#-! it retains t!e stor%7s ori-ina$ tit$e an t!e *are o#t$ine o& t!e p$ot1 it

re8rites t!e ori-ina$ narratie entire$%: t!e )oie is set in )oern(a% F$oria an Ne8

Yor0 t!e &i$))a0er si)p$i&ies t!e stor% rai"a$$%1 an "!an-es t!e na)es o& )ost o& t!e

"!ara"ters/ Ro$an 9o&&e7s ;? -he S%arlet 1ettera$so trans&or)s Nat!anie$ Ha8t!orne7s

noe$ o& t!e sa)e tit$e into so)et!in- entire$% i&&erent/ 9o&&e7s &i$)1 +a#$ Nie)e%er states1

-ra&ts ;4s attit#es an ieas on to *ot! Ha8t!orne7s noe$ an on to t!e "o$onia$ era in

8!i"! it is set


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ori-ina$ so#r"e/ For instan"e1 a ;34 &i$) ersion o&+a&let1 starrin- Asta Nie$sen1

portra%s Ha)$et as a 8o)an1 8!o is in $oe 8it! Horatio/ T!ere are )an% ot!er ori-ina$

+a&letaaptations/ +a&let1 to ,#ote L#0e M".ernan an O$8en Terris1 !as *een

ani)ate at $east t8i"e1 portra%e as t8ins an t#rne into a "o8*o% ,t/ in 2oose an

2#rt 3;?J/ Fi$))a0ers !ae re8or0e ot!er S!a0espearian p$a%s as 8e$$/ O$ier +ar0er7s

Othello1 &or e6a)p$e1 8as )ar0ete as an eroti" t!ri$$er1 t!at 8as as a""essi*$e asFatal

/ttra%tion ,t/ in 2oose an 2#rt 5J/ Ian M".e$$en1 ire"tor an pro#"er o& a ;?

&i$)Ri%hard IIIen"o#ra-e eer%one 8or0in- on t!is &i$) not to t!in0 o& it as

S!a0espeare/ Hen"e1 t!e &i$) is a rete$$in- o& t!e Ri"!ar III stor% in t!e "onte6t o&

)oern 2ritis! &as"is)1 an a-ainst t!e *a"0-ro#n o& t!e ;=4s an or$ ar II/ It7s a

terri&i" stor%1 an 8!o 8rote it is irre$eant1 M".e$$en asserts ,t/ in 2oose an 2#rt ;;J/

T!ere are a$so )ore t!an o@en ani)ate ersions o& S!a0espeare7s p$a%s1 in"$#in-

Disne%7s ;< -he 1ion 7in#( Ma%beth1Ro&eo and


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orer to te$$ an se$$ a stor% )ore a)ena*$e an re$ata*$e to "onte)porar% ie8ers/

Hen"e1 in t!e "ase o& De&oe7sRobinson Crusoein&ie$it% to t!e ori-ina$ so#r"e

*e"o)es1 to ,#ote Sta)1 a po$iti"a$ o*$i-ation &or &i$))a0ers1 sin"e *ein- tr#e to t!e

ori-ina$ te6t 8o#$ )ean enorsin- t!e "onseratie "o$onia$ist an )iso-%nisti" pre)ises

8it! 8!i"! De&oe7s 8or0 !as *een traitiona$$% asso"iate/ A 8ie ran-e o& &i$)s

is"#sse in t!is st#% i$$#strates !o8 De&oe7s noe$ *e"o)es s#*e"t to oppositiona$ an

"riti"a$ appropriations1 8!ere1 )ore o&ten t!an not1 renerin- t!e te6t on s"reen )eans

isr#ptin-1 re8ritin-1 an reinterpretin- it/ Usin- t!e "a)era1 &i$))a0ers "reate a se"on

perspe"tie on t!e stor%/ T!e% reea$ t!e potentia$ o& t!e &i$) )ei#) *% proiin- an

a$ternatie &ra)e to t!e Cr#soe stor%/

M% st#%1 t!#s1 re"o-ni@es t!at )ore o&ten t!an not1 &ie$it% to t!e ori-ina$ so#r"e is

not 8!at t!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes is"#sse !ere ai)/ Yet1 I *e$iee t!at t!e

e6a)ination o& !o8 De&oe7s te6t !as *een represente on *i- s"reen an on te$eision

ne"essari$% ino$es t!e ,#estions a*o#t &ie$it%/ A""orin-$%1 e6p$orin- 8!at !as

re)aine &ro) t!e ori-ina$ narratie an 8!at !as *een re)oe anKor i-nore *%

i&&erent &i$))a0ers an 8!%1 8i$$ not *e o#t o& p$a"e an 8i$$ ta0e a "onsiera*$e part o&

