Stand by Me, a Stephen King movie

Stand by Me is a 1986 movie, adapted from Stephen"gives" and Ace releases him. The next is when
King's story The Body. The Body appeared as aTeddy faces off against an on coming train at the
novella in King's collection Different Seasons. Differentbeginning of the boys' trek. He says he wants to make
Seasons also contains the stories The Shawshanka dramatic "train dodge," and just before it hits him,
Redemption, and the Apt Pupil, both of which wereChris grabs him and forces him out of harms way.
made into movies.The third showdown that happens is between Teddy,
Often described as a coming of age film, the story isonce again, and the junk yard man and his dog. They
of four boys who take a journey through theyell and call names, but when the junk yard man brings
woodlands near their homes to find the body of aTeddy's unstable father into the picture, Teddy breaks
dead boy. The story is told by the main characterdown and starts to cry. Another showdown occurs
Gordon Lachance, who is a budding writer.when Ace pulls up to some locals who seem to have
Vern, one of the boys, hears his older brother talk ofa history of racing cars with him. They remain neck to
the missing boy, whose body is alleged to be in theneck for a short period before a truck appears in the
woods. The boys decide to undertake the journey, toother lane coming toward Ace. Ace and two of his
find the body of the boy. The journey takes two days,buddies (who seem petrified) do not change lanes, but
because of which the boys lie to their parents, tellingdecide to stay on the wrong side of the road and
them that they are staying at each others houses.face off with the on coming truck. The other car in the
The boys experience many difficulties along the way,race looks scared for them. Before they crash, the
which reveal the past and present struggles of thetruck swerves off of the road, spilling all of its supplies
characters. Chris Chambers, played by River Phoenix,while Ace goes on to win the race. The final
is from a family of criminals and alcoholics. Chris isshowdown is between the younger gang and Ace's
stereotyped because of his family. However hecrowd at the body. The two groups trade harsh
proves to be intelligent and has a desire to break hiswords before Ace pulls a knife on Chris, but is soon
stereotype. Teddy Duchamp, played by Coreytoo skittish to use it after Gordie fires a shot in the air
Feldman, has a physical deformity, after hiswith Chris's gun. He then points it at Ace, which chills
mentally-unstable father held his ear to a stove. Teddyhim and scares him away, along with his group. These
now has to wear a hearing aid. Vern Tessio, played byare only some of the major showdowns that occur in
Jerry O'Connell, is overweight and timid. He is easilythe film.
scared and often picked on. Gordon Lachance, playedThere are several minor changes to the movie script
by Will Wheaton, is the narrator and thus the primaryfrom the original Stephen King story. However, the
character of the story. Gordie is a quiet boy with astory is faithful to King's original. Stephen King told cast
passion for books and story telling. He is rejected byand crew after a private screening of the film that it
his family after the death of his football star olderwas his favorite adaptation of any of his works up to
brother. The end of the story reveals that Gordie hasthat point.
become a writer and we have just witnessed theStephen King is said to have witnessed a child being
story as he was writing it.killed by a train, whilst he was a child himself. It is easy
The film has a reoccurring theme of showdowns.to conclude that the story was influenced by King's
These occur between two or more characters in theexperience.
film. The first brief showdown is between Chris andThe title of the film comes from the Ben E King song
Ace on the sidewalk when Ace threatens to burnof the same name. Stephen King's original story is
Chris's face while he has him in a headlock. Chriscalled The Body.