Dangerous Game the Basic Story of "The

Dangerous Game The basic story of "The Most Dangerous Game," both the short story and the 1932 film are about a big game hunter who finds himself at the mercy of an even more dedicated hunter than himself, the mad Cossack General Zaroff who chases and kills human beings for sport.

In transferring the story from print to film, the screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors make certain changes to the story in order to heighten action or in some way appeal to their audience which the story in and of itself does not allow. Sometimes such changes improve the story, but in many cases, the changes damage the integrity and in this case the suspense of the story.

In the film version of Zaroff, the choices of the filmmakers tend to create an intense, but far less frightening characterization of an obsessed hunter willing to destroy anything and anyone for the thrill of it. Unquestionably, the Connell version of Zaroff is a more terrifying character than the one in the 1932 film version of the story. The first major difference that is perceptible between film and print Zaroff is the physical characterization of the two men.

When protagonist Rainsford first sees General Zaroof, he describes the hunter by saying, "He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come" (Connell). Further, Zaroff is described as having unusual black eyes, sharp features, and the arrogant countenance of a wealthy man.

He is further accorded sharp, pointed teeth like an animal or a vampire, the physical person showing the evil that is inside the human being. In the film, Zaroff is completely different in appearance. Rather than white hair and sharp features, the character has dark hair and a villainous beard and mustache. He has also been elevated to the position of a count.

One cannot help but compare him to Bela Legosi's Dracula which had come out the year before and had paved the way for monster movies with handsome monsters. The second difference between film and print Zaroff is the way in which he intends to hunt his prey. Zaroff explains to Rainsford that he gives his target a knife, food, and three hours to start. From there, all the quarry has to do is survive. He says, "If my quarry eludes me for three whole days, he wins the game" (Connell).

However, if Zaroff finds the man, then he is killed. The man has to survive in the wilderness for three days. He must not only elude Zaroff but also any dangers that may befall him in the wild. It is not really three days of running away, but instead three days of psychological torture before the man is put out of his misery.

The whole time that the two, Zaroff and Rainsford, discuss the hunt Zaroff laughs and smiles and shows him to be thoroughly enjoying himself and enjoying the reminiscence of his past hunting. His joviality continues through the hunt and even to the end when he is killed by Rainsford. Compare this to the film wherein Zaroff promises that the men take off at midnight that they are given plenty of time for a head start, and then they only need to survive until sunrise.

He does not smile nor laugh but instead takes the whole matter very seriously. He is solemn and their final fight is not one of mutual respect between skilled hunters, but the final actions of the hero to save the heroine. The result of being caught, murder at the hand of the hunter Zaroff, will be the same if they meet the hunter, but the film prey have a much better chance of.