From The Page To The Screen
February 20th 2008 08:51
Making a book into a movie can be a funny business. While some film adaptations are spectacular, with a few even managing to surpass the original text, many are a disappointment and plenty completely lose sight of the work from which they are derived.
Below, in alphabetical order, are the top fifty film adaptations as judged by The Guardian. Which do you think made the transition safely? Which arrived the worse for wear? And which got hopelessly lost along the way?
While I have either read the book or seen the film for almost all of these, there are less than twenty for which I have done both, which makes it hard for me to judge them all with any fairness. So, instead, I have put asterisks next to those movies I revere, irrespective of the novels and how they may differ, and have below added a few to the list which I think are great and worthy adaptations of great and worthy books:
The Constant Gardener, Witches, About a Boy, Memoirs of a Geisha, I’m Not Scared, The Count of Monte Cristo, Jane Eyre, The Color Purple, Frankenstein, High Fidelity, North and South, The Little Princess.
And some grand films which I can only imagine do the books justice:
The African Queen, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Human Stain, Gone With The Wind, The Big Sleep, The Wizard of Oz.
So – from the page to the screen, what happens in between? And does it really matter?
Michaelie Clark
Below, in alphabetical order, are the top fifty film adaptations as judged by The Guardian. Which do you think made the transition safely? Which arrived the worse for wear? And which got hopelessly lost along the way?
A Clockwork Orange - Image courtesy of geocities.com
1984
Alice in Wonderland*
American Psycho*
Breakfast at Tiffany's*
Brighton Rock
Catch 22
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory*
A Clockwork Orange*
Close Range (inc Brokeback Mountain)
The Day of the Triffids
Devil in a Blue Dress*
Different Seasons (inc The Shawshank Redemption)*
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (aka Bladerunner)
Doctor Zhivago*
Empire of the Sun
The English Patient*
Fight Club*
The French Lieutenant's Woman*
Get Shorty
The Godfather*
Goldfinger
Goodfellas
Heart of Darkness (aka Apocalypse Now)
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Jaws*
The Jungle Book*
A Kestrel for a Knave (aka Kes)
LA Confidential
Les Liaisons Dangereuses*
Lolita
Lord of the Flies*
The Maltese Falcon
Oliver Twist*
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*
Orlando*
The Outsiders
Pride and Prejudice*
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Railway Children
Rebecca
The Remains of the Day
Schindler's Ark (aka Schindler's List)
Sin City
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Talented Mr Ripley*
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
To Kill a Mockingbird*
Trainspotting*
The Vanishing*
Watership Down
Alice in Wonderland*
American Psycho*
Breakfast at Tiffany's*
Brighton Rock
Catch 22
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory*
A Clockwork Orange*
Close Range (inc Brokeback Mountain)
The Day of the Triffids
Devil in a Blue Dress*
Different Seasons (inc The Shawshank Redemption)*
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (aka Bladerunner)
Doctor Zhivago*
Empire of the Sun
The English Patient*
Fight Club*
The French Lieutenant's Woman*
Get Shorty
The Godfather*
The Lord of the Flies - Image courtesy of organicmechanic.com
Goodfellas
Heart of Darkness (aka Apocalypse Now)
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Jaws*
The Jungle Book*
A Kestrel for a Knave (aka Kes)
LA Confidential
Les Liaisons Dangereuses*
Lolita
Lord of the Flies*
The Maltese Falcon
Oliver Twist*
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*
Orlando*
Trainspotting - Image courtesy of geocities.com
The Outsiders
Pride and Prejudice*
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Railway Children
Rebecca
The Remains of the Day
Schindler's Ark (aka Schindler's List)
Sin City
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The Talented Mr Ripley*
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
To Kill a Mockingbird*
Trainspotting*
The Vanishing*
Watership Down
While I have either read the book or seen the film for almost all of these, there are less than twenty for which I have done both, which makes it hard for me to judge them all with any fairness. So, instead, I have put asterisks next to those movies I revere, irrespective of the novels and how they may differ, and have below added a few to the list which I think are great and worthy adaptations of great and worthy books:
The Witches - Image courtesy of britmovie.co.uk
The Constant Gardener, Witches, About a Boy, Memoirs of a Geisha, I’m Not Scared, The Count of Monte Cristo, Jane Eyre, The Color Purple, Frankenstein, High Fidelity, North and South, The Little Princess.
And some grand films which I can only imagine do the books justice:
The African Queen, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Human Stain, Gone With The Wind, The Big Sleep, The Wizard of Oz.
So – from the page to the screen, what happens in between? And does it really matter?
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
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And not one breath of sex, where has it gone?
Oh, I know, it shall return.
Love to you hon, katyzzz
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
As for the Sex - of course, my celibacy shall be short lived.
Thanks
Michaelie
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
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Fight Club, BOTH are brilliant, but film has some VERY importnat differences, for one, the complete ending.
Clockwork Orange is an incredibnle acghivement in both cases, though you really need to read the book to realise how incredibly it is - the entire book is written it the Nadsat dialict they speak in the film. Also Kubrick adapted the American book, which omits the final chapter, so the deeper meaning of the book and movie, though profound, are different, as the endings are both incredibly different.
