In the play, nearly all the scenes are set in Ken’s ward. But in the film, many scenes take place away from the hospital. I think this is because it is easier to change the scenes in a film because some are already there. They go on location for a film but in a play they have to stay on the stage. There were five ‘extra’ scenes in the film; The first is a very light heated scene where Ken is adding the finishing touches to his sculpture. It is set outside so the film crew were doing a location shot.
I think this scene was added because it shows what Ken did before the accident and how much he loved his job and cared for his work. It also shows his fianci?? e who never appeared in the play. She was a dancer who suffered from a bad knee and had to warm it up properly before dancing. This injury later sounded very petty compared to Ken’s injury. He goes home after saying goodbye to his fianci?? e but on the way home he has a bad accident. This adds to the action as you get to see the crash.
It also makes it good because a dramatic and shocking scene follows a light hearted openeing It also helps us understand the extent of Ken’s injuries as we see what happens to him, whereas in the play he has already been in the hospital for six months. Seeing how bad the crash was makes me sort of understand Ken’s decision to die. The second scene was when he met Mr Hill while watching little paraplegics playing basketball in their wheelchairs.
This upsets Ken as he cannot move any part of his body except his head, and even though the paraplegics were disabled, like Ken, but they could still use their hands, which is what Ken wanted more than anything as then he could sculpt again. This scene also shows close ups of Ken’s face so you can see all the different expressions he does in detail. This could not be done in a play unless the actor/actress went round the audience showing everyone their expressions one by one.
Seeing the expressions in detail also adds tension to the film and you can understand more what he is feeling. This scene also helps Ken in his decision to die, as he realises he will never be able to use his hands again, even though the paraplegics can, and he knows he will never do anything for himself again. The third scene was when Clare visits Ken’s fianci?? e in his studio and she’s talking to her. Ken’s fianci?? e (Pat in the film), when talking about Ken, refers to him as the ‘late’ Ken Harrison as to her he is dead already.
She also talks to Clare about how much he has lost from the accident and how he will never be able to sculpt again. The sculptures are laid out around the studio so Clare can see how good Ken really was. This scene adds to the film because the two women that feel most strongly about Ken in the film meet eachother and talk to eachother. The fourth scene was when Ken sees a young girl undergoing dialysis treatment. She is getting better from the treatment but he is not so this upsets him. Also there are close ups again so this shows what he is feeling in more detail.
