Sometimes the truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and true events make for great entertainment. A variety of movies, books and plays have tackled the challenge of representing a true story while transforming it into a worthy work of art. Sometimes writers, directors and producers take certain liberties with the story regarding characters, timelines and even the accuracy of the the story itself. Some material is cut, some is added and some is blatantly altered, all in the name of the artful adaptation, but often to the chagrin of fans. Here are just a few examples:
A Million Little Pieces
Take for example, the best-selling non-fiction book “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey. The story experienced so much success that Frey was invited to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show and the title was added to Winfrey’s elite Book Club. Shortly after, Frey experienced a tremendous leap in sales, making it one of the books to climb the best-seller list. However, after rumors of the book containing exaggerated material and flat-out fabrications, Frey visited the Oprah show again to clarify the details of his biographic, non-fiction piece and to apologize for the inconsistencies. As it turned out, Frey had exaggerated the length of time he’d spent in jail, writing that he’d been there for three moths when, in reality, he’d only been incarcerated for a number of hours. His heartfelt detailing of how his girlfriend had died was also incorrect, and the details concerning his time in a rehabilitation center, particularly claiming to have received a root canal there without anesthesia, proved to be false.
Frey’s conduct sparked much debate in the literary world, with some asking what the actual definition of “truth” in writing is. Is truth how an individual feels or remembers an event happening, or is truth the verbatim recounting of an event? “A Million Little Pieces” also posed the question, is it acceptable to alter the truth in the name of the story?
Jersey Boys
Another example is the story of “Jersey Boys,” which was adapted into film as well as a successful Broadway play. Both the film and play propose some surprisingly accurate information about the true story of how the band The Four Seasons came to be. One of the most doubted details in the play is whether or not actor Joe Pesci played a role in the group’s ultimate success. As depicted in the play, this is absolutely true. Pesci, a New Jersey native, was responsible for the game-changing addition of Bob Gaudio to the group.
Where the group’s name, The Four Seasons, originated from and how many times it changed is also a bit of a controversy. The play includes a scene where the band argues outside a bowling alley after be denied a gig inside. As the neon lights of the bowling alley lit up, the words displayed were The Four Seasons, which yielded a unanimous decision. If you’re a fan of The Four Seasons, see “Jersey Boys” on Broadway to compare your knowledge of the band to the events covered in the play.
Steve Jobs
Lastly, one of the most controversial biopics of late is the telling of author Walter Isaacson’s bio about Apple genius Steve Jobs. Though there are many questionable events that occur in the film, the one that has many critics buzzing is the launch of the NeXT Computer in 1988. Critics feel this is an inaccurate representation of Job’s character due to the suggestion that Job’s intentions were to sell the computer back to Apple, signifying a defiant return to the company he co-founded. Many feel Jobs would not have been so sinister in his actions.
It is more uncommon for adaptations to not take liberties with fact-based books, films and plays than it is for the adaptation to follow the events precisely. The reason could be that, above all else, audiences want a good story.
