In yesterday’s New York Times Book Review, the bookends column asked two writers to vote for their favorite movie adaptation of a book (see link here). The first was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the psychedelic 1970s version with Gene Wilder, not the ultra creepy Tim Burton movie); the second was the Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore version of The End of the Affair. While I’m on the fence about Willy Wonka, I agree that the The End of the Affair movie actually enhanced the book for me (a rare thing indeed in a movie adaptation).
So I got to thinking of all the great and the not so great movie versions of books over the years and it’s obvious that it’s a precariously thing indeed turning a beloved book into a critically successful movie (let alone one that does well at the box office). Last night I finally watched 12 Years A Slave – but having not read the book on which it’s based I can’t really comment on how faithful or moving an adaptation it was. It was certainly a good, moving film – though one that certainly put a bit of a dampener on my pre Mother’s Day mood (but then so did the Colorado weather – snow in May is never a good thing!).
My vote for some of the best movie adaptations of books include: The Last of the Mohicans (though, to be fair, that book was a bit of a hard slog and Daniel Day Lewis was enough for me to give it my vote anyway!), The Age of Innocence (another Daniel Day Lewis movie), Atonement (I actually preferred the movie to the book, but that’s probably because I’m a Philistine!) and finally The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Sadly, as far as the Lord of the Rings movie series is concerned, I didn’t feel the same way at all about the movie adaptation of The Hobbit. I recently read the book aloud to my boys and it was depressing to realize, after about ten minutes into the first movie, that there was no way they could watch the movie version. Not only was it way too violent, but it had also killed off all the charm of the book with both silliness as well as gore (not to mention dragging the whole thing out for three movies!). There are, sadly, many, many movies on my ‘worst adaptation’ list. The Scarlett Letter (shudder!), The Time Traveller’s Wife (another shudder!), The DaVinci Code (ugh!), and Ender’s Game (fail!) to name just a few…
For my kids, another bomb in the book to movie department was The Golden Compass. Now even I admit, Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials Trilogy has some major philosophical hurdles to deal with as far as mass movie consumption is concerned. But still, this was such a major disappointment that even my boys (who did enjoy the books) could only shrug at the end of the movie. I’m just thankful we’d read the book first, otherwise I fear my boys would never have wanted to even open the first page after seeing the movie!
So what about you all? What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book? What, in your opinion, is one of the worst?
Stephen King is a good choice for both ends of this question. “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” both brought something more to these already wonderful novellas through great casting, acting, and no monkey business with cutting stuff out of the plot.
“Dreamcatcher” however, was awful. The book was already sort of strange and weird and the movie just made things a thousand times worse.
I loved Shawshank Redemption but haven’t actually seen The Green Mile…sounds like it’s a good thing I haven’t seen Dreamcatcher either!
One of the very best is To Kill a Mockingbird. A perfect adaptation in every way, from the iconic performance of Gregory Peck to the beautiful score by Elmer Bernstein.
Ugly? How about Dune (1984)?
Ugh indeed for Dune (I couldn’t even sit through the whole movie)!. I’d forgotten about To Kill a Mockingbird. I just finished reading it to my boys and I should let them watch the movie to – for me Gregory Peck is the iconic Atticus.
Brilliant casting and inspired acting made the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” a favorite adaptation.
Likewise “Silence of the Lambs”
Both of those were terrific. I’m pretty squeamish but Silence of the Lambs was amazing (I just had to avert my eyes more than a few times!)
OH! A double digit math problem this morning. My poor brain.
As for movies made from books, my favorite example is The Hunt for Red October. The book was full of jargon, bounced around, and although I enjoyed it, I think the movie cut out a lot of gristle and fat and went straight to the meat.
The Hunt for Red October was a great movie, though I confess I never did read the book.
I vote for “The Firm.” The scriptmanglers changed the theme of the novel from money laundering for the mob to — wait for it — failing to properly account for billable hours.
Huh?
And casting Wilford Brimley as the maniacal Devasher was a sheer stroke of lunacy. Brimley as the firm’s head of security was as menacing as Mr. Rogers saying “Boo!”
I’d forgotten the film version of The Firm – what a disappointment (and strange casting) indeed.
With the possible exception of Dr. No, all the movie adaptions of the Ian Fleming Bond novels were abysmal with the worst be the original Casino Royale. Not sure what they were thinking on that one.
As a fan of Fleming’s books (I’ve read all the James Bond ones) I have to agree – though many of the films were lightweight fun, none of them matched the books. I did like the BBC mini series about Ian Fleming though:)
It’s been a long time, Joe, since I read one of the books, but I always thought Goldfinger and Thunderball were excellent Bond movies. When we got to Roger Moore, it was a cartoon. But I am liking very much the Daniel Craig reboot.
