Georgie Denbrough

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Georgie Denbrough
It character
Jackson Robert Scott as Georgie in the 2017 film adaptation of It
Jackson Robert Scott as Georgie in the 2017 film adaptation of It
First appearanceIt (1986)
Last appearanceYah (2022)
Created byStephen King
Portrayed by1990 TV miniseries:
Tony Dakota
Theatrical film series:
Jackson Robert Scott
2022 Indian TV series:
Prashant Rane
In-universe information
Full nameGeorgie Elmer Denbrough
Family
  • Zack Denbrough (father)
  • Sharon Denbrough (mother)
  • Bill Denbrough (older brother)
HomeDerry, Maine, United States
NationalityAmerican

George "Georgie" Elmer Denbrough is a fictional character created by Stephen King from his 1986 epic horror novel It. Georgie is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough, and falls prey to Pennywise the Clown. He is used by Pennywise to taunt Bill throughout the novel. Georgie is portrayed by Tony Dakota in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation and by Jackson Robert Scott in the theatrical film series. Dakota also reprised his role for a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel, titled Georgie, which shows a "What If" scenario if Georgie had survived his encounter with Pennywise.[1] He returns in the 2022 TV series, where he is portrayed by Prashant Rane.

Fictional character biography

Georgie Elmer Denbrough (also known as "Georgie") was born on September 18, 1951 (1954 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1981 in the 2017 theatrical film adaptation) to Zack and Sharon Denbrough and is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough. Georgie has a very positive relationship with his older brother, considering him to be his best friend.

Encounter with Pennywise

On one October night in 1957 (1960 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1988 in the theatrical film series), Georgie makes a paper boat with his older brother on a rainy day. Bill is too sick to accompany Georgie outside, so he helps him make the boat and sends him on his way. The boat ends up falling down a storm drain, much to Georgie's dismay. Georgie then encounters an evil clown monster (called "Pennywise") in the storm drain (who offers him a red balloon) and tells him about how people float down in the sewers. Pennywise offers Georgie his boat back, but when Georgie attempts to reach out to it, Pennywise grabs Georgie's arm and bites it off, leaving Georgie to bleed to death in the rain. In the theatrical film series, Georgie (instead of being left bleeding to death) is dragged down the sewers by Pennywise, after his arm is dismembered by the latter, calling Bill's name as no one hears.[2]

Being used by Pennywise

Not long after his death, Georgie's appearance would be utilized by Pennywise to taunt and provoke Bill. While this aspect of the novel is not represented in the 1990 TV miniseries, Georgie appears to Bill several times throughout the theatrical film series.[3]

Adaptations

1990 TV miniseries

Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Tony Dakota in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation. This iteration remains faithful to the source material, however, Georgie is killed by Pennywise off-screen.[4]

Theatrical film series

Jackson Robert Scott portrayed Georgie Denbrough in the theatrical film series

Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Jackson Robert Scott in the 2017 film adaptation of the King novel as well as its 2019 sequel. This adaptation of the character features the onscreen demise of Georgie as well as showing more of Pennywise using Georgie to affect Bill psychologically. Behind the scenes of the 2017 film, the young actor stated that he was not afraid of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise and formed a bond with the actor. Scott's performance as Georgie was acclaimed by fans and critics.[5][6][7][8]

Death and controversy

The violent nature of Georgie's death (in the 2017 film adaptation of It) received a polarizing response from some critics. While most people felt that the graphic nature of Georgie's death was necessary to show the danger of Pennywise, some viewers felt that Pennywise ripping a child's arm off and watching him attempt to crawl away was "downright disturbing" and "too graphic".[9][10][11]

2019 short fan film

Georgie Denbrough is the main character of Georgie, a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel, with Tony Dakota reprising his role as the title character. This short fan film shows an undead adult Georgie (being resurrected through drawing). This is the only adaptation to show Georgie as an adult.[12][13][14][15][16]

Analysis

Throughout the novel and theatrical film series, Pennywise uses the "ghost of Georgie" to play on Bill's survivor's guilt. This is further explored in It Chapter Two (where Bill blames himself for Georgie's death), exemplified in a scene in which the adult Bill returns to the storm drain where Georgie was murdered. The scene progresses into a flashback where Pennywise's disembodied voice taunts Bill for not being present with Georgie when he died. The adult Bill struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (due to Georgie's death) and attempts to prevent Pennywise from killing another young boy (to no avail).[17][18][19] Georgie has also been seen as an interpretation of the way children are lured by predators, notably seen in Georgie's encounter with Pennywise at the storm drain.[20]

