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...
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.…
