November 21, 2012

MOVIE ADAPTATIONS OF NOVELS ...



Dear readers, this week ‘A’ could only be *ADAPTATIONS* - MOVIE *A*DAPTATIONS OF NOVELS! Do you think adaptations of novels successfully translate to the screen? I read that Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather (above & below), considered the screen version better than his original! “I wished like hell I’d written it better” he commented after back stories and subplots were cut and the ending made darker.

Here are some examples of other famous adaptations. Do you think they’re an improvement – or not?
Peter Benchley’s Jaws:
Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (another version due next year):
Dickens: Bleak House:
And Great Expectations (new version):


L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz:

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind:

Do check out other *A* posts - Alphabe-Thursday  @ Jenny Matlock, Ruby Tuesday & Rednesday!
And, finally, thank you to all my dear readers who have visited or commented. .
XOXO LOLA:)


20 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a rule, I have to say I prefer books. There've been a couple of exceptions, but not many!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I usually like the book better. But I have to say I liked the move Gone With the Wind better than the book...

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I usually like the book better. But I have to say I liked the move Gone With the Wind better than the book...

VBR said...

sometimes i like to see the adaption of a book into a movie to see how things 'look' (even if it is another person's vision). my biggest peeve about many of them though is when the ending is changed and it totally ruins the story. two recent examples of this are My Sister's Keeper and The Lovely Bones. Both, were written perfectly, and should have been made into films exactly as they were written.

Great A post!

Jeannie Marie said...

I was very happy with The Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind even though the stories were condensed. Haven't seen the others.

Jeannie Marie said...

Just to clarify...I always, always like the book better but both of these movies did a good job. Probably the best adaptation I've ever watched was The two part Anne of Green Gables with Megan Fallows. So faithful to the book and actors were spot on to their book characters.

My name is Riet said...

When I read the book I find the movies are a lot different. I love love movies and mostly the old ones.

Jim said...

A nice post, Nora. I have seen a lot more of the movies than books where the book is being adapted.

Most times I will read the book if I really liked the movie.
..

Pondside said...

Gone With the Wind was good in both forms - but did you see The Help? Everyone loved the movie but I thought it was a huge disappointment after the book.

bichonpawz said...

Most of the time I prefer the books! Just popping over to say hello and hope you both are doing well...Nora and Lola!! xoxo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

Annesphamily said...

Usually the book is better but in the case of Gone With the Wind, I think it was a spectacular movie! I like your posts as you always add such colorful photos and make e smile to stop by. Have a beautiful week!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Intriguing post! Always loved "Gone with the Wind" as a movie though never read the book!

Jenny said...

I almost always like the book better!

I'm going to have to give a few of these a re-try.

Although I never even knew there was a book called Jaws!

Thanks for this creative link to the letter "A".

A+

Ralph said...

The book has far more nuance than the movie - the written word is crafted with care to set up the scene in perfect detail. Too long for a movie, the scene can be set up in realtime action. The Godfather is beautifully done in both venues, but if the book were followed in full maybe a 12 hour movie would result (I'd watch all 12!)

Liz said...

These are great movies.

My entries:
Moms... Check nyo
My Own Travels

Chubskulit Rose said...

I watched that Jaws!

My Ruby Tuesday

LV said...

I am sorry to say, I have never read these books or saw the movies. I love reading, but never got around to these.

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Oh gosh! It's been eons since I read all of those! I can't think of a movie that I thought was better than the book though???

Thanks so much for sharing there's a new Great Expectations - it looks like with Helena Bonham Carter? I'll be watching for it.

Happy Rednesday!

★Carol★ said...

I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read any of those books! But I definitely prefer a book over the movie version any day. The movie never ever lives up to the book, in my opinion!
Happy REDnesday,
Carol

Megan, TfDiaries.com said...

love the godfather
Xo Megan, www.TfDiaries.com