The themes of, " The Body", by Stephen King, and Stand By Me, Screenplay by Raynold Gideon, and Bruce A. Evans, are different and similar in many different ways. First off the dialogue, and language in both are extremely similar. The use of slang language the boys and everyone else in the movie uses is almost identical throughout both the novella, and the film. The themes are also different in some very noticeable ways, such as in the novella the boys are hiking to see the body, so they can see what a dead body looks like, and for an adventure. While in the film, the screenwriters have the boys looking for the body so they can be on the news and become famous. Another major difference is where the novella and the film take place. In the novella, the setting is Maine in 1960, while in the film the setting is Oregon, on the other side of the country during 1959.
In the novella and film there is one difference that probably stands out the most. This being how Gordie and Chris often switch roles. In the novella it seems that Gordie, is the one in charge and acts like the one who has the most sense. In the novella when Teddy wants to dodge the first train they see it is Gordie who has the sense to tackle him off the tracks so he doesn't get injured or even killed, and because he figures that the conductor might call the police and there trip would be spoiled. " He wanted to dodge the train. I figured that the engineer would see him and report it, they might even send a cop out", Gordie said with a sense of accomplishment. While in the film when Teddy wants to dodge the train Chris is the one who pulls him off the tracks and who has a fight with him. Another switched role between Gordie and Chris is when they find the body and have a showdown with Ace, and his gang. In the novella Chris has the gun. " Where do want it, the Arm, the leg, you choose." Chris said calmly as he looked at Ace.
