Groom wrote both fictional and non-fiction novels about the American Civil War and World War I. It is not by chance, since he himself served in the US Army during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. But the book that will always be associated with it is “Forrest Gump” from 1986. A story about a man with a low IQ and golden heart, which almost accidentally left its mark on historical events in the United States during the twentieth century. Forrest Gump tells an amazing life story from a seat at a bus stop. The film is considered a cultural heritage in the United States.
Forrest Gump only became successful after it was filmed in 1994. It sold 1.7 million copies. Through the silver screen, the world gets to know Forrest Gump’s character through Tom Hanks’ strong acting. In his role as the vulnerable and lovable Forrest, he conquers many hearts. Forrest Gump has become a cult character, and the movie is blockbuster, garnering 6 Oscars. Impressive detail: In any letter of thanks the winner is not mentioned, Winston Groom is the maker of the story. And Groom himself wasn’t properly compensated for his share of the movie’s success.
Two sentences from the movie took on a life of their own: “Run Forrest Run!”, A phrase still used today to encourage someone to hurry, or literally run away. The poetic comparison: “Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get.” Freely translated: Life is like a box of chocolates: You never know what’s coming. But this sentence is not expressed in this way by Winston Groom in his book. “Being stupid is not a box of chocolates.”, he is writing.
Watch the iconic sentence about the box of chocolates in the clip below (read more under the video):