)% ana$%sis1 sin"e1 to ,#ote Ma%er a-ain1

8!i$e in a t!eoreti"a$ sense one "anassert a rai"a$is#n"t#re *et8een &i$) an te6t1 in pra"ti"e one )#sta"0no8$e-e t!at 8!en ie8in- or ana$%@in- a &i$) t!atre&ers to a 8or0 o& &i"tion1 "onsieration o& ,#estions o& !o8t!e te6t !as *een renere on &i$)1 8!at !as *een retainean 8!at !as *een is"are1 an t!e re$ations!ip *et8een

&i"tiona$ an "ine)ati" te"!ni,#e are ineita*$% raise/ ;;J

Hen"e1 I 8i$$ e6p$ore t!e 8a%s in 8!i"! t!e &i$))a0ers respon to De&oe's narratie/ As

8e 8i$$ see1 so)e &i$)s retain a eep en-a-e)ent 8it! t!e ori-ina$ te6t1 8!i$e ot!ers #se

t!e Cr#soe )%t! to &o"#s on t!e iss#es pertinent an si-ni&i"ant &or "onte)porar% ie8ers/


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F#rt!er)ore1 een t!e )ost &ait!$ an $itera$ aaptations o& De&oe7s noe$ o )ore

t!an si)p$% respon to t!e ori-ina$ te6t/ A$$ t!ese &i$)s are s#*e"t to t!e "#$t#ra$ an

ieo$o-i"a$ pre"on"eptions o& t!eir ti)e/ T!e% are &i$)e in a""oran"e 8it! t!e "oes an

"onentions &a)i$iar to t!e )oern a#ien"es/ S#"! "#$t#ra$ &a"tors1 as 8e 8i$$ see in o#r

is"#ssion o& t!e &i$)s1 a&&e"t aaptations in si-ni&i"ant 8a%s/ It )a% )ean si)p$i&%in-1

"$ari&%in-1 or ro)anti"i@in- t!e stor% $ine/


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CHAPTER TWO

Transferring Daniel DefoesRobinson Crusoeinto Film

=Fro& a 'sy%holo#i%al 'oint of vie$( the i&a#ination of disaster

does not #reatly differ fro& one 'eriod in history to another. But

fro& a 'oliti%al and &oral 'oint of vie$( it does/

S#san Sonta-/ /#ainst Inter'retation.

T!is "!apter 8i$$ &o"#s on t!e &i$)s t!at ire"t$% $in0 t!e)se$es to Danie$ De&oe's

noe$: M/ et!era$'s aaptation o&Robinson Crusoe;35J1 E8ar S#t!er$an's &i$)

tit$eMr. Robinson Crusoe;=3J1 L#is 2#n#e$'s -he /dventures ofRobinson Crusoe

;?3J1 Stanis$a Goor#0!in's R#ssian ersion16hi)n I Udivitelnye 4riklyu%heniya

Robin)ona 7ru)o;53J1 Ca$e* Des"!ane$'sCrusoe ;>J1 an Geor-e Mi$$erKRo

Har%'s $atest aaptationRobinson Crusoe;J/ For t!e p#rposes o& t!is "!apter it is

)ost #se$ to #nerstan &i$) aaptation as a pro"ess o& Binterte6t#a$ ia$o-is)B t!at sees

aaptation as B$ess a res#s"itation o& an ori-inar% 8or t!an a t#rn in an on-oin- ia$o-i"a$

pro"essB Sta)


