Lamb To The Slaughter Comparison

Roald Dahl’s version of Lamb to the Slaughter, greatly presents and interprets the events that take place in the original story. This film perfectly displays the drastic change between a dedicated, loving housewife, to a mischievous murderer. At the beginning of the film, Susan George perfectly plays the role of the “perfect wife,” as she caresses her husband Patrick (played by Michael Byrne), and jumps up at any opportunity to comfort him. However, Mary’s behavior is chilling and real as the movie progresses; the movie ends with her laughing in a frightening manner upon realization that she has gotten away with her husband’s murder. The order of events in the film is also an inventive way to tell the story. The pieces leading up to her husband’s

murder and the cover story are slowly revealed to the viewer, allowing them to solve the puzzle one piece at a time. The distinction between what Mary tells the police and what she has left out is quite clear. This short film also includes many details from the original story, which allows viewers to visualize the events of the story clearly. Patrick stands still for a few seconds before swaying and finally falling to the floor after being hit in the head with the piece of lamb, which is an accurate representation of what occurs in the short story. Another example is when Mary practices the control of her facial expressions, as well as her dialogue in the mirror before going to the grocer. The development of the character, the format of the movie, as well as the accuracy of the film, contribute to making this a great interpretation of Lamb to the Slaughter.