The Bridges of Madison County — unreadable book but poignant movie.
Jaws — decent thriller but iconic movie.
The Godfather — okay book but top-ten-of-all-time movie
And my favorite: The Third Man — really good book into a classic movie
I’m glad you brought up The Bridges of Madison County because the book was appalling but the movie was actually pretty good. Goes to show sometimes the movie can be way, way, better than the book!
Wasn’t the Bridges of Madison County a top seller? Perhaps it was an Oprah pick, so that sold it. Only watched a few seconds of the movie.
What about the movie The English Patient, it was beautiful, good. But I’ve only heard of one person who actually read the entire novel.
The worst, for me, was the movie version of Lawrence Block’s “Burglar” with Whoopie Goldberg as the Jewish Bernie Rhodenbar. Also, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. The Robert Parker Cole and Hitch western movies were very close to the books.
WIllie Wonka is very good, as are many of the ones you mention. “The Lord of the Rings” told that massive story about as well as it could be told in a movie.
For my money, the very best adaptation ever has to be “The Maltese Falcon.” I read Hammett’s book as a teen, several years before I was aware there was a movie. When I saw it, it was exactly as I had imagined it – down to Bogie and Greenstreet and Peter Lorre and Mary Astor. Just an amazing job of being completely faithful to the book while at the same time telling that story on film as well as it could be done. A masterpiece.
The Maltese Falcon was excellent (and as good as the book in my opinion!).
Flip side – adaptation that let me down – The film of Tom Clancy’s “Patriot Games.” The book was exciting, but it was also a nuanced philosophical dilemma. Jack Ryan has to protect his family, but at what cost? At what point does he become just as bad as the terrorists? And the ending, with the killer being dragged off to trial and prison as a common criminal instead of making him the patriotic martyr who thought he was, was perfect. The movie was a western shoot ’em up with even Jack’s wife urging “Kill him!” The book is my favorite Tom Clancy. The movie is by far the worst adaptation of one of his works.
Best (recent for me) is PERKS OF BEING A WALL FLOWER. The book was a series of “letter” diary entries. Well done and a unique way to tell a story that relies on the reader’s mind to trigger images that told the story. The movie made everything more cohesive and is one of my guilty pleasure movies.
Worst is CITY OF BONES based on the Cassandra Clare series. The movie was made by people who never read the book or thought they could ditch the plot & characters to tell a different story. Poor casting. No chemistry. Dreadful adaptation with little regard for the legion of fans who had high hopes.
This is tough. So many books, so many adaptations. I’m going to go with my all time favorite film noir, and one of my top ten films of all time, OUT OF THE PAST, based on the novel BUILD MY GALLOWS HIGH by Geoffrey Homes. If you haven’t seen this movie, make a point to do so the next time it is on TCM. I don’t want to give away the plot, but it has everything a great film noir should. I’ve never read the novel it’s based on. Reviews of it are mixed, to be kind. This novel can also work for worst adaptation, as in 1984 it was remade into the astoundingly awful AGAINST ALL ODDS. If you haven’t seen it, that’s two hours of your life that can better spent doing almost anything else.
Clare – I did read 12 YEARS A SLAVE after I saw the movie. The movie is surprising faithful. The book is written in a 19th century first person hyperbole style, but it’s quite interesting. You get more background and detail on how he was tricked into slavery (slightly different than the book), his journey, his life on the plantations, different owners, cutting sugar cane vs, picking cotton, etc. It was a quick read, and worth the time.
Thanks – I might have to take a look at the book 12 years a slave – it was certainly a compelling (if horrific) story.
THE GRIFTERS by Jim Thompson was made into an excellent movie in 1990, and James M Cain’s MILDRED PIERCE received a superior scene-for-scene treatment by HBO in 2011.
The worst adaptation was, without question, the miserable, sloppy 1990 filming of Tom Wolfe’s sensational THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES.
I thought The Grifters was a really good movie too – though I hadn’t read the book. The Bonfire of the Vanities does appear on many ‘worst of’ lists – haven’t seen it, and doubt I will now!
What about Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.” I saw the film (very good) and am yet to read the book. The book was received with critical acclaim, though, if I am not mistaken.
I’ve only read the book and not seen the film of “The Road”. I thought the book was amazing (though very depressing obviously!)
Oh, Oh! “The Commitments.” The novel about Irish street musicians deciding to start a soul band is so good. The movie includes the music, of course, and the casting is so dead on to the book, and so talented (you won’t believe the guy playing “Gecko,” the lead singer – he’s a young David Clayton Thomas) , it’s even better than the book. Seriously, if you’ve never seen “The Commitments,” waste not another evening. One of my favorite movies of the last 25 years.
jb
The Godfather!