The 2013 movie edition of the brilliant novel  “The Great Gatsby” is not the only movie made about the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It along with the 1974, 1949 and 1926 films all do a fantastic job depicting the book. The novel is set in the 1920’s or the “roaring twenties” as Fitzgerald, the author, describes it throughout the novel through dialogue and context. The twenties consisted of massive parties due to the ban on liquor backfiring against the government for starting prohibition. Of course these parties consisted of music, dancing, and fireworks, which are all portrayed in the 2013 movie.

The twenties also consisted of servants and racism, which is mildly shown in the recent movie. Near the beginning of the film, Tom and Daisy Buchanan are shown with hired servants who open doors, close windows, serve dinner, answer phones etc. Tom even makes references about “other races” referring to African Americans. Later on in the movie, there is a scene on the Brooklyn Bridge, where African Americans are being driven around with liquor and music in the background is not even close to the music from the twenties. Meyer Wolfsheim, who is referred to as “The man who fixed the 1919 World Series” in the novel, as well as in both movies is seen drastically different between the two editions of the movie. In the 1974 edition, a white actor plays the character of Wolfsheim, of course, because of the racial views of most people during the 1970’s. In the 2013 edition, Amitabh Bachchan, who is not a white actor like the actor in the 1974 edition, plays the character. In the 1920’s, when the story was set, there is no way a non-white male would be able to set foot in places of high wealth, as he is shown doing in the story.

In the 1974 edition, music of this category was nowhere near the music in the 2013 edition.  Personally, I believe the music choice of that movie was picked to help keep the attention of younger viewers. The lyrics of one particular song by Jay Z heard in the movie makes drug references along with money and other lyrics are quite vulgar. In the 1974 version, the music was more in tune with the correct time period, while still keeping the attention of the audience.

All in all, The Great Gatsby is portrayed differently due to the time period and interests of viewers in that time. Race, music, and entertaining qualities differ between the 1974 and 2013 movies, due to the popularity of each quality in that particular time period.  In my opinion there is also a notable difference between the acting skills of the actors themselves in each movie, which is not something directly in the control of the producers. Fitzgerald’s story lives and thrives through each movie edition, in different ways and aspects of the time periods.