Breaking Down the Major Changes in Lady in the Lake’s Jump From Book to TV

I’ve had the pleasure of reading “Lady in the Lake” and watching its adaptation into a captivating television series. Both versions tell the story of Maddie and Cleo, two women whose lives intertwine through tragic circumstances. However, the experiences of these characters are brought to life in vastly different ways.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for eps. 1 and 2 of Apple’s Lady in the Lake

“Lady in the Lake” on Apple TV+, premiering July 19, presents two chilling murders that dramatically alter a woman’s life in 1960s Baltimore. Adapted from Laura Lippman’s acclaimed 2019 thriller novel of the same name, this seven-episode limited series introduces Natalie Portman in her television debut. Portman portrays Maddie Morgenstern, a disengaged Jewish housewife evolving into an investigative journalist. When a young Jewish girl named Bianca Belle goes missing, Maddie becomes fixated on the case, leading her to probe another overlooked crime – the murder of Eunetta “Cleo” Johnson (Moses Ingram), whose body was discovered in the park lake’s waters.

Lippman’s book was motivated by two distinct and unrelated murder cases that occurred in Baltimore during 1969. The first case involved Esther Lebowitz, an 11-year-old Jewish girl whose death received extensive media attention after her body was discovered a few days following her reported disappearance. The second case concerned Shirley Parker, a 35-year-old Black woman, whose body was found in the Baltimore zoo’s lake fountain months after she went missing. In the story, the character Maddie’s determination to become a journalist and build the life she desires is portrayed from various viewpoints, including her landlord’s enthusiastic daughter and her sexist colleagues at the newspaper. Simultaneously, the ghost of Cleo supplies a chilling all-knowing narrative.

Read more: Lady in the Lake Casts Natalie Portman in a Strikingly Subversive ’60s Noir

The book is primarily a captivating mystery, yet it offers a profound exploration of the rigid societal norms during that era. For instance, Maddie’s inability to sell her car without her estranged husband’s approval drives her to commit insurance fraud using her wedding ring. Similarly, Cleo faces racial discrimination even in death as her murder is deemed insignificant and unworthy of reporting by Maddie’s newspaper. Despite originating from disparate backgrounds, both Maddie and Cleo yearn for self-determination and freedom from societal constraints and judgments.

Alma Har’el, both director and writer, found the contrasting lives of Maddie and Cleo an intriguing reflection of Baltimore’s rapid transformation and societal shifts during that period. (Paraphrased)

She shares with TIME her connection to Maddie and Cleo’s murder mystery novel. The story’s complex twists and turns resonated with her, she explains, serving as a reflection of the city’s politics and societal dynamics during that time. Simultaneously, it challenged her to examine her own inner workings and prevent herself from becoming unwanted characters.

Here’s what to know about Lady in the Lake and the book that inspired it.

What are the biggest changes from the book to the screen?

Har’el and the other “Lady in the Lake” writers aimed to expand the viewers’ perspective of 1960s Baltimore by basing the show on the novel but introducing essential modifications.

In the series, Cleo Johnson, the central character and namesake “Lady in the Lake,” undergoes significant growth with a deeper exploration of her personal history and background. Similarly, Maddie’s Jewish heritage and inner thoughts (which influenced her decision to leave her marriage and pursue a career) are delved into more thoroughly on-screen. Har’el, the director, emphasized the importance of portraying how these communities contributed to Baltimore’s evolution during that period as an integral aspect of the narrative.

Read more: A Crime Writer Tackles the Sinister Side of Baltimore

As a seasoned crime journalist with years of experience covering Baltimore’s gritty underbelly, I can tell you that Har’el’s new show is a must-watch. The storyline intrigues me to no end, as it delves into the investigation of two murders that rocked the city in the 1960s. But what sets this show apart from others in its genre is the focus on Maddie, a determined detective, and her personal connection to the case.

As a seasoned detective with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – the twisted minds, the complex webs of deceit, and the heart-wrenching tragedies that leave families torn apart. The case of Tessie’s disappearance and subsequent death was no exception. At first glance, it seemed like an open-and-shut case: a missing person, a suspected killer, and a grieving family. But as I delved deeper into the investigation, I realized that the details and circumstances surrounding Tessie’s disappearance were far more intricate than they initially appeared.

Why were some characters replaced and new characters added?

In the TV adaptation of “Lady in the Lake,” several key characters remain consistent with the original novel. However, some supporting characters undergo significant changes. For instance, Ezekiel Taylor, a local entrepreneur and senate hopeful who was Cleo’s secret lover in the book, is replaced by two new characters: Myrtle Summer, a former teacher of Cleo’s running for senate against Shell Gordon’s wishes; and Slappy Johnson, Cleo’s comedian husband. Other characters, like Latetia, Cleo’s roommate, are altered slightly to become Dora, Cleo’s lifelong friend and a singer at the Pharaoh club. Meanwhile, new characters like Reggie Robinson, Shell’s right hand man, were created specifically for the show.

Har’el explained that he wanted to explore the intricate and multidimensional characters of Maddie and most notably Cleo, by expanding her storyline in the series.

Read more: 5 Questions With Natalie Portman

Har’el shares that she aimed to expand the storyline beyond the original book by introducing new characters such as Slappy Johnson and Reggie, as well as the Pharaoh club and Cleo’s political sphere. Much of this content was drawn from investigating the backgrounds of inspirational figures like Shirley Parker, a Black woman whose unsolved disappearance and murder were widely reported. Har’el delved into her life and the experiences of women in similar circles, exploring their resilience and the various ways they adapted to survive financially each month.

In the television adaptation, some characters’ roles were modified and merged to enhance the narrative and strengthen the story’s underlying themes. A key distinction between the book and the show is that in the book, Maddie doesn’t have a personal history with Tessie, the young Jewish girl who is discovered dead by the lake where Cleo’s body will later be found. However, in the series, Tessie’s father is revealed to be Maddie’s ex-boyfriend, and their reunion stirs up memories of Maddie’s clandestine affair with his late father, leading her to conceal a past abortion.

Why is Cleo’s story so different in the show?

Among the characters in Lady in the Lake, Cleo undergoes the most significant change in portrayal when comparing the book to the screen adaptation. In the novel, Cleo’s ghostly perspective from beyond the grave adds depth to the storyline through her narration. However, the television series offers a more detailed and complete portrayal of her character.

I adore movies that show complex characters, and Cleo from this story is one of them. In the book, I see myself as Cleo, a young mom living in Baltimore on Pennsylvania Avenue. I work at the Flamingo, owned by Shell Gordon, both as a dancer and bartender to make ends meet. My two little boys, whose fathers aren’t around, live with their grandparents, while I share an apartment with Latetia.

In the television adaptation, Cleo continues to work as a bartender at The Pharaoh club, which is a revamped version of Shell’s establishment. Simultaneously, she takes on the role of his bookkeeper, giving her access to Shell’s illicit gambling operations. Yet, she longs to break free from him and his criminal activities, motivated by the safety of her sons and in memory of her father’s gambling struggles with Shell. Instead of pursuing romantic relationships with men from the club as depicted in the novel, Cleo is married to Slappy Johnson, a struggling comedian, and they have two children together.

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2024-07-19 21:07