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"orre"t1 si$en"e1 or e6ten a preio#s 8or01 *#t in&or)s an is "ontin#a$$% in&or)e *% t!e

preio#s 8or0/ Conse,#ent$%1 &or t!e noe$ist to e6ist1 t!e% )#st en-a-e in ia$o-#e 8it!

t!eir "!ara"ters as 8e$$ as ot!er te6ts/ T!ese ot!er oi"es "reate t!e *a"0-ro#n ne"essar%

&or t!e a#t!or's o8n oi"e1 o#tsie o& 8!i"! !is artisti" prose n#an"es "annot *e per"eie1

an 8it!o#t 8!i"! t!e% Bo not so#nB 2a0!tin 35>J/ F#rt!er)ore1 t!e ia$o-#e e6tens

in *ot! ire"tions1 an t!e preio#s 8or0 o& $iterat#re is as a$tere *% t!e ia$o-#e as t!e

present one is/

De&oe7sRobinson Crusoeitse$& is parti"ipatin- in t!e pro"ess o& ia$o-i"a$

trans&or)ation/ De&oe7s ori-ina$ te6t1 8!i"! !e p#*$is!e in ;5;1 -enerate t8o se,#e$s:

-he Farther /dventures;5;J1 an t!e Serious Refle%tions;534J1 *ot! responin- to an

e6panin- on t!e ori-ina$ narratie/ Moreoer1 een t!e &irst o$#)e o&Robinson Crusoe

is so)et!in- o& an aaptation o& ear$ier te6ts/ De&oe7s noe$1 as Sta) o*seres1 is itse$& an

arti&a"t roote in ario#s interte6ts: t!e 2i*$e1 !o)i$eti" tra"ts1 o#rna$isti" 8ritin- a*o#t

"asta8a%s1 an sensationa$ist trae$ $iterat#re1 #st to )ention a &e8 ?J/ T!e protot%pe

&or t!e Cr#soe "!ara"ter1 "riti"s &re,#ent$% point o#t1 8as an En-$is!)an A$e6aner

Se$0ir01 8!o spent &o#r %ear in iso$ation on a +a"i&i" Is$an o& 9#an Fernane@ near

C!i$e/ De&oe trans&or)s Se$0ir07s stor% to s#it !is o8n p#rposes/ I& Se$0ir0 8as p#t as!ore

on t!e esert is$an at !is o8n re,#est1 in t!e noe$ Cr#soe is s!ip8re"0e Cr#soe spens

not &o#r1 *#t t8ent%(ei-!t %ears in iso$ation1 an !is is$an is $o"ate not in t!e +a"i&i" *#t

in t!e Cari**ean near t!e Orino"o rier/ Moreoer1 Se$0ir0 neer e6perien"e t!e re$i-io#s

a8a0enin- t!at )ar0s Cr#soe's is$an aent#re/ Fina$$% an )ost i)portant$%1 Cr#soe

en"o#nters Fria% on t!e is$an1 an t!eir re$ations!ip is at t!e "ore o& t!e noe$/ Se$0ir01

on t!e ot!er !an1 i not )eet an%one #rin- !is &o#r %ear o& so$it#e/


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T!e ter) Bia$o-i"B oes not app$% to #st $iterat#re1 !o8eer/ A$$ $an-#a-e an a$$

t!o#-!t appear ia$o-i" to 2a0!tin/ 2a0!tin's 8or0 &its 8it! t!e "on"ept o&

Binterte6t#a$it%/B More re"ent$%1 )an% peop$e !ae seen !is iea o& ia$o-is) as espe"ia$$%

re$eant to t!e 8or$ o& aaptation/ T!is "!apter #ses t!e approa"! o& interte6t#a$

ia$o-is) to st#% t!e De&oe aaptations/ I ie8 t!e &i$)i" Ro*insonaes as an intense$%

ia$o-i" p!eno)enon1 t!#s1 is)issin- t!e iea o& t!e ori-ina$ te6t as a sin-$e1

a#t!oritatie1 B)ono$o-i"B so#r"e an instea e)*ra"in- t!e iea o& aaptation as a

Breain-B o& t!at so#r"e noe$/ T!e ierse &i$)i" aaptations o&Robinson Crusoe

e6a)ine in t!is "!apter1 t!en1 o not atte)pt to rep$i"ate De&oe'snoe$1 *#t rat!er1 enter

into ia$o-#e 8it! it1 interpret it1 an "riti,#e it/ Conse,#ent$%1 ea"! &i$) reners t!e

