The original post uses the example of The Great Gatsby, which has at least one film adaptation. Is that a perfect 1 to 1 transfer of the author's intent?

No, and like almost every movie made from a classic, the one I saw is complete and utter dogshit.

A good translation is done by skilled translators who understand how to keep the substance of the work.

The words are the story telling. The "translated" version in the OP is a completely different story with completely different meaning than the original. The actual sequence of events in a lot of "literature" is not that compelling. The way it's told is why it's compelling.