1. Sam Wood's 1940 Our Town Comparison
Comparing Play to Film
Sam Wood's 1940 Our Town Comparison

2. Today we will:
Compare and contrast a film version of Our Town with the play and consider the effect of the similarities and differences.
You will need your copy of the play and a comparison chart--
Turn a sheet of paper sideways and divide it into four columns. Head the four columns:
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
George and Emily's wedding

3. George and Emily's Wedding
Reread the scene prior to Emily and George's wedding.
Note important details from the scene in the second column of your comparison chart.
What is happening?
What do the characters do/say?
How do the characters feel?
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
George and Emily's wedding

4. George and Emily's Wedding
Now, we will watch the scene prior to Emily and George's wedding in the 1940 film of Our Town. (Start at 59:20)
Note important details from the scene in the third column of your comparison chart.
What is happening?
What do the characters do/say?
How do the characters feel?
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
George and Emily's wedding

5. George and Emily's Wedding
What differences did you notice between the play and film versions in this scene? What are the effects of those differences? Record these notes in the fourth column of your chart.
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
George and Emily's wedding

6. Emily's Return to Her Birthday
Reread the scene where Emily returns to her twelfth birthday.
Note important details from the scene in the second column of your comparison chart.
What is happening?
What do the characters do/say?
How do the characters feel?
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
Emily's return to her birthday

7. Emily's Return to Her Birthday
Now, we will watch the scene where Emily returns to her birthday in the 1940 film of Our Town. (Start at 1:16:30)
Note important details from the scene in the third column of your comparison chart.
What is happening?
What do the characters do/say?
How do the characters feel?
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
Emily's return to her birthday

8. Emily's Return to Her Birthday
What differences did you notice between the play and film versions in this scene? What are the effects of those differences? Record these notes in the fourth column of your chart.
Scene
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Our Town, film version
Differences and their effects
Emily's return to her birthday

9. Reflection
If you have room on your chart or on another sheet of paper, write a paragraph in response to the following:
Which version, the film or the stage play, do you think more compellingly conveys the themes of Our Town? Why?