Regret In O. Henry's The Ransom Of Red Chief

Regret: as a verb, it means to feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or missed opportunity. As a noun, it means almost the same thing; a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. This is a common theme in O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief”. It tells the tale of two con men, Bill and Sam, who regret kidnapping a young boy, nicknamed ‘Red Chief’, after he proves to be wild and uncontrollable. The film adaptation starts off with the same basis, but Bill and Sam never really experience the feeling of regret, and the ending is completely different. The short story, “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry is preferred over the

There are way too many insignificant characters who added nothing more than a touch of stupid humor and maybe an extra five minutes. For example, the film really did not need Filthy McNasty or Strange Pierre, the serial killers who escaped from prison and attempted to kidnap Red Chief from the original kidnappers, Bill and Sam. They were really only there to add a bit of suspense and to take the fall for Bill and Sam’s actions. Without them the film could follow the path of the original story, and make the film better. Another change that could be made is removing a few scenes. Just like the characters, there are at least four scenes that should’ve been cut from the final film but weren’t. One of these is the scene where the helium in Ebenezer Dorset’s ‘hunch’ blew out and he flew through the air like some kind of human Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, with his son in his hands. It was painfully long, and, although it was funny the first few times, the novelty wore off quickly. Without this scene the movie would have still been funny without being flat-out

First, Bill and Sam running away from Red Chief would make the film better because not only does it stay true to the story, it would also be hilarious. This would improve the version because it goes back on the theme of regret. Second, having Sam narrate the story would make the movie better. Having Sam narrate the movie would also take out unnecessary scenes, like when the Sheriff’s men ‘sniffed out’ the con men (by literally sniffing the ground for clues), or the long chase at the end between Red Chief’s mother, Agnes Dorset, in a fortune teller’s caravan, the sheriff’s men on horseback, and Sam and Mr. Dorset in the Dorset family car. This addition (or subtraction, however you may take it to be) would make the film better because it would stay true to O. Henry’s original version, but it would also take out an unnecessary character: the sheriff.

O. Henry’s “The Ransom of Red Chief” is clearly better than the film version. Bill and Sam’s regret for kidnapping Red Chief and the story’s simplicity make it so. Although, changes and additions that could be made include Sam narrating the film and having Bill and Sam run away from an enraged Red Chief at the end, as well as removing insignificant characters and scenes. With its lack of similarites to the original story, as well as the halfway decent parts smothered in excess amounts of cheap humor,