The death scene is etched in cinematic history for its sheer audacity and dark humor. In the blockbuster film Jurassic Park, the character of the lawyer, Donald Gennaro, meets a memorably gruesome end. After abandoning two children in the face of danger, he seeks refuge in a bathroom, only to become a snack for the escaped Tyrannosaurus Rex. The image of the terrified lawyer on the toilet just before the T. rex strikes is both horrifying and darkly comical, solidifying its place as an iconic movie moment.
However, the on-screen demise of the Jurassic Park lawyer is a stark departure from his fate in Michael Crichton’s original 1990 novel. In the book, Donald Gennaro not only survives the Jurassic Park incident but is portrayed as a far more competent and less cowardly figure. This article delves into the fascinating differences between the movie and book versions of Gennaro, exploring why Steven Spielberg chose to drastically alter the lawyer’s character arc for the cinematic adaptation.
Donald Gennaro: A Tale of Two Lawyers
Martin Ferrero’s portrayal of Gennaro in the Jurassic Park movie paints him as a weaselly, money-driven lawyer. Physically, he’s depicted as thin with a receding hairline, embodying a certain skittishness. His dialogue emphasizes his mercenary nature, with Dr. Hammond himself labeling him a “blood-sucking lawyer,” highlighting Gennaro’s perceived lack of ethics and primary interest in financial gain from Jurassic Park. This characterization sets him up perfectly for his ignominious death, reinforcing a sense of karmic justice for his earlier cowardice.
Alt text: A terrified Donald Gennaro, the Jurassic Park lawyer in the movie, sits on a toilet as the T-Rex breaks through the bathroom walls, emphasizing his vulnerability and impending doom.
Conversely, the literary Gennaro is a stark contrast. Crichton describes him as “stocky, muscular” and in his mid-thirties, sharply dressed in an Armani suit. This description immediately conveys an image of competence and physical presence, far removed from the movie’s portrayal. The book version is also given a backstory; he’s a family man, annoyed at missing his daughter’s birthday for this trip, and burdened with the responsibility from investors to assess and potentially shut down the park. While initially displaying some arrogance and even a hint of misogyny, this Gennaro is far from the sniveling caricature presented on film.
From Zero to Hero (…Almost)
The most significant divergence lies in their actions during the dinosaur crisis. Movie Gennaro’s defining moment is his cowardly abandonment of Lex and Tim Murphy when the T-Rex attacks. This act of self-preservation seals his fate, leading directly to his bathroom blunder and subsequent demise. He plays no heroic role and serves primarily as a victim, fulfilling a somewhat comedic and arguably deserved death.
In sharp contrast, book Gennaro steps up during the crisis. Although absent during the initial T-Rex escape, he actively participates in damage control. He accompanies Muldoon to rescue the injured Ian Malcolm, demonstrating a willingness to confront danger. Throughout the novel, Gennaro actively tries to restore power to the park and even fights off a velociraptor, showcasing bravery and resourcefulness entirely absent in his movie counterpart. Crucially, he plays a pivotal role in preventing raptors from reaching the Costa Rican mainland, a significant plot point omitted from the film. While not the central hero like Grant or Sattler, book Gennaro evolves into a surprisingly capable and even heroic figure, especially considering his initial role as just “the lawyer.”
Alt text: The Jurassic Park novel cover, showcasing the book as the original source material where the lawyer, Donald Gennaro, has a significantly different and more heroic role compared to the movie.
Adaptation and the Art of Streamlining (and Dark Humor)
Why the radical transformation of the Jurassic Park lawyer for the big screen? The most likely explanation is narrative efficiency. Spielberg’s film masterfully condenses Crichton’s complex novel for a cinematic format. One key streamlining decision was merging Gennaro’s character with Ed Regis, Jurassic Park’s publicist from the book. Regis, absent in the movie, shares a similar fate to movie Gennaro in the novel – death by T-Rex – and embodies the overly enthusiastic park promoter. Combining these two roles into movie Gennaro creates a character who is both the cautious lawyer and the somewhat oblivious PR face, simplifying the narrative.
Furthermore, the movie already had its heroes in Grant, Sattler, and even Malcolm in his own cynical way. Adding a heroic arc for Gennaro might have diluted the focus and pacing of the film. Spielberg opted for a more streamlined narrative, prioritizing suspense and action. And let’s not forget the darkly comedic element. The lawyer’s death on the toilet is undeniably memorable and adds a layer of black humor that resonates with audiences. It’s a shocking yet darkly funny moment that underscores the chaotic and unpredictable nature of Jurassic Park. Hammond, in the movie, also takes on a more sympathetic, almost salesman-like role, further reducing the need for a PR character like Regis.
A Legacy of Adaptation
Ultimately, the movie’s portrayal of the Jurassic Park lawyer, while diverging significantly from the book, serves the film’s narrative effectively. Donald Gennaro’s cinematic death became iconic precisely because of its dramatic irony and comedic timing. While book Gennaro offers a more nuanced and ultimately more heroic portrayal, movie Gennaro provides a memorable, albeit unfortunate, example of character adaptation for the sake of cinematic impact and darkly humorous storytelling. So, while we might appreciate the book version’s competence, it’s hard to deny the lasting impact and sheer entertainment value of the lawyer’s explosive bathroom encounter in the Jurassic Park movie.
