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'.
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996)
7.9/10
Starring: Alex Kingston, Maureen O'Brien, Chrissie Cotterill, Daniel Craig, Diana Rigg, Ja...
A mini-series adaptation of Daniel Dafoe's classic novel with Alex Kingston as the eponymous prostitute who worked her way up the 17th century court l... Read more
The Fountainhead (1949)
7.1/10
Director: King Vidor
Starring: Gary Cooper, Raymond Massey, Patricia Neal, Kent Smith, Robert Douglas, Henry Hu...
Ayn Rand's classic novel is vibrantly bought to life with a screenplay by the author. Brilliant, uncompromising architect Gary Cooper must fight to ma... Read more
The Four Musketeers (1974)
7.1/10
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Michael York, Frank Finlay, Chri...
Richard Lester followed up his 1973 'Three Musketeers' with this swashbuckling comedy sequel. D'artagnan is now a musketeer, and must help his sword-... Read more
The Four Musketeers (Blu-ray) (1974)
7/10
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Michael York, Frank Finlay, Chri...
Richard Lester followed up his 1973 'Three Musketeers' with this swashbuckling comedy sequel. D'artagnan is now a musketeer, and must help his sword-... Read more
The Getaway (1993)
7.5/10
Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, James Woods, Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Tilly, Richar...
A couple in real life when they filmed this, Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin bring the emotional intensity and sexual heat of their union to this exciti... Read more
The Getting of Wisdom (1977)
6.6/10
Director: Bruce Beresford
Starring: Susannah Fowle, Barry Humphries, John Waters (II), Sheila Helpmann, Patricia Ken...
Based on the novel by Henry Handel Richardson (in fact a pseudonym for a 19th century female author), Bruce Beresford's coming of age drama perfectly... Read more
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest: Extended Version (2009)
Director: Daniel Alfredson
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Noomi Rapace, Annika Hallin
With a seriously wounded Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) hospitalized and facing murder charges following the events of "The Girl Who Played with Fire," journa... Read more
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
7.8/10
Director: Mamoru Hosoda
17-year-old Makoto is an outgoing tomboy of a girl, living a happy, carefree life - but on this particular day everything seems to be going wrong... i... Read more
The Girl Who Played with Fire: Extended Version (2009)
7.2/10
Director: Daniel Alfredson
Starring: Per Oscarsson, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Annika Hallin, Peter Andersson, Noom...
A researcher and a Millennium journalist about to expose the truth about the sex trade in Sweden are brutally murdered, and computer hacker Lisbeth Sa... Read more
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ( Blu-ray ) (2009)
7.8/10
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Ewa Froling, Marika Lagercrantz, Michael Nyqvist, Ingvar Hirdwall, Noomi Rapace,...
Aka "Men Who Hate Women". Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger... Read more