Cr#soe stor% i&&erent$% on s"reen/ Ea"! &i$))a0er #ses t!e Cr#soe )%t! to s#it !is o8n

p#rposes/ Ea"! aopts a spe"i&i" t!e)e &ro) t!e noe$ an ra)ati@es t!at t!e)e/

Hen"e1 et!era$'sRobinson Crusoe&o"#ses on t!e p!%si"a$1 rat!er t!an t!e

e)otiona$ or spirit#a$ s#ria$ o& t!e Cr#soe "!ara"ter/ T!e "ontroersia$ aspe"ts o&

De&oe's noe$1 s#"! as re$i-io#s sie o& Cr#soe's e6perien"e1 an ra"ia$ an "o$onia$ iss#es

raise *% t!e Cr#soeKFria% re$ations!ip are i-nore in t!e &i$)/ Mr. Robinson Crusoe1 on

t!e ot!er !an1 is a satire on "onte)porar% $i&e/ T!e &i$) "e$e*rates t!e in-en#it% o& t!e

Cr#soe "!ara"ter/ Ho8eer1 S#t!er$an's )otion pi"t#re !i-!$i-!ts t!e ra"ia$ pro*$e)ati"

*% )a0in- its prota-onist e6"eptiona$$% ra"ist an se6ist/ In Goor#0!in's R#ssian ersion

o&Robinson Crusoe1 Ro*inson is a Mar6ist !ero/ 2#n#e$'s1 Des"!ane$'s an Har%KMi$$er's

ersions &o"#s on t!e Cr#soeKFria% re$ations!ip/ A$$ t!ree &i$)s "riti,#e De&oe's noe$ *%

re8ritin- t!e stor% o& t!e t8o )en's en"o#nter an *% epi"tin- t!e Fria% &i-#re as

)ora$$% s#perior to Cr#soe/ In a$$ t!ree &i$)s t!e Cr#soe "!ara"ter is re&or)e *% !is

re$ations!ip 8it! Fria%/ Yet1 ea"! &i$) portra%s a er% i&&erent Cr#soe &i-#re/ In


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2#n#e$'s aaptation !e is )ore s%)pat!eti"/ Des"!ane$'s ersion1 on t!e ot!er !an1

epi"ts !i) as a !eart$ess1 arro-ant an "r#e$ s$ae traer/

F#rt!er)ore1 ea"! )otion pi"t#re e6a)ine !ere is a pro#"t o& a parti"#$ar ti)e an

"#$t#re in 8!i"! it 8as pro#"e/ Ti)e an "#$t#re "!oose 8!at t!e% $i0e )ost o#t o&

De&oe7s noe$ an its &i$) aaptations e6p$ore t!ose e$e)ents/ T!e Cr#soe stor%

trans&or)s "onstant$% *e"a#se it re&$e"ts an respons to t!e "!an-in- e6pe"tations1

attit#es an a$#es o& a parti"#$ar ti)e an "#$t#re/ As Anre8 2er-)an "$ai)s in !is

*oo0 We!re in the Money5 e'ression /&eri%a and its Fil&s1 as &i$)s are not ie8e in a

oi1 neit!er are t!e% "reate in a oi/ Eer% )oie is a "#$t#ra$ arti&a"t / / /P an as s#"!

re&$e"ts t!e a$#es1 &ears1 )%t!s1 an ass#)ptions o& t!e "#$t#re t!at pro#"es it 6iiJ/

Ti)e an "#$t#re i"tate !o8 De&oe7s noe$ is rea/ T!e "ine)ati" Ro*insonaes

t!en are &ait!$ not to t!e so#r"e te6t1 *#t to t!at "#$t#ra$ an !istori"a$J reain-/ Hen"e1

Stanis$a Goor#0!in7sRobinson 7ru)ois a e"ie$% Soiet ersion o& De&oe7s noe$

S#t!er$an7sMr. Robinson Crusoereea$s an #ner$%in- E#ro"entris) o& A)eri"an "ine)a

in t!e ;=4s1 an Har%KMi$$er7s aaptation a po$iti"a$$% "orre"t Ho$$%8oo ersion o&

Robinson Crusoe sett$es on a $ate t8entiet!("ent#r% )ora$it%1 rasti"a$$% -oin- a-ainst

De&oe7s e)p!asis an p#rpose/

Despite t!eir i&&eren"es1 t!eRobinson Crusoeaaptations e6a)ine in t!is "!apter

s!are t!e si-ni&i"ant "!ara"teristi"s/ First1 t!ese &i$)s )a0e it "$ear t!at Bra"e is the

i$e))a presente to t8entiet! "ent#r% artists 8!o appropriate De&oe'ste6t &or t!eir o8n

p#rposesB Ma%er =J/ T!e ear$ier ersions Bso$eB t!is iss#e *% eit!er i-norin- t!e ra"ia$

pro*$e)ati" et!era$J1 or as in t!e "ase o& S#t!er$an'sMr. Robinson Crusoe(*% *ein-

Be-re-io#s$% se6istB Ma%er =J/ T!e &i$)s *% 2#n#e$1 Des"!ane$1 an Har%KMi$$er1 on

t!e ot!er !an1 &o"#s o#r attention on ra"e an et!ni"it% *% )a0in- Fria% a Brepresentatie


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o& a pri)e ra"ia$ or et!ni" ot!er in so"iet% in 8!i"! t!e &i$) 8as )aeB Ma%er ;54J/

T!#s1 in 2#n#e$'s ersion1 )ae in Me6i"o1 t!e Fria% &i-#re is o& an Inian es"ent in

Des"!ane$'s an Har%KMi$$er's aaptations !e is A&ri"an1 8!ereas in Goor#0!in's R#ssian

&i$)1 )ae #rin- t!e Soiet era1 Fria% is p$a%e *% a Geor-ian a"tor/

Se"on1 t!e re$i-io#s aspe"t o& De&oe's noe$ is anot!er area "onte)porar%

&i$))a0ers &in !ar to rener on s"reen/ As Ma%er states1 )ost aaptations are s0epti"a$

a*o#t t!e piet% o& De&oe's prota-onist/ T!e &i$)s *% 2#n#e$1 Goor#0!in1 an

Har%KMi$$er a$ter t!e a$#es attri*#te to re$i-ion in t!e *oo0 entire$% *% s!o8in- t!e

#se$essness o& re$i-ion in t!e $ies o& t!eir so$itar% prota-onists/ S#t!er$an an Des"!ane$

i-nore t!e re$i-io#s sie o& Cr#soe's e6perien"e a$to-et!er/ T!eir "asta8a%s !ae no sense

o& re$ations!ip to Go/

T!ir1 t!e epi"tion o& t!e naties is stereot%pi"a$ in ea"! )otion pi"t#re/ Een t!e

&i$)s t!at entai$ a "$ear "riti,#e o& ra"ist an "o$onia$ist "onentions o& t!e ori-ina$ te6t

s#"! as t!e aaptations *% 2#n#e$1 Des"!ane$1 an Har%KMi$$erJ1 $apse into a""eptin- t!e

noe$'s ie8 o& t!e naties as *ar*aro#s1 r#t!$ess1 an saa-e/ None o& t!e &i$)s e6a)ine

!ere i)a-ines t!e naties an% ot!er 8a% t!an stereot%pi"a$ *$a"0&a"e1 parti"ipatin- in

saa-e rit#a$s1 s#"! as "#ttin- ea"! ot!er's t!roats1 or rippin- o#t ea"! ot!er's !earts/ In a$$

t!ese &i$)s t!e naties are seen as )asses1 not as inii#a$s t!e% are asso"iate 8it!

"anni*a$is) t!e Fria% &i-#re o& ea"! )otion pi"t#re nees to *e res"#e &ro) !is o8n

peop$e/ T!e on$% e6"eption "an *e &o#

Robinson Crusoe en El Cine

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