Based on...
Books and films are two closely-related forms of art and entertainment. Since the science of film was first established in the late 1800s filmmakers have been using it to tell stories, and they soon began utilising the existing narratives and characters of novels. These films have succeeded (or not) to varying degrees in the transition, some accurately portraying the writer's intention, some building on it and some disappointing the original readers. No matter how well the adaptation is done however, it is still nice to be reminded that yes, happily, there is more to read than Harry Potter.
For screen translations of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Stephen King and many other notable authors click their links under this category, left. For adaptations of plays and Shakespeare, use the 'Alice's Playhouse' link.
Right: Kubrick's adaptation of Thackeray's novel 'Barry Lyndon'.
Coraline (2009)
7.7/10
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, Rober...
Vividly animated adaptation of Neil Gaiman's best-seller about an adventurous little girl who walks through a secret door and finds a world that is sp... Read more
Coraline ( Blu-ray ) (2009)
7.7/10
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Dawn French, Ian McShane, Jennifer Saunders, Keith David, Teri Hatcher, Dakota F...
Vividly animated adaptation of Neil Gaiman's best-seller about an adventurous little girl who walks through a secret door and finds a world that is sp... Read more
Count Dracula (BBC) (1977)
5.8/10
Director: Philip Saville
Starring: Frank Finlay, Bosco Hogan, Louis Jourdan, Susan Penhaligon, Judi Bowker
Widely regarded as one of the best adaptations of the classic Bram Stoker tale, the BBC version benefits from a critically-acclaimed performance from... Read more
Cousin Bette (1971)
8.3/10
Director: Gareth Davis
Starring: Helen Mirren, Thorley Walters, Margaret Tyzack
Based on the novel by Honore de Balzac, Cousin Bette is a poor spinster and a frequent visitor to her cousin Baron Hulot's household. When she is betr... Read more
Crash (1996)
6.4/10
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Rosanna Arquette, Deborah Kara Unger
James Spader, Holly Hunter and Rosanna Arquette are a motley assortment of car crash survivors seeking more and more perverse thrills to communicate,... Read more
Crazed Fruit (1956)
7.5/10
Director: Ko Nakahira
Starring: Masahiko Tsugawa, Yujiro Ishihara, Mie Kitahara
Two brothers compete for the amorous favours of a young woman during a seaside summer of gambling, boating, and drinking in this film from director Ko... Read more
Crime and Punishment (1998)
6.2/10
Director: Joseph Sargent
Starring: Patrick Dempsey, Ben Kingsley, Julie Delpy, Eddie Marsan, Lili Hovarth
Rodya (Patrick Dempsey) is a student in 19th century Russia, who believes his great intelligence gives him the right to commit any crime he deems will... Read more
Crime and Punishment (BBC) (2002)
7.2/10
Director: Julian Jarrold
Starring: Geraldine James, Nigel Terry, John Simm, Lara Belmont, Ian McDiarmid, David Haig...
This acclaimed BBC adaptation remains faithful to Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic novel. Set in St. Petersburg in the second half of the 19th century, the... Read more
Criss Cross (1949)
7.6/10
Director: Robert Siodmak
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Dan Duryea, Tony Curtis, Yvonne De Carlo, Stephen McNally
Perennial drifter Steve returns home and quickly gets involved with his old flame Anna - even though she is shacked up with seedy gangster Slim Dundee... Read more
Crossfire (1947)
7.4/10
Director: Edward Dmytryk
Starring: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Sam Levene
Director Edward Dmytryk spun Richard Brooks' novel 'The Brick Foxhole', about the intense search for an anti-Semitic murderer, into a tense film noir... Read more