The Thin Red Line Draft vs. the Film

Below is my sketch of some differences between the draft version of the script and the final version that appears in the film

Draft
Final film version
Begins right away with Witt being imprisoned for hitting an officer after losing a card game.
Begins with Witt living a heavenly AWOL life in paradise with the islanders.
The number of voiceovers is very minimal and are spoken by Bell about his love for his wife.
Witt, Tall, Bell, Doll, Dale, Welsh, Marty Bell and the dead Japanese soldier all have voice overs.
Nature's appearance is minimal and is analogised by Bell to his wife.
The fertility of Marty is no longer linked with nature, but is only erotic. Nature is elevated into a higher, or so it seems, relationship with Witt.
Witt and the script both declare that Witt loves his company; yet he fights with Fife, Doll and Dale. He is a violent, short-tempered man, an excellent marksman and an efficient killer.
Witt fights with no one, except for his quiet resistance to Welsh. Witt represents love (agape)--he loves the islanders, his company, his enemy after the moment of combat is over. Witt is the good soldier in combat but his kills are briefly flashed onscreen; and he is a good and humane caretaker of the suffering.
The draft doesn't solve the film's mystery about Witt's sacrifice. Witt makes up his mind to die for his company by the third scene (Scene 42)in which he appears, but since he fights with everyone he comes in contact with, it's not clear WHY he chooses to die.
It seems that Witt chooses to die after he realises he is exiled from paradise (after he visits the village on Guadalcanal and is rejected)--much later in the film.
Sex, unlike the novel, has been excised here, except for a few orgasmic looks Witt and Doll have after killing solders. Sex is confined to the heterosexual relationship between Jack and Marty Bell as Fife's and Bead's relationship is purged.
Sex is confined to the heterosexual relationship between Jack and Marty Bell.
Virtually no islanders appear.
Islanders appear in a small supporting role whose home is invaded by imperial powers.
The Japanese soldiers are represented stereotypically (see SCENE 42 above)--they say "Cly," not "Cry," and are "bandy-legged."
Japanese soldiers are represented as the Same.
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