In popular culture

The character has also been referenced many times in different forms of media. He is mentioned numerous times by American heavy metal and metallic hardcore band Ice Nine Kills in their 2019 song "It Is The End" (which is based upon and inspired by the 2017 film adaptation of the novel). The song is from the band's fifth studio album The Silver Scream (in which all the songs are inspired by horror films).[21][22] The scene where Georgie meets Pennywise (in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel) has become an internet meme depicting Pennywise attempting to coerce Georgie to come down to the sewers with different things.[23] Georgie was also referenced in King's novel 11/22/63.[24]

References

  1. ^ Cotter, Padraig (2019-04-29). "The Georgie Storm Drain Scene From IT: Book Vs 2017 Movie". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  2. ^ Kennedy, Michael (2019-12-14). "IT Chapter Two: What "You Lied & I Died" Means". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  3. ^ Stephen King (30 July 2019). It. Viking Press. ISBN 9781982127794.
  4. ^ Dick, Jeremy (2018-08-11). "Georgie: IT fan film will bring back miniseries actor Tony Dakota". 1428Elm. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  5. ^ Colyard, K.W. (2017-08-26). "The 'IT' Movie Will Include That 'Gruesome' Child Murder Scene — But With A Catch". Bustle. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  6. ^ Breznican, Anthony (March 29, 2017). "A Paper Boat". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  7. ^ 🍭 Jackson Robert Scott co-stars with Bill Skarsgård (Pennywise) & describes him with & no makeup, retrieved 2019-10-02
  8. ^ Valenti, Julia (2017-09-12). "'IT' star Jackson Robert Scott attends screening as Georgie". Fanfest. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  9. ^ Berkowitz, Joe (2017-09-09). "We Need To Talk About The Opening Scene Of 'It'". Fast Company. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  10. ^ Klassen, Anna (2017-09-06). "Why Georgie's Death In The 2017 'It' Remake Is Even More Gruesome Than The Original". Bustle. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  11. ^ Coates, Tyler (2017-09-08). "The New Version of It Is Shockingly Violent". Esquire. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  12. ^ Squires, John (2019-06-10). "[Video] Short Film 'Georgie' Brings the Star of the Original 'IT' Miniseries Back to Derry!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  13. ^ Burlingame, Russ (2019-06-10). "Original Georgie Actor Returns for IT Fan Film". Comicbook.com. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  14. ^ Grove, David N. (2018-08-30). "'IT' Actor Reprising Georgie Denbrough Role in 'Georgie'". iHorror. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  15. ^ Squires, John (2018-08-10). "Georgie Actor From the Original 'IT' Miniseries is Reprising the Role for a Fan Made Short Film!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  16. ^ Squires, John (2019-03-06). "Short Film 'Georgie,' Starring Original 'IT' Miniseries Actor, Premiering at the Boston Underground Film Festival". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  17. ^ Leishmann, Rachel (September 9, 2019). "Bill in IT Chapter 2 Is a Great Exploration of Survivor's Guilt". The Mary Sue. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  18. ^ Murphy, Mekado (September 6, 2019). "How 'It Chapter Two' Revisits a Drain of Terror". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  19. ^ Lant, Kathleen Margaret; Thompson, Theresa (1998). Imagining the Worst: Stephen King and the Representation of Women. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313302329.
  20. ^ Mooney, Darren (September 6, 2019). "It Parallels Stand by Me for a Horrifying Coming-of-Age Film". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Price, Joe (2018-03-02). "Georgie From 'It' Is About to Become Horror's 'It' Boy". Complex. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  22. ^ "See Ice Nine Kills Hail Pennywise In Grisly New "It Is The End" Video". Revolver. 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  23. ^ "Pennywise in the Sewer - Hey Georgie Want a Balloon". Know Your Meme. Retrieved 2019-12-21.
  24. ^ King, Stephen (8 November 2011). 11/22/63: A Novel. Simon & Schuster Audio. ISBN 9781442344280.
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