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'.
Primal Fear (1996)
7.7/10
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances...
Guilty? Innocent? Those questions aren't for high-powered Chicago attorney Martin Vail (Richard Gere) to decide. His job is to defend - especially if... Read more
Private Parts (1997)
6.8/10
Director: Betty Thomas
Starring: Mary McCormack, Robin Quivers, Howard Stern, Paul Giamatti
This screen adaptation of Howard Stern's (the 90's Lenny Bruce) no-holds-barred autobiography charts his rise to power and notoriety. Follow the super... Read more
Prizzi's Honor (1985)
6.8/10
Director: John Huston
Starring: Anjelica Huston, Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia, John Randolph,...
Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner in a black comedy about a Mafia hit man who falls in love with a beautiful free-lance killer. With Anjelica Huston... Read more
Provoked (2006)
6.6/10
Director: Jag Mundhra
Starring: Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews, Rebecca Pidgeon, Robbie Coltrane, Nandita Da...
Based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi housewife living in London who killed her husband after ten years of domestic abuse. The Lon... Read more
Psycho (1960)
8.5/10
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Martin Balsam, Vera Miles, John Gavin
Hitchcock's most famous movie, the shocker that still keeps people away from showers. Janet Leigh is a woman on the run who befriends mother's boy mot... Read more
QB VII (1974)
7.9/10
Director: Tom Gries
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Ben Gazzara, Dan O'Herlihy, Juliet Mills, Lee Remick, Leslie Ca...
An epic drama from Leon Uris' best-seller tells of a libel suit involving a Polish doctor (Anthony Hopkins) and an American writer (Ben Gazzara) regar... Read more
Quai Des Orfevres (1947)
7.7/10
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Starring: Louis Jouvet, Simone Renant, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair
Blacklisted for his daring "anti-French" masterpiece, 'Le Corbeau', Henri-Georges Clouzot returned to cinema with this provocative adaptation of autho... Read more
Queen of the Damned (2002)
5.3/10
Director: Michael Rymer
Starring: Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, Marguerite Moreau, Lena Olin, Paul McGann, Vincent Pe...
Based on the novel from Anne Rice's 'The Vampire Chronicles' series, this over-the-top horror outing stars Aaliyah as Queen Akasha, an evil and powerf... Read more
Quiet Chaos (2008)
6.9/10
Director: Antonello Grimaldi
Starring: Nanni Moretti, Valeria Golino, Alessandro Gassman, Isabella Ferrari, Silvio Orla...
Film exec Pietro (Nanni Moretti) faces tragedy when his wife dies in a freak accident. Now left with a ten-year-old daughter to raise alone, he takes... Read more
Quiet Days in Clichy (1970)
5.4/10
Director: Jens Jorgen Thorsen
Starring: Paul Valjean
Inspired by Henry Miller's novel, this unusual erotic drama tells of a self-indulgent American choreographer living in Denmark who joins his pal in pu... Read more