‘Forrest Gump’ Book Is Based on Sending Tom Hanks’ Character into Space Collider

The big picture

• THE
  Forrest Gump
  The film differs from the book by excluding the darker storylines and the unrealistic space mission subplot.
• Tom Hanks’ performance as Forrest Gump focuses on charm rather than the disturbing details of the book.
• The film’s light tone omits the space mission subplot for credibility and avoids the darker aspects.

The 1990s were a unique decade for cinema, which produced very different types of films considered “blockbusters.” While the decade had its fair share of hit comedies, action films, and sci-fi epics, many critically acclaimed award contenders also enjoyed significant box office success. Among the most notable events of the decade were Robert Zemeckis‘ adaptation of the acclaimed novel Forrest Gump. In addition to winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, Forrest Gump became the highest-grossing film of 1994. Interested readers may have been slightly confused when viewing the original source material, as THE Forrest Gump The movie is radically different from the book.

THE Forrest Gump The film negated some of the book’s more disturbing aspects, including storylines involving the characters’ more violent experience during the Vietnam War and some tragic details about its backstory that are only hinted at in the final film . In comparison, the film focused on the broad appeal of Tom Hanks» magnetic performance as the title character, which helped the film become one of the biggest hits of Zemeckis’ career. Although it was certainly lighter than the novel it was based on, THE Forrest Gump The film cut out a story involving Hanks’ character going into space with a monkey.

Why does Forrest Gump go to space in the book?

Despite some minor changes, the first half of Forrest Gump is quite similar to the novel. After meeting Lieutenant Dan (Gary Senise) while serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Forrest became a national hero and eventually gained an audience with President Lyndon B. Johnson. As shown in the film, a ceremony held in his honor gives Forrest the opportunity to reunite with his childhood sweetheart Jenny (Robin Wright) in front of a crowd of enthusiastic spectators. However, Forest’s disruptive activities soon attract the ire of local law enforcement officials and land him in a mental institution. As he sat in seclusion, Forrest’s ability to do calculations in his head caught the attention of doctors who recommended him to NASA. He is offered the opportunity to leave the confined hospital and participate in one of the country’s most ambitious space programs.

Forrest’s ability to perform complex calculations in his head is perfect for an experimental mission that pairs him with astronaut Major Janet Fritch, who is expected to be the first woman in space. Besides Fritch and another astronaut, Forest’s mission into space includes a monkey he nicknames Sue. Although a departure from historical facts, it was a reference to NASA’s actual history of sending monkeys into space. The mission requires a less aggressive female ape, but Forest and his crew realize a moment too late that Sue is actually a male. The mission is almost thrown into complete chaos, but Forrest manages to calm Sue down by singing.

Although his ability to communicate with Sue saves the mission from truly disastrous consequences, Forest and his fellow astronauts crash land in New Guinea where they become hostages to a tribe of cannibals. The novel briefly turns into a survival thriller, as Forest and the other astronauts have no way of communicating with their superiors at NASA. However, Forest’s adaptability wins out once again when he learns to play chess by communicating with the tribesmen. Returning home, Forest becomes a national chess champion and meets President Richard Nixon.

Why does the movie “Forrest Gump” change the book?

While this may have made for an entertaining subplot, the space scenario did not match the tone that Zemeckis was aiming for with the Forrest Gump movie. Although the film involves Forest interacting with many historical figures and being involved in famous events, it never suggests that he completely changes history. Involving Forest in such a high-profile situation as a space mission would have stretched the credibility of the story and would not have reflected the character’s more humble origins. Hanks’ version of the character was also perhaps a little too dorky to be given the responsibility of leading a NASA mission; Although he has no shortage of good quotes, Gump is an idiot who generally makes any situation he’s involved in more chaotic.

As exciting as the space mission would have been to see on screen, the removal of the NASA scenario allowed the Forrest Gump film to remove some of the darker aspects of the novel. Sue the Monkey could have been a comedic character, but the idea of ​​Gump being trapped in an abusive institutional facility is more than a little disturbing. Additionally, dealing with cannibalistic tribes in New Guinea could have led the film to feature potentially xenophobic tropes that would have seriously dampened the entertainment value.

‘Forrest Gump’ has a complex legacy

Despite the Oscar for best film, the legacy of Forrest Gump was hotly debated. Some viewers see the film as a purely nationalist celebration of American values, with Forrest’s journey from a humble farm life to a national stage representing the purest representation of the “American dream.” However, others see it as a more deliberate work of satire that mocks the emphasis placed on critical historical events of the 20th century. Whatever the interpretation, Forrest Gump had a significant impact on popular culture and remains iconic to this day.

The possibility of another film achieving the same level of success seems unlikely, as plans a sequel to Forrest Gump were canceled. While Zemeckis and the screenwriter Eric Roth briefly considered making an adaptation of the second novel Gump & Co.they felt that a film celebrating American values ​​would be inappropriate in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy.

Forrest Gump is streaming on Paramount Plus in the United States

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