Did the glitz and glamour of the 1920s that is portrayed in F. Scott Fitzgerald really stem from Long Island, New York?
That’s a question that Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story aims to answer. Challenging literary scholars on everything they have ever known about the story that inspired the classic novel, the documentary, narrated by Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey, The Good Shepherd), features new evidence and in-depth interviews, including Sam Waterston (1974’s The Great Gatsby, Law & Order, Grace and Frankie) and Bobbie Lanahan, the granddaughter of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald.
In a statement to the press, director Robert Steven Williams said:
Initially I thought this was just a three-month project to document the Fitzgerald’s Westport period for the local historical society, but as we dug deeper, we realized how important the Westport period was to both Scott and Zelda. Along the way, we uncovered academic secrets and a lawsuit to stop the leading Fitzgerald scholar from rewriting parts of Gatsby. Most important, we were able to bring to life an overlooked period of Scott and Zelda’s that had a profound impact on their lives including their art, the novels, their love.
The documentary itself is inspired by an article published in The New Yorker from 1996 challenging the theory that maybe there’s more to the story that we have come to know about Jay Gatsby. Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story will focus on the multi-millionaire known for his extravagant parties to dig deep into who the actual Jay Gatsby really is.
The official synopsis reads:
The untold story of the summer Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived in Connecticut which inspired one of the world’s most beloved novels: The Great Gatsby. Everyone knows the book, the films, and series, but who knows the truth? Track down the mystery millionaire who threw extravagant parties, uncover new evidence of the location and players, and dig deep to discover the real-life Jay Gatsby himself.
Check out the trailer below!
Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story will be available on DVD and streaming platforms starting September 1, as well as a special screening as part of the New Haven Film Festival on August 21 at 6 p.m. ET.