Charlie, both are done quite well.
Lord of the Flies are very close to each other.
Jungle book both are fun, but of course Kiplings is a far sight removed from Disneys.
Alice was a fun film, though you really have to read the book to appreciate Lewis Carrol's ability to play with words - Alice is essentially an exercise in wordplay.
Schindlers list (or Arc) I personally tohught was a book that made a facinating story tedious. The point of 'Faction' was lost, as the change to narrative really failed to dramatise what was a facinating tale, whereas Speailburg i feel really did the tale justice - even if he did gloss over a few dirty bits.
Comment by katyzzz
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But you gave me a good belly laugh, good for the brain you know.
Keep up all the hard work, I'm off to Raven's hammock, which he has vacated for a few hours, I think he goes inside to eat.
Love and kisses, of the nicest possible kind. katyzzz
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Thanks for your thoughts, I must say I pretty much agree.
I haven't read the book of Trainspotting, though I think there are a few listed that were made into much better films than the original novels, ie. Jaws.
Fight Club - could there be a more pure 'adaptation'? I know the ending was supposed to be disguised by the unavoidable immersion in the story. I still guessed the ending the first time I saw it, but it surely doesn't detract. A very clever addition - considering such things rarely work.
I prefer the book of Alice, though am looking forward to Burton's adaptation.
Schindler - may be ostracized for this, but find parts of the film tedious too. Hyping it up would have ruined it for me, but some parts of it are a bit too understated I find. I read Speilberg couldn't watch the part in filming where the elderly run naked. Understandable, but I'm glad it was included - it's one of the more powerful scenes.
Thanks Brenton
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
And yes, I know all about laughter, I'm always listening! It's only sensible to lose your senses from time to time - best you keep reminding me so I remember how to find them again.
Raven's igloo must need some maintenance - I have a feeling he shall be swinging again soon.
Thanks m'lady.
Comment by Danceswithwords
Poetic Sedition
Inspiration
Like your post ;o) Whether a book adapts well to movies (or the screen) belies the very art of it all. If two people do the same thing; read a book, see a film, take a photo or have sex (just thought I'd add that since it seems its a subject you were jousted about in this post) it's COMPLETELY DIFFERENT for each person.
The Guardian is not a collective (I'd like you to think BORG for a nanosecond) it's writer/s and the top 50 everything is a democracy that you and I are not a part of - nor probably anyone reading thus far.
I personally look at it like this. Its ALL words. The writers go on strike an TV and CINEMA stop. Wow. They don't slow down, kink or transform... they stop. We all write in here (or at all) for a moment in time when our words STOP things. When you take any author and try and transpose their work into film of course it goes wonky, through so many factors.
I would like to say ALL Cinema starts as words. A screenplay. I love to write screenplays, because I love film, and I despise the canned laughter sequences and the "hollywood" machina. If however I was cursed/blessed with an adaption of someones written work I would immediately feel all the pressures of (mainly of the author) but then so many things. Like the subject, censorship, ratings, the test audience didn't like the real ending, and gee.. my own slant and fantastic poetic license to NOT kill off the main character in the final scene!
So in my honest opinion - it's ALL ART. I think more books should be based on films with no books preceding them. And creativity to be bold enough to know when Luke Skywalker got a fast slick woody when he flew with R2.
I have seen most of the films on that list and read most of the books. I enjoyed each experience not for the comparison - because love is not enjoying comparing one person with another - it is being TOTALLY in that moment that the writer/director wants you to be in.
For we have all loved and no one could ask for more.
Dances
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
That is a fantastic list from The Guardian, I agree with most of them and many all time favourites are included (Orlando, Fight Club, American Psycho, Clockwork Orange, Devil in a Blue Dress, Blade Runner, Cuckoos nest, maltese Falcon, Lord of The Flies, Spy Who Came In From The cold etc)
A couple that spring to mind:
2001: A Space Odyssey
Jackie Brown (Rum Punch)
Out Of Sight
The Manchurian Candidate
The Ipcress File
Angel Heart
Bridge to Terabithia
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Kiss Me Deadly
The Killers (Both adaptations)
Papillon
Midnight Express
The Hustler
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Way too many great adaptations, but even more crappy ones.
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
great post as always.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
No one's mentioned Cat In The Hat yet?
MNG
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Wow, thanks for the detailed comment. Very philosophical, lol. As to the jousting re: Sex, well, someone's lance is still upright.
I agree with you about writers, of course, though they seem to get a raw deal. The credit and the glamour all seems to be swallowed up before it gets to the humble story teller!
Thanks
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Your list was quite interesting too. I especially like your inclusions of Papillon, Fear and Loathing and The Hustler.
You can say that again. But it's so good when they get it right.
Thanks!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yeah, I wondered about LOTR as well. And Harry Potter. Maybe they weren't going for 'those' ones, or maybe they just thought they didn't live up to the books...
It's hard to tell exactly what they were judging them by.
Always appreciate your visits!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I wonder why...
Ta.
Mich
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I wonder what you will think when you get into the book? Sometimes it's really hard going from the movie to the book, but sometimes really disappointing going from the book to the movie. I think at times, the limitations of film (or more so of directors, etc) means that they can't live up to what our imaginations can create from the evocation of words on a page...
Thanks
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I wonder which flick you'll be nicking off to this weekend with potential marital candidate #2?
Thank you for stopping by.
Michaelie
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc
That's very perceptive of you... with Atonement, I have a wealth of already existing visual cues I can draw on, and I'm trying very hard not to do so but it's very difficult as my associations are so strong (especially as it was a good, engaging movie).
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Gosh, that's impressive that you've seen or read so many from the list.
A Clockwork Orange is a book I've tried to read a few times...not successfully. While the dialect is authentic, I found it hard to get through the book because of it. But I'm going to try again, this post has reminded me about it. Thanks for that.
I thought that Lord of the Flies, both versions were good, but the book stands out for me. It was superb, its theme have stayed with me.
American Psycho is another one that interchangeably worked well (to me anyhoo).
Brilliant post,you really got my weary brain working.
Have a great weekend,
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I'm impressed that you've even attempted A Clockwork Orange! Haven't had a real go myself.
The Lord of the Flies is one that I think goes really well either way - maybe because the film seems very much in keeping with my imaginings from the text?
Thank you very much for the compliment; I hope you have a lovely weekend too!
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
After I wrote that comment last night, I got the book from the shelf and didn't start reading. One little step at a time
Yes, I do think that the Lord of the Flies film is very much in keeping with the book. For me, it was effective.
Byeeee
Comment by Wayne F
Bucket Movies
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Tomorrow you can open it, if you think you're ready.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I've mostly focused on the movie side of things for the Guardian list, but a lot of them began as brilliant books, definitely worth checking out.
Thanks
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
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Flick Wit
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
I agree, the transition from book to screen is risky business. I try to read the book before I watch the movie. I enjoy playing the movie out in my mind before it hits the screen, though when it hits the screen it can sometimes be disappointing...but I feel that at least I had my own imagination before it crapped out...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
And every now and then there will be a great movie made from a bullshit book. Very hard to gauge sometimes!
Great to see you!
Michaelie
Comment by JoH
Way too much mature information for me to deal with at 8.30am on a Monday morning! This is the type of post I need to read on a Friday evening with a glass of fine red in one hand and a pad of paper and pen in the other!!
I'll have to come back to this one, I think!
xx
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
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Great post!
Mis
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I am so sorry. I never meant to indulge in maturity, I swear!
Should put a warning on this post - 'Must be taken with alcohol'? But then that's a given for most posts!
Thanks my lovely!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Has anyone read 'Jumper' by Stephen Gould?
Watched the film recently...hmmm...very different and despite the fact that I did enjoy as a bit of fantastical fluff...a very weak adaptation.
Contact by Carl Sagan.
...the film is very different from the book but I loved the adaptation!
I'm a bit worried about 'Rendezvous With Rama' by Arthur C Clarke...it's being made into a film but I'm worried they'll give it a Hollywood ending and resolve the 'mystery'.
...and that unsolved mystery was the whole point of the book and its sequels.
As T says, it is very impressive that you've seen and read so many...I don't want to re read the list because this requires serious thinking and I am incapable of that.
'American Psycho'...I hated this book. Couldn't stop reading it. I threw it away so many times but just had to read it. I haven't watched the film but I remember Bryn (Horrorphile) told me it's worth watching...and not just for Christian Bale taking a shower!
(um...Bryn said that because I confessed to thinking Bale is a bit of yum...not because he just suggested it!)
Oooh..do the Bond books (Ian Fleming) count??
The books are so different from the films...except for character names, settings, etc...but the films are much more fun! (Bond is not as Bond in the books).
Also...do graphic novels count?? Sin City was quite 'faithful'.
I'm just waiting for a good film version of Modesty Blaise.
Anyway...I'm done...
Dusk
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Hello! It's been ages! Every time I go to your site, you have the comments disabled, and I keep wanting to tell you I love your new banner, you svelte thing - and your face is revealed, albeit from a distance! Lurvely.
Now, to answer your question:
I haven't read or seen Jumper yet, but have heard the film is below par, so will be reading the book first when I get around to it.
Contact have only seen, so wasn't aware of differences, though you have me intrigued now!
Rendezvous with Rama - take hope from the Odyssey adaptation, and David Fincher's involvement.
American Psycho is well worth watching - all of it.
Sure Bond counts. I haven't read the books - just didn't seem as 'Bond' to me either, so didn't bother. Funny The Guardian didn't include any of those kinds of serials.
They did include Sin City though, but I was never so impressed by it - even with QT on board. Modesty Blaise is definitely the comic heroine I would be more interested in! Quentin should hurry up and get onto that one.
Thanks Dusk!
Michaelie
Comment by Anonymous
Excellent post! One flew over the Cuckoo's nest and Schindler's List I think are very credible adaptations.
But as always, there's one that stands out from the rest for me and it's Shawshank Redemption - brilliant!
Love your work.
Pamela
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
The Shawshank Redemption - great movie.
Jack makes the film adaptation of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest even better than the book, I reckon.
Thank you muchly.
Michaelie