I love crime fiction, especially police procedurals and legal thrillers. It’s what I like to read, watch, and write.
I was excited when Apple TV began streaming Presumed Innocent, a limited series adaptation of the crime novel written by Scott Turow. The book had already been made into a successful movie.
I thought it would be a cool experience to re-read the book, binge the series, watch the movie, and then write about the experience.
What is required to tell a written story is different from what needs to be conveyed when sharing that same story as a TV show or a movie. I was interested in what changes to the characters and plots the Apple TV producers made. In my opinion, some of their choices were successful, and some were not.
The TV series altered the original ending in the novel and movie, but I won’t reveal it here in case you intend to watch. Here are a few of the changes that won’t spoil the twist ending for you:
- Book and Movie – Rusty has a school-age son. TV – Rusty has two kids, a teen-age son and daughter.
- Book – Carolyn has a college-age son. Movie – Carolyn has no kids, only an ex-husband. TV – Carolyn has a teenage-age son.
- Book and Movie – Carolyn ends the affair with Rusty months before her murder and then starts a romance with DA Horgan. Rusty denies being at her home the day she’s murdered. TV – Carolyn is pregnant with Rusty’s baby. Rusty admits to being with Carolyn on the day she’s murdered. She does not have an affair with DA Horgan.
- Book and Movie – Rusty hires Sandy Stern to defend him. DA Horgan is a frenemy who testifies against him. TV – DA Horgan is Rusty’s best friend and becomes his defense attorney.
- Book and Movie – Judge is compromised by “B” file. TV – Judge is fair and impartial and not connected to “B” file.
These are just a few of the differences I noted in the productions. In all three formats, the roles of Rusty’s wife, Barbara, and his nemeses, Nico Della Guardia and Tommy Molto, remain basically the same.
Sometimes it’s easier to learn storytelling techniques, such as genre conventions and obligatory scenes from consuming plots via a different medium. Conventional wisdom suggests that reading and watching crime fiction will, no doubt, influence our creative endeavors.
As an author, analyzing the Presumed Innocent plot changes and whether they worked was an informative experience for me. I think the book was better than the movie and the TV series. I will always prefer snuggling in a cozy chair with a good book, because while films captivate us with sights and sounds, novels offer descriptive details and emotions to activate our imaginations.
I have read the book.and seen the film with Harrison Ford Raul Julia .and an all star cast ove not seen the tv series The accused Ha0rrison Fords wife in the book and film was wise to his filandering and killed his love interested znd let him take the fall he was saved by his attorney leveraging the judge paul winfield. The wife confessed to him ending the marriage. Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. I liked the jbook and the movie. The film cut corners due to time constraints csst and finances
The series is good, but Rusty is not as likable and they changed the ending. You won’t be disappointed if you watch it.