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| The 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel |
While
watching a movie that has been adapted from a book, have you ever wondered
what the author thinks of the film? Do they approve of the choice of actors? Are they displeased/pleased with the deletion of scenes? Dialogue
alterations? Are they happy with the musical score? How much say did the
author have in any of these choices?
The movie version of
Stephen King's The Dark Half led me to decide not
to watch movie versions of books I'd read. The screen versions of Stephen
King's books cannot do justice to his creepy, angst filled, psychologically
wacky characters. In one interview with King he said he was disappointed with
how Stanley Kubrick directed The Shining, that Kubrick
"just couldn't grasp the sheer inhuman evil of The Overlook
Hotel." He also didn't like Jack Nicholson’s performance. In the
book, Jack Torrance didn't go crazy until he got to the hotel and King felt
that Nicholson made the character crazy right from the start. I don't recall that detail but I do remember not wanting to turn lights out at night after reading a chapter of The Shining, and cringing over Nicholson's maniacal acting skills. (or maybe he wasn't acting!)
I admit to breaking my book-but-not the-movie rule, several times actually. As with the 1985 film version of Out of Africa. I'd read Isak Dinesen's memoir, pen name used by Danish author Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, (1885 –1962), years before the film and was so taken by her writing I had to see the movie. Hollywood's depiction of the grandeur of Kenya would likely be the closest I'd ever get to that country.
I admit to breaking my book-but-not the-movie rule, several times actually. As with the 1985 film version of Out of Africa. I'd read Isak Dinesen's memoir, pen name used by Danish author Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke, (1885 –1962), years before the film and was so taken by her writing I had to see the movie. Hollywood's depiction of the grandeur of Kenya would likely be the closest I'd ever get to that country.
Out of
Africa is a multifaceted romance; the baroness loved Africa, she loved
her farm and the native tribes and she dearly loved big game hunter, Denys
Finch Hatton. It's a gorgeous movie that aptly and beautifully supports Ms.
Dinesen's book. And the musical score is simply breathtaking. All in all, the film is an excellent screen adaptation of a book.
Some of the other book-and-movie pairings I broke my
rule for are below. They're "rated" from:
Should've Stuck To My Rule (!) to I Could Sit Through This Again (!!!!)
Should've Stuck To My Rule (!) to I Could Sit Through This Again (!!!!)
~ To Kill A
Mockingbird !!!!
~ the Twilight series !!
~ Misery (S. King) !!!!
~ Papillon !!!!
~ Jane Eyre !!, !!! and !!!!
(there have been several film versions since the first in 1943 with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine)
~ at least one of the 21 film versions of Jane Austen's six most well known novels (that's got to be a movie
~ the Twilight series !!
~ Misery (S. King) !!!!
~ Papillon !!!!
~ Jane Eyre !!, !!! and !!!!
(there have been several film versions since the first in 1943 with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine)
~ at least one of the 21 film versions of Jane Austen's six most well known novels (that's got to be a movie
adaptation record) ! to !!!!
Jane Austen....would she approve of how directors and producers transformed her novels into films or be a naysayer of their works?
~ films adapted
from Shakespeare's works that keep to his time period and dialogue
rate a !!! and !!!! The 1993 version of Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite.
~ Of Mice and Men.......1939 !! and 1992 !!!
~ A Christmas Carol; not a fan of the film versions I've seen, but the 1984 television version with George C. Scott as Scrooge gets a !!
rate a !!! and !!!! The 1993 version of Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite.
~ Of Mice and Men.......1939 !! and 1992 !!!
~ A Christmas Carol; not a fan of the film versions I've seen, but the 1984 television version with George C. Scott as Scrooge gets a !!
Outlander, Diana Gabaldon's first book in her Outlander series, now a TV series, is one I read back when it was released in 1991. I watched one episode and probably won't watch another.The acting just didn't captivate me enough to be a fan of this series.
One of my favorite films of 2014 is Divergent. I've been told it accurately follows the book, which must make Veronica Roth, author of the Divergent Series, very happy. I'd surely do a happy dance if one of my books made it to the screen, just as I'd written it!
Any favorite books-made-into-movies of your own? Any that deserve no more than a ! ?
Any favorite books-made-into-movies of your own? Any that deserve no more than a ! ?
I liked the Lord of the Rings movies better than the books. I'm sure I'm going to get yelled at for that comment. :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't watch the Rings movies because I didn't want to hurt my love of the books. But now I want to watch Out of Africa.
