Stand By Me (1986)
Stand By Me is a beautifully rendered adaptation of Stephen King’s novella The Body, and was directed by Rob Reiner from a script by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A Evans. Unlike the adaptations of King’s work previously released, Stand By Me (and its source material) does not seek to mask the ugliness of life with metaphorical ‘supernatural’ powers – but rather couches it firmly in the heart of a coming-of-age tale, framed within a movie-length flashback.
In the present day, writer Gordie Lachance (Richard Dreyfuss) reads a newspaper report stating, “Attorney Christopher Chambers Fatally Stabbed In Restaurant.” This article has a clear emotional impact and sends him into a reverie – helped by the sight of two young boys riding by on bicycles. Gordie then narrates a flashback tale about the summer of 1959, when he and three friends – including Christopher Chambers – set off to find the body of a local missing boy.
Twelve year-old Gordie (Wil Wheaton) is a natural storyteller and a lover of books. He’s grieving the recent death of his older brother, and is largely neglected by his grieving parents. Christopher Chambers (River Phoenix) is also neglected, but only because his family is one of alcoholics and criminals. Chris, by contrast – or perhaps as a result – is a pre-teen with a keen sense of justice. They’re friends with Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), who’s eccentric and demonstrative, and apparently abused at home – a situation that has left him with many physical scars.
They’re also friends with Vern Tessio (Jerry O’Connell), who’s the most timid of the group and is often bullied because of his weight. The older brothers of Vern and Chris are gang members, and Vern overhears the gang discussing the circumstances of missing local boy Ray Brower. Vern, Chris, Teddy, and Gordie decide to hike out of town, find the body, and return as heroes. Along the way, through circumstance and conversation, the four pre-teens experience self-revelation and realization.
When they finally find the body, they’re thrust into a confrontation with the gang – led by Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland). We come to understand why the newspaper headline announcing the death of Chris reminded Gordie of this story in particular, as Ace pulls a knife on Chris and threatens to stab him. He’s stopped by Gordie though and he produces the gun that Chris brought along for the trip.
Stand By Me is neither wholly disturbing, nor steeped in melodrama, but is rather an effective combination of the two. Though it begins with the horror of the sense of loss felt by adult Gordie, we soon find ourselves entirely immersed in the intricacies of 1950s life, seen through the eyes of 12 year-old boys. This warm and all-encompassing reverie is repeatedly punctured by violence – both implied and explicit – but these four boys never waver in their commitment to their journey, nor in their commitment to each other.
