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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'.

Von Ryan's Express (1965)

7.1/10
Director: Mark Robson
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Raffaella Carra, Trevor Howard

As the Allies begin to push the Nazis back toward Germany, U.S. combat pilot Colonel Joseph Ryan (Sinatra) is shot down and placed in a prison camp. I... Read more

Wag the Dog (1997)

7.1/10
Director: Barry Levinson
Starring: Anne Heche, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, William...

After a presidential scandal erupts two weeks before election day, Robert De Niro is the spin doctor called to the White House to deflect press attent... Read more

Wake in Fright (1971)

7.7/10
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Starring: Gary Bond, Donald Pleasence, Chips Rafferty, Sylvia Kay, Jack Thompson, John Mei...

A naive young teacher finds himself in a remote outback school where the 'pupils' are more interested in killing kangaroos and sexual experimentation... Read more

Wallander 2 (2009)

Director: Hettie Macdonald, Andy Wilson, Aisling Walsh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Sadie Shimmin

Kenneth Branagh plays Swedish detective Kurt Wallander in three new detective dramas based on the best-selling books by Henning Mankell - an internati... Read more

War and Peace (1956)

6.8/10
Director: King Vidor
Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, Vittorio Gassman, Herbert Lom, Oscar Ho...

Leo Tolstoy's literary masterpiece comes to life in this epic film classic, featuring the talents of some of the greatest names from Hollywood's Golde... Read more

War and Peace (1966)

7.9/10
Director: Sergei Bondarchuk
Starring: Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Ludmila Savelyeva, Sergei Bondarchuk

Sergei Bondarchuk's massive epic production of Tolstoy's masterpiece is remarkable for its production values - it took five years to complete and cost... Read more

War and Peace (BBC) (1972)

6.8/10
Director: John Howard Davies
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Morag Hood, Alan Dobie, Angela Down

Based on Tolstoy's epic story set during the Napoleonic Wars, this BBC series is a gripping and faithful adaptation, with Anthony Hopkins as the self-... Read more

War and Peace (Blu-ray) (1956)

6.8/10
Director: King Vidor
Starring: Anita Ekberg, Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Herbert Lom, John Mills, Mel Ferrer,...

Leo Tolstoy's literary masterpiece comes to life in this epic film classic, featuring the talents of some of the greatest names from Hollywood's Golde... Read more

Washington Square (1997)

6.7/10
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Albert Finney, Ben Chaplin

A spirited adaptation of the Henry James novel about the awkward, plain-Jane daughter of a wealthy, domineering doctor, who is suddenly courted by a p... Read more

Watership Down (1978)

7.7/10
Director: Martin Rosen
Starring: Voices Of, John Hurt, Richard Briers, Ralph Richardson, Simon Cadell, Terence Ri...

Director Martin Rosen's acclaimed animated version of the Richard Adam's novel about a family of rabbits seeking a safe place to live as developers mo... Read more