What's the Difference between Water for Elephants the Book and Water for Elephants the Movie?
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
Jacob
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Jacob
Portrayed by: Robert Pattison
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Marlena
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Marlena
Portrayed by: Reese Witherspoon
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August
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August
Portrayed by: Christoph Waltz
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Uncle Al
|
This Character does not appear.
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Water for Elephants Book vs Movie
| In the Book |
In the Movie |
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Uncle Al is the owner of the circus. He is a jerk and gets people thrown off the train - "red lighted". |
August is the jerk ring master and the owner of the circus |
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In the book, we see Jacob as an old man in the nursing home throughout. He is portrayed as a bit of a rebel, arguing with other residents, complaining about the food. He is particularly angry with one old man who says he once got the water for elephants in the circus. He also appears to be losing his memory. He enjoys the company of one nurse but it is her last day. |
In the movie, the older Jacob is just shown in the beginning and end of the story.
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Rosie turns out to be the one stealing (drinking) lemonade. |
Not mentioned in the movie |
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Jacob fesses up immediately that he did not write his vet exams. |
This doesn't come out until later.
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Marlena leaves August and Jacob walks her to a hotel. |
Jacob and Marlena jump off the train after August hits her. |
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August gives the ok to put down Silver Star, and Jacob makes sure Marlena isn't around. |
Marlena knows Jacob is putting down Silver Star but August doesn't know.
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The book begins with the end of the story in the past - the stampede and then goes into the details leading up to the stampede. |
The movie leads up to the stampede |
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Jacob jumps along the cars (nearly falling off) to get to August's room in an attempt to kill him but decides against it after seeing Marlena and August sleeping, but returns to fund his roomy red lighted. |
No jumping along the trains
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During the stampede, Jacob knows Marlena is pregnant with his child |
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Marlena does not see that Rosie killed August, and Jacob doesn't want to tell her so she won't think badly of her. |
Marlena sees the whole thing.
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August does not try to kill Marlena during the final stampede. |
August tries to kill Marlena. |