Crime and Sexuality in the 1955 and 1981 Adaptations of John Steinbeck ’ s East of Eden
tively utilizes lens choices ; camera angles and movement ; the match dissolve of Cathy that shows the transition of plot points from her childhood to her adolescence ; non-diegetic music , including the aforementioned leitmotif of Cathy ; and the mise-en-scène elements of set design , décor , lighting setup , and prop selection ( such as the ironic cross around Cathy ’ s neck at different times throughout the miniseries ). Hart makes a special effort to render superimposition . The nearly still shots of each of Cathy ’ s parents are blended with their house fire to illustrate the immediate fate of this evil character ’ s first murder victims . Hart repeats this effective editing technique : a shot of Cathy ’ s cross in the palm of a neighbor is overlapped with a shot of her smiling as she escapes on a train . These kinds of superimpositions are stylistically superior and contribute an uncomfortable degree of coolness to the narrative . Furthermore , Cathy ’ s girlish pinkand white-colored costumes , modest makeup , and looped braids help actress Jane Seymour portray the 15-year-old villainess so effectively when she is actually twice Cathy ’ s age ( Calio 109 ).
Writers appreciate that there are more expansive challenges and possibilities for variations of extended character depth , ongoing plotting , and other modes of creativity in long-form series than in feature films ( Mittell “ Narrative Complexity ” 30 ). An occurrence of Andrew ’ s mode of transforming is exemplified in the miniseries when the neighbors of the Ames ’, outraged at their murders that evening , form a vigilante mob and assault and disturb the peace of hobos at their riverside camp . In a twist that is not part of the novel , Adam happens to be one of the few hobos to escape and , demonstrative of his strong moral character , he helps an old man flee the wrath of the townspeople . The following morning , a conversation between Adam and the old hobo inspires Adam to return
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