Deliverance

The 1972 film Deliverance, directed by John Boorman and scripted by James Dickey, is arguably better known than the novel it is based on. While Dickey, who also has a cameo in the film, was involved in its creation, his screenplay was rewritten by Boorman to omit the novel’s “Before” section and the psychological depth of character it develops through dialogue-driven narrative and Ed’s introspective monologues. The film focuses instead on the action-oriented Parts 2-5. The film’s opening credits roll alongside a voiceover of the men planning their trip. Within 20 minutes of the film’s beginning, the four arrange for their cars to be driven downriver and start their journey.

Like the novel, the film explores Conflicting Ideals of Masculinity through its focus on the four friends’ ability to withstand or succumb to the dangers they encounter in the wilderness. However, its focus here too is on action rather than psychology, contrasting with the novel’s deeper analysis of masculinity and male friendship. For instance, Ed’s internal monologue in the novel reveals his admiration of Lewis’s physique; the film omits this monologue, focusing instead on the men’s comradery in the face of danger.