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'.
Anne Of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)
8.4/10
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Starring: Frank Converse, Colleen Dewhurst, Megan Follows, Wendy Hiller, Jonathan Crombie
Canadian actress Megan Follows, Tony Award winner Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth are featured in this award-winning epic that follