I wanted to include some film ideas in this post that relate in some way to Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye. First on the list is Will Smith’s monologue from the film Six Degrees of Separation, an adaptation of the play by John Guare of the same name. In it, Smith’s character plays an a conman and impostor, or, if Holden were writing this, maybe he’d just call him a “big phony.”
And last year we studied the film Into the Wild in order to compare it with Salinger’s novel. Check out a post from last year with some music and interviews, Ben’s review of the film, and the trailer:
Lastly, check out this post for some “Holden-esque Films, ” a list that keeps growing and growing.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I miss holden caulfield.
I think that these movie clips show us a bit better and understandible way of processing Cather in the Rye. I really like the movie clip with Will Smith. I hope this comment is not to late it’s still Wednesday!!!!
No, it’s not too late, although I wonder why you think these clips help us to understand Catcher better. Can you give us some specifics. What does Will Smith’s character say about the book that is insightful? Why do we make connections between Into the Wild and Catcher?
I think they help us understand catcher better by showing us other aspects to the story, such as telling us that people have had problems over the book and have done some murders over it. Into the wild shows us similarities between ctahcher and into the wild, such as holden taking a chance to leave himself and find himself a new self same as the boy in the film.I hope that has more specific topics for you Mr. Quale.
I found into the wild a very interesting movie. The character is very much like holden in that he is searching to find himself. He goes on his adventure leaving all of his possessions. When he finally discovers what he wants in life he becomes trapped and dies before he can go home. He is free spirited and self dependent like holden. Holden doesn’t feel like he fits in with everyone else, and i dont think he fully understands himself either.