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