| 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 a | | | | Teddy faces off against an on coming train at the |
| novella in King's collection Different Seasons. Different | | | | beginning of the boys' trek. He says he wants to make |
| Seasons also contains the stories The Shawshank | | | | a dramatic "train dodge," and just before it hits him, |
| Redemption, and the Apt Pupil, both of which were | | | | Chris 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 is | | | | once again, and the junk yard man and his dog. They |
| of four boys who take a journey through the | | | | yell and call names, but when the junk yard man brings |
| woodlands near their homes to find the body of a | | | | Teddy's unstable father into the picture, Teddy breaks |
| dead boy. The story is told by the main character | | | | down 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 of | | | | a history of racing cars with him. They remain neck to |
| the missing boy, whose body is alleged to be in the | | | | neck for a short period before a truck appears in the |
| woods. The boys decide to undertake the journey, to | | | | other 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, telling | | | | decide 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 the | | | | truck 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 is | | | | showdown is between the younger gang and Ace's |
| stereotyped because of his family. However he | | | | crowd at the body. The two groups trade harsh |
| proves to be intelligent and has a desire to break his | | | | words before Ace pulls a knife on Chris, but is soon |
| stereotype. Teddy Duchamp, played by Corey | | | | too skittish to use it after Gordie fires a shot in the air |
| Feldman, has a physical deformity, after his | | | | with Chris's gun. He then points it at Ace, which chills |
| mentally-unstable father held his ear to a stove. Teddy | | | | him and scares him away, along with his group. These |
| now has to wear a hearing aid. Vern Tessio, played by | | | | are only some of the major showdowns that occur in |
| Jerry O'Connell, is overweight and timid. He is easily | | | | the film. |
| scared and often picked on. Gordon Lachance, played | | | | There are several minor changes to the movie script |
| by Will Wheaton, is the narrator and thus the primary | | | | from the original Stephen King story. However, the |
| character of the story. Gordie is a quiet boy with a | | | | story is faithful to King's original. Stephen King told cast |
| passion for books and story telling. He is rejected by | | | | and crew after a private screening of the film that it |
| his family after the death of his football star older | | | | was his favorite adaptation of any of his works up to |
| brother. The end of the story reveals that Gordie has | | | | that point. |
| become a writer and we have just witnessed the | | | | Stephen 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 the | | | | experience. |
| film. The first brief showdown is between Chris and | | | | The title of the film comes from the Ben E King song |
| Ace on the sidewalk when Ace threatens to burn | | | | of the same name. Stephen King's original story is |
| Chris's face while he has him in a headlock. Chris | | | | called The Body. |