Awakenings: Comparing the Novel and Film. The exercise of comparing the film adaptation to Dr. Oliver Sacks' volume Awakenings has been helpful in realizing that the written word and the film produced for a commercial and entertainment market, represent two very different kinds of expression. This paper involved a rereading of Sacks' Awakenings after viewing the acclaimed film of 1990 in which Robert de Niro played the character of Leonard, the first of several patients upon whom L-dopa medication is tried by the neurologist, Dr. Malcolm Sayers, s played by Robin Williams. From its opening minutes, the film is only based vaguely upon the account provided by Sacks of his treatment provided to a Miss Frances D. The book centers on this particular doctor-patient interaction while the film shows a young neurologist dealing mostly with the character of Leonard, the first to try L-dopa, but who also interacts with the other patients affected by the same condition. 5 pgs. 7 f/c. 5b. Pages: 5 Bibliography: 5 source(s) listed Filename: 1571 Awakenings.doc Price: 44.75