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'.
Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Roxburgh) (2003)
7.6/10
Director: David Attwood
Starring: Richard E Grant, Ian Hart, Geraldine James, Richard Roxburgh, John Nettles
A chilling new BBC adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle thriller.The Baskerville curse claims another life. With the new heir set on taking up his pos... Read more
Sherlock Holmes: The Naval Treaty / The Solitary Cyclist (1984)
7.6/10
Director: Paul Annett, Alan Grint
Starring: Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Rosalie Williams
Sherlock Holmes is again on the case with Jeremy Brett in the role of the clever sleuth and David Burke as his trusty friend and assistant Dr Watson.... Read more
Sherlock Holmes: The Scarlet Claw / The House of Fear (1944)
7.6/10
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gertrude Astor
'The Scarlet Claw' (1944) - The village of La Morte Rouge in Canada has an old legend about a marsh monster. Many residents are afraid that the monste... Read more
Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four (Brett) (1984)
8.2/10
Director: Peter Hammond
Starring: Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Rosalie Williams, David Burke
Sherlock Holmes is again on the case with Jeremy Brett in the role of the clever sleuth and David Burke as his trusty friend and assistant Dr Watson.... Read more
Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four (Richardson) (1983)
7.6/10
Director: Desmond Davis
Starring: Ian Richardson, Cherie Lunghi
Following the disappearance of her father, the beautiful Miss Morstan has received each year a mysterious present. She consults Sherlock Holmes (Ian R... Read more
Sherlock Holmes: The Spider Woman / The Pearl of Death (1943)
7.6/10
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Gale Sondergaard, Nigel Bruce, Rondo Hatton
'The Spider Woman' (1943) - Adrea Spedding (Gale Sondergaard) makes her social calls accompanied by an unnervingly unsmiling mute child. She is secret... Read more
Sherlock: Series 1 (2010)
9.2/10
Director: Paul McGuigan, Euros Lyn
Starring: Rupert Graves, Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch
Sherlock Holmes is on the case again in a thrilling contemporary version of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic! Co-created by 'Doctor Who' scribes Steven Mo... Read more
Shiloh 2: A Dog's Tale (1999)
6.2/10
Director: Sandy Tung
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Scott Wilson, Zachary Browne
The second movie in the trilogy based on Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Newbery Award-winning novels. Zachary Browne plays seventh grader Marty, whose run-... Read more
Shinobi (2005)
7/10
Director: Ten Shimoyama
Starring: Yukie Nakama, Minoru Terada, Renji Ishibashi, Tak Sakaguchi
Based on the novel by Futaro Namada set in the 1600s, a powerful shogunate stirs up the feud between two ninja clans in the hopes of consolidating his... Read more
Shock to the System (2006)
6.7/10
Director: Ron Oliver
Starring: Michael Woods, Morgan Fairchild, Sebastian Spence, Chad Allen
Suspecting a client's death may not be the suicide it is first labeled, gay detective Donald Strachey (Chad Allen) launches an investigation that lead... Read more