Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story

Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story is a captivating documentary movie that was released in 2020 to shed light on F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterwork, "The Great Gatsby". This detailed examination of the classic book takes the audience on a journey to comprehend the inspiration behind one of literature's greatest novels and to see this iconic tale from a new perspective.

The documentary is centered on F. Scott Fitzgerald and his beloved wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, and how their interactions with the upper-class society of Connecticut shaped the development of "The Great Gatsby". The film portrays Fitzgerald’s connection to the city of Westport, refuting the long-standing notion that the story was primarily inspired by Long Island’s North Shore. The Yale educated author resided in Connecticut for a short time after his marriage to Zelda, and it was this unique environment of languid wealth and sophisticated frivolousness that grounded his perspective.

In Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story, the director Robert Steven Williams braids scholarly dissection, social history, and a speculative recounting of Fitzgerald’s life to present viewers with an intriguing perspective of where Fitzgerald's inspiration may have stemmed from for the creation of his legendary novel. A case is persistently built to support the Westport influence theory by a number of ardent scholars, literary enthusiasts, and Fitzgerald experts.

One of the central figures in the documentary is actress Keir Dullea, best known for his role as astronaut Dave Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Equally fitting is the casting of Sam Waterston, who played Nick Carraway in the 1974 film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby". Their roles serve as the backbones of the documentary, making significant contributions to its credibility and appeal.

On-the-ground accounts lead viewers into Fitzgerald's life during his time in Connecticut, describing a sometimes turbulent marriage and instances of high living and drunken binges. These experiences seem to parallel to the world contained within the book. Archival photographs and dramatic interpretations of historical scenes are skillfully weaved into interviews with scholars and historians to build a compelling narrative construction.

The brilliance of Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story is the way it presents a contrast between the narrative of Fitzgerald's experience and the societal setting of the time. It does more than just argue for Westport over Long Island; it delves deeper into Fitzgerald’s personal experiences and interpersonal relationships, paving the way to a richer understanding of the author’s world and the impressions that shaped his writing.

Academics and Fitzgerald enthusiasts feature prominently, each bringing their own insights and perspective to the legacy of Fitzgerald's works. Critics and historians are sure to delight in the film’s rigorously factual approach to interpreting the literary legend's life in Connecticut.

The film's climax is marked by the careful exploration of extrinsic links between Fitzgerald's creation of "The Great Gatsby" and certain events and individuals of the time. Each of these moments in Fitzgerald’s life, surrounded by the grandeur and opulence of Connecticut's social elite, influenced his creation of Jay Gatsby, the elusive millionaire with the capacity for hope.

The documentary is impeccably produced, with high-quality imagery and carefully selected visuals. The integration of the original novel, historical documents, and current scholarship serves to provide an engaging, informational, and cohesive story. For those already familiar with Fitzgerald's works, 'Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story' provides an entirely new lens through which to view the classic novel. For newcomers to Fitzgerald, the documentary serves as an engaging primer to arguably one of the greatest pieces of American literature.

Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story is a thoroughly compelling foray into the backdrop of one of literature’s most enduring works. Its insightful examination of the connections between Fitzgerald's life and his literature offers a refreshing and eye-opening perspective. Whether you are a fan of the literary classic or just someone with an interest in understanding the influences and environment that shape a writer, this documentary is highly recommended.