I have to admit: as a huge fan of the “Water for Elephants” book and movie, I was pretty hyped to see the film come to life on the big screen.
The film version of Tracy McMahon’s best seller premieres today in theaters across the country, and while I know most people will be heading to see the beloved Jack London movie, I hope they’ll also check out the story behind the story. A film adaptation of a classic book can be a dangerous game; you never truly know what you’re going to get. But in this case, I think the filmmakers did an incredible job capturing the essence of the story and its characters. It’s easy to see how much attention they paid to every detail, especially since they had to follow the original book almost verbatim. (Which is, in itself, a pretty amazing feat.) Without further ado, here are my top five reasons to see Water for Elephants this weekend:
1. Fascinating History
Yes, the story of John B. Thomas and Leland Hayward’s 1908 true-romance-turned-love-fiasco Water for Elephants is pretty romantic, and it has an incredible amount of trivia behind it. While it’s mostly known that the novel is based on the true story of Jack London and his beloved dog, Cosmo, there are actually a lot more colorful details included in the book. As the New York Times points out in its review, “the historical John B. Thomas and Leland Hayward, as portrayed in the movie, are quite the unlikely couple.” But whether you know it or not, Water for Elephants has a lot of fascinating history.
Jack London’s 1907 adventure novel, White Fang, is often called the first American canine-hero novel, and its impact can still be felt more than a century later. While London’s adventures in the Klondike were certainly exciting, it was the simple act of writing about his dog that allowed all of his readers to connect with his stories. London wrote about a wild dog that changed hands several times before finally settling into a domesticated life with Jack London himself. When John B. Thomas saw the novel and met Jack London during a walk in Los Angeles, he was so inspired by London’s story that he decided to base his own life on a similar path. After his wife died in 1904, Thomas dedicated himself to a life of solitude and to caring for his beloved dogs. (To be fair, the dogs in the story were certainly devoted to him as well, and even saved his life once.)
It took six years of researching and writing before Tracy McMahon’s best seller was published. (Incidentally, the movie is based on the 1908 version, so you get to see how London’s adventurous lifestyle might have affected his creativity. Plus, in the movie, London wears a fez and carries a cane, so you know he’s still a little bit of a character!) While London was initially hesitant to lend his name to the project, he eventually came around and even served as an advisor. When the book was finally published in 1914, it became an instant New York Times Best Seller. More than a century later, the story of Thomas, Hayward, and the legendary dogs that they both cared for continues to inspire countless fans. It also shows how a novel can speak to a generation of readers and how the author of one novel can forever change the course of the literary world.
2. Incredible Artistry
When you see the trailer for Water for Elephants, you’ll quickly see that a lot of attention went into making the film as realistic as possible. There are lots of little details that you’ll notice, such as the fact that the actors’ movements seem almost seamless or that there are no CG effects used at all. This is because almost everything in the movie was designed by the artisans who worked tirelessly to bring the novel’s world to life on screen. The New York Times calls Water for Elephants a “visual delight” that is “visually stunning.” Even the smallest details, such as the interior decoration of the Thomas home and the costumes, are done with exceptional craftsmanship.
3. Incredible Performances By All The Actors
While I already mentioned the attention-to-detail that went into making the film, the performances by the actors must also be mentioned. Everyone in the cast did an incredible job, and you’ll quickly realize how much rehearsal went into their acting as they struggled to perfect their characters’ distinctive voices and mannerisms. (This is also why when you see the film, even the smallest details such as the interior decoration of the Thomas home and the costumes are done with exceptional craftsmanship.)
The movie opens with an incredible performance by Pattinson, who plays Thomas. (It should be noted that not only does Pattinson resemble London, but he also sounds a lot like him as well.) When London met Thomas, he was initially hesitant to lend his name to the project, but eventually came around and even served as an advisor. (Incidentally, Jack London’s 1907 adventure novel, White Fang, is often called the first American canine-hero novel, and its impact can still be felt more than a century later. While London’s adventures in the Klondike were certainly exciting, it was the simple act of writing about his dog that allowed all of his readers to connect with his stories. London wrote about a wild dog that changed hands several times before finally settling into a domesticated life with Jack London himself. When John B. Thomas saw the novel and met Jack London during a walk in Los Angeles, he was so inspired by London’s story that he decided to base his own life on a similar path. After his wife died in 1904, Thomas dedicated himself to a life of solitude and to caring for his beloved dogs. (To be fair, the dogs in the story were certainly devoted to him as well, and even saved his life once.)
While London’s voice is often compared to that of Charlie Chaplin, the performance of Thomas in the film draws comparisons to Humphrey Bogart due to his authoritative yet dignified narration and commanding presence. Thomas’ wife and lawyer, Carrie, is played by Emily Blunt, and their on-screen daughter, Estelle, is played by Alice Engelman. The youngest of the three, Bobby, is played by Jaeden Martell, and their grandfather, James, is played by Richard Griffiths. Griffiths is best known for playing the role of Grampa Al in the Alamo South series.
As I said, the performances of all the actors are incredible, but I think my personal favorite has to be Bobby. He’s a little bit of a lost cause, since he’s already seventeen years old in the book and the movie and doesn’t seem to understand why his parents are fighting. (They do explain the situation in the book, but it’s still pretty painful to watch.) As the author of a book about a family of dogs, I had to include this clip from the film. (By the way, Bobby’s name is Jake in the book, but the producers of the movie thought that using a different last name might improve his chances of getting into a good college.)
4. Animalistic Beauty
It’s hard to put into words just how stunning Grace Kelly looks as she plays the role of Mrs. Thomas. There are several famous quotes from the book that Kelly’s fans will recognize, most notably:
“A woman’s love is a very passionate, loving thing. When two people really love each other, it’s as if they’re playing in a symphony. You can hear it, see it, and feel it in every part of your being.”
“It’s only with the heart that one can see truly.”
“I must confess that I love your eyes. They are so liquid and yet so true. For the first time in my life, I feel I can trust a man.”
As Kelly’s fans know, these are from London’s letters to Carrie, written years later, after their romance. It was originally published in 1914, and it’s still one of the best-selling books of all time. (You can guess which bookstores it’s still available in.)