Modupe Sarratt

Angela Ashes: The Film versus the Book

The different in the film and the book are the omission of these events and the alteration

made to these characters.

The film omits the book history (11-34) about how Frank McCourt parents met in New

York and the birth of four boys and the events that took place during the time with the exception

of Frank McCourt statement of his “miserable childhood” (11).

The actions for the films (35) start with joyous announcement for a baby girl name

Margaret “Dad over by the window holding baby Margaret” sadden with him “--rocking her and

sighing, Och…she is very quiet, and she’s a wee bit cold” with the omission of the doctor visit

“Dad is back with the doctor” (36) and signing a paper for baby Margaret to be taking away for

examination, “The doctor took Margaret” (37).

Omitted in the film (36), the portion when the twins are hungry and Frank and Malachy

“filling the twins bottle with water and sugar and in the kitchen find a half loaf of stale bread and

two cold sausages. I boil sour milk-mash in some of the stale bread. I kill the taste of sour milk

with sugar” to feed the twin when they were hungry. With going and knocking at Mrs. Leibowitz

door and telling her they were hungry.

Altered in the film (37), about Frank and Malachy met Mrs. Leibowitz at the

Lavatory while waiting for her to get out and upon her asking them about their mother she learn

that their sister “Margaret” is dead and their mother is in a poor condition, “She is in bed...The

doctor took Margaret and my father went for cigarette” with Frank and Malachy knocking at

Mrs. Leibowitz door for supper. Also altered in the book when Frank assisted with taking care of

his mother as instructed by Mrs. Leibowitz, “Get some water to wash my mother face...I dip a

towel in cold water and pat her forehead—she won’t let my hand go... She’s saying

Frankie….Your lovely little sister is dead, Frankie. ” with Mrs. Leibowitz sitting in the bed

taking care of their mother by spoon feeding her, pat her forehead with cold cloth, and holding

the bucket for her vomit.

Adjust in the film (38). Mrs. Leibowitz consoling their mother with providing supper for

the family and feeding their mother “spoons the soup into my mother’s mouth” while Frankie

and Malacy having bowls of soup but exclude the portion about Frank and Malacy “spoon the

soup in the twins’ mouth”.

These characters, Minnie MacAdorey, Mr. MacAdorey, Mr., and Mrs. Dimino omitted in

the film (38-43). “Minnie MacAdorey comes to help” brought towel and soap and hot water and

help with taking care of the twin including bringing talcum powder and mash potatoes, and

showing frank and Malachy how to take care of twin and how to wash diaper rag were portrays

for Malachy and Frank doing it on their own with no help.

Mr. MacAdorey meeting with Dad “tells Dad there’s work with WPA and when he gets

the work there’s money for food and Mam leaves the bed to clean the twins and feed us. When

Dad comes home with the drink smell there’s no money and Mam screams at him till the twins

cry, and Malachy and I run out to the playground”(42) are omitted in the film.

Moreover, the book indication of the playground, stole banana to feed the twin, have

roughhouse with the next neighbor son, and the Italian man gave him a bag of banana were

omitted. The character for Mr. Dimino and his wife, Angela in the shop interacting with Frankie

are not portraying in the film. The events when Dad went for two days cigarette hunt came back

in the middle of the night woke up Frankie and Malachy and made them promise to die for

Ireland and singing “Kevin Barry” (39) and the neighbor, Mr. MacAdorey knocking at their door

complaining “it’s three in the morning” (40) are omitted in the film.

The book explains the events better than the film. The film portrays the impact of an

alcoholic father on his family for the assumption that his addiction cause the poverty and the lost

of three children whereas the book indicated that is more of bigotry and hatred that existed in the

Limerick during the time of war and depression. His father was an outcast in Limerick because

his from the North and his mother was not in favorable position for married him.