Martha- I tend to always say book is better but there definitely are some adaptations that stood out as generally improving the story. And there are a couple of Austen pieces that stood out. In my opinion, the latest Emma is one of them. Thanks for this fun thought process!
I actually came to a book through a movie - The English Patient. I loved that story, and wanted to read the book. To my surprise, the movie focused on one small part of the book which was expansive. But I also found that the director and writer worked together to make the film. Here's a quote:
“[R]ight from the start, all three of us [Michael Ondaatje, director Anthony Minghella, and producer Saul Zaentz] never wanted the film of The English Patient to be a dutiful version of the book. None of us wanted just a faithful echo. I knew my story’s shape and various swerves and plots would not go unscathed. There would be translations of form and emphasis.” Michael Ondaatje 1997
I also loved Persuasion with Amanda Root and Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson. My fav Pride and Prejudice is with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth wading through the pond! BUT...the movies are mostly story and scenery. The books make me laugh. I did once introduce my sister to P&P; she was watching it on video completely enthralled to the point that she refused to stop to greet our mother who'd just flown in for a visit!
I've done that too -- come to a book after seeing the movie. Every author probably hopes that a film adaptation will lure readers to the book you've invested so much in. Love the Michael Ondaatje quote. I think it's exactly right. Good novels have a spirit and essence, and the best movie versions capture them but in a different way. One of my favorite examples is To Kill a Mockingbird. Both the book and film are classics as far as I'm concerned.
This is one of Truman Capote's works that was interpreted extremely well into this film:
https://youtu.be/_lmjU54i6R4?si=sWCLaH2tYmaQDFQd and this is the best season for viewing: A Christmas Memory (aired December 21, 1966 ABC TV), an adaptation of Truman Capote's semi-autobiographical novella, won a Peabody Award and Emmy Awards for Capote and Eleanor Perry's teleplay and Geraldine Page's (Sook) leading performance.
I think the filmmaker has creative license to depart from the book in general. Your example of Little Women is a good one for Gerwig’s interpretation enhanced Alcott’s story for contemporaey viewers in my opinion - although I, too, felt like Jo didn’t need a romantic hero. Other favorites of mine include Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly ans the Harry Potter movies. I thought the casting excellent. Films bring wonderful literary works to new audiences. Big plus!
The Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites too. The casting and performances are wonderful, and I love the visuals --from the Bennetts' house to Darcy's.
Unless the filmmaker makes some ridiculous promise to the author, I see no reason why he or she has to stay true to the writing. We are all free to read and view everything, so we can decide which we like and which is "true." I generally don't think a filmmaker's "goal" is to be true to the writing. Instead they are using the book for a film adaptation. That said, I haven't in my long lifetime heard many say the film was better than the book. I hang out more with readers who like the videos they create in their own heads. I would argue that most times reading is more challenging than viewing, yet it affords more opportunities for reconsiderations/reinterpretations.
Sometimes authors aren't the best interpreters of their own works, and sometimes the directors bring something wonderful to the story. Plus I'm really glad Truman Capote didn't get his way re: casting Marilyn Monroe instead of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanty's. IMHO, Audrey Hepburn made the character so stylish and unexpected..
For many years I read the part of Buddy's friend in the production of A Christmas Memory at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Athens, Georgia. It is such a moving story based upon a part of his childhood. One of my lines was "Oh my, it's fruitcake weather."
Martha- I tend to always say book is better but there definitely are some adaptations that stood out as generally improving the story. And there are a couple of Austen pieces that stood out. In my opinion, the latest Emma is one of them. Thanks for this fun thought process!
I actually came to a book through a movie - The English Patient. I loved that story, and wanted to read the book. To my surprise, the movie focused on one small part of the book which was expansive. But I also found that the director and writer worked together to make the film. Here's a quote:
“[R]ight from the start, all three of us [Michael Ondaatje, director Anthony Minghella, and producer Saul Zaentz] never wanted the film of The English Patient to be a dutiful version of the book. None of us wanted just a faithful echo. I knew my story’s shape and various swerves and plots would not go unscathed. There would be translations of form and emphasis.” Michael Ondaatje 1997
I also loved Persuasion with Amanda Root and Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson. My fav Pride and Prejudice is with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth wading through the pond! BUT...the movies are mostly story and scenery. The books make me laugh. I did once introduce my sister to P&P; she was watching it on video completely enthralled to the point that she refused to stop to greet our mother who'd just flown in for a visit!
I've done that too -- come to a book after seeing the movie. Every author probably hopes that a film adaptation will lure readers to the book you've invested so much in. Love the Michael Ondaatje quote. I think it's exactly right. Good novels have a spirit and essence, and the best movie versions capture them but in a different way. One of my favorite examples is To Kill a Mockingbird. Both the book and film are classics as far as I'm concerned.
This is one of Truman Capote's works that was interpreted extremely well into this film:
https://youtu.be/_lmjU54i6R4?si=sWCLaH2tYmaQDFQd and this is the best season for viewing: A Christmas Memory (aired December 21, 1966 ABC TV), an adaptation of Truman Capote's semi-autobiographical novella, won a Peabody Award and Emmy Awards for Capote and Eleanor Perry's teleplay and Geraldine Page's (Sook) leading performance.
I think the filmmaker has creative license to depart from the book in general. Your example of Little Women is a good one for Gerwig’s interpretation enhanced Alcott’s story for contemporaey viewers in my opinion - although I, too, felt like Jo didn’t need a romantic hero. Other favorites of mine include Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly ans the Harry Potter movies. I thought the casting excellent. Films bring wonderful literary works to new audiences. Big plus!
The Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorites too. The casting and performances are wonderful, and I love the visuals --from the Bennetts' house to Darcy's.
Unless the filmmaker makes some ridiculous promise to the author, I see no reason why he or she has to stay true to the writing. We are all free to read and view everything, so we can decide which we like and which is "true." I generally don't think a filmmaker's "goal" is to be true to the writing. Instead they are using the book for a film adaptation. That said, I haven't in my long lifetime heard many say the film was better than the book. I hang out more with readers who like the videos they create in their own heads. I would argue that most times reading is more challenging than viewing, yet it affords more opportunities for reconsiderations/reinterpretations.
Sometimes authors aren't the best interpreters of their own works, and sometimes the directors bring something wonderful to the story. Plus I'm really glad Truman Capote didn't get his way re: casting Marilyn Monroe instead of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanty's. IMHO, Audrey Hepburn made the character so stylish and unexpected..
For many years I read the part of Buddy's friend in the production of A Christmas Memory at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Athens, Georgia. It is such a moving story based upon a part of his childhood. One of my lines was "Oh my, it's fruitcake weather."