ReplyDeleteFun post. I also enjoyed the Lord of the Rings better on the big screen. The Hobbit not so much -- too cartoonish. I agree on the Jane Austen stories, many Shakespeare works too. The book Practical Magic gave me brain whiplash and I couldn't finish it, but the movie with Sandra Bullock was cute. There was a mini series based on the book Pillars of the Earth. I recommend that one.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Polly. I usually am afraid to watch the movie version of a beloved book because the movies seldom do justice to the books. I loved the Outlander series, but the first episode the other night disappointed me. It was very sluggish for the first 30 minutes. But I will watch all episodes. The book is very big and unfolded slowly too, but I loved it. Didn't love the slow pace of the movie. Maybe I have different expectations of movies than I do of books. I can't think of any other movies that disappointed.
ReplyDeleteGone With The Wind was a favorite movie, and I believe it was as good as the book.
ReplyDeleteI thought Ordinary People was a great adaptation of the book.
ReplyDeleteMovies and books have always gone hand in hand. Even look at the tons of Biblical movies- including the new Noah movie. I also believe that we (authors) should have a say in our books as far as being made. I hated the Sookie Stackhouse series because it derailed from the books. In some ways, I'm glad they didn't make some other books into movies.
ReplyDeleteMovies and books have always gone hand in hand. Even look at the tons of Biblical movies- including the new Noah movie. I also believe that we (authors) should have a say in our books as far as being made. I hated the Sookie Stackhouse series because it derailed from the books. In some ways, I'm glad they didn't make some other books into movies.
ReplyDeleteGone with the Wind is my favorite and loved the book, which I've read a couple of times. Lord of the Rings was a favorite too, but I think I enjoyed the movie more. Another book to movies was The The Chronicles of Narnia that enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteRebecca by Daphne du Maurier is one of my favorites. I love Bridget Jones's Diary too. But what was done to My Sister's Keeper was outrageous. I even cried out at the theater. My friend patted my arm. I decided not right now to watch Outlander. Just not ready, I guess.
ReplyDeletePolly~
ReplyDeleteA fascinating post! I haven't seen or even thought of Out of Africa in years...but now I want to watch it again. ;) I personally thought the Harry Potter movies were decent - not great, but decent.
About Lord of the Rings film series: I watched the first but none of the others. I just couldn't get immersed in the on-screen version of Tolkien's world.
ReplyDeleteRose, I hadn't heard of the mini series based on Pillars of the Earth. Ken Follett's book, I assume you're talking about? I didn't read it, although I like his writing so I may have to give the series a try. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen Gone With The Wind in many years, but I do remember it sticking close to Margaret Mitchell's classic. Must have been quite the challenge to the filmmakers back then, not having the use of special effects, CGI, etc. that we have now.
ReplyDeleteVicki, you're so right about Du Mauirer's Rebecca! Outstanding book, excellent movie. Joan Fontaine, Lawrence Olivier and Judith Anderson as the off-balanced Mrs. Danvers. Add all that talent to Alfred Hitchcock's directing and it's a masterpiece.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post...I loved Outlander, don't think I'll spoil it by seeing it on TV. LOVED Lord of the Rings, both print and movie. Mostly I think the movies can't capture the nuances of the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jean, about movies not capturing all the nuances of a book. Interesting how no one has mentioned the Harry Potter books and movies. I read only the first in the series and saw a couple of the movies. They seemed to do a good job of keeping true to the book and characters.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I loved both the book and the movie, "Gone With The Wind". On the other side of the spectrum, I didn't think "True Blood" did the books any justice. On the other hand, I tried to read "Outlander" when it first came out and couldn't get into it. I saw the first installment and was impressed. I might go back and try reading it again:)
ReplyDeleteOops, I forgot Lynda mentioned the Harry Potter movies as"decent". I agree with that rating. Sometimes a movie will spark my interest in wanting to read the book but I talk myself out of it; why read the book when I already know the gist of the story?
ReplyDeleteI read the book The Last Convertible after seeing the television movie. I loved the movie so much and the book captured my love as well. I had found the book just sitting on a shelf of my mom's.
ReplyDeleteA favorite author of mine decided Not to put her books in a movie or television series. I think she was right on that because they were going to change things. It's why I never could get into the True Blood show...it was too different than my beloved books.
I've not heard of the Last Convertible, Melissa, but you've got me interested, in both the movie and the book. Thanks!
ReplyDelete