stevie boy

Alan Badel & James Hayter both mentioned in this very interesting thread. Both very good espcially Badel who died far too early.

Blanche Fury

Far too sweeping a statement, surely. What about, for example, Kind Hearts and Coronets? I've never read the book it's based on (Israel Rank) but as it's one of the best films ever made and the book is as far as I know utterly forgotten, the film must be better than the book.

There must be hundreds of fine films based on humdrum books. This thread seems to be taking into account only classic books.

batman

It's very difficult to compare the different virtues of a book or a film if one hasn't read the book. The possible reason for humdrum books being ignored is that no one has read them because they are humdrum and not worth reading. I enjoy the film The Towering Inferno but I have not read either of the two allegedly humdrum books that film is based on, therefore I do not feel able to make a comparison.

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Windthrop

I tend to divide fiction books into high-plot and low-plot narratives (am a former literature graduate). The former tend to be popular fiction (crime and thrillers) and the later tend towards 'serious' award winning literature. High-plots tend to translate more easily to the screen because they have shallower characterisation and less psychological insight. I admit I am generalising to some extent but there is some truth in it.

Last Orders
Atonement both low-plotters which translated to the screen well

Where Eagles Dare is a classic example of high-plot - in fact the screenplay came first. However in the case of Maclean's very few others made the transition to screen as well as WED - The Guns of Naverone did but is inferior to the book IMHO.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

batman

I like many of the films based on MacLean books, but few of them are equal to the books. WED is one, but as Windy said, the screenplay came first. The only one I think that improves on the the book is The Satan Bug. I found the book a bit plodding while the film fairly zips along.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Here Hare Here

I was hoping that the film of the Da Vinci Code would be better then the book, but no. Book dreadful, film, 10 times worse!!

batman

I haven't read the book but I enjoyed the film.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

stevie boy

I read the Da Vinci Code and then watched the film, verdict both crap

batman

Don't pull your punches there stevieboy!

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Windthrop

Touch of Evil is in a completely different league to the original novel Badge of Evil. Pulp fiction to art house with the magic of Orson.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

ProfMarcus

I loved that series and would give several non-essential organs to have it on DVD. Badel was the definitive Fosco (even above Sidney Greenstreet).

One example of a dull book turned into a classic film is Christiana Brand's Green For Danger. Of course, the presence of Alastair Sim would make the phone book filmable.

. . . and new thumbscrews for me . . .

AdrianTurner

I would certainly put Jaws in the category of better-than-the-book. Benchley's novel had a great idea and some terrific scenes but if you remember it was also full of psycho-babble and a totally superfluous love interest between the sheriff's wife and the shark expert. Spielberg cut out all that rubbish and literally cut to the chase and made a much better thrill ride than the novel. And has anyone ever read Gone With the Wind, or Ben-Hur or Spartacus? On other hand, I would say that not one of the James Bond films are better than the novels.

Sibella Holland

The Lady Vanishes - much better than the book by Ethel Lina White. It's called 'The Wheel Spins', but is poor compared to the film, and not that great compared to other 1930s crime novels.

batman

Dr No, for the same reasons you say the film of Jaws is better than the book (which it is).

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Tony Pendrey

A lot of Le Carre's works have been made into good films or TV series, but I wouldn't say any screen adaptations have been better than the book.

I recently read "Billion Dollar Brain" and I would say IMHO that the film is better.

The book does not have that great climax on the ice sheet. (Nor the great atmospheric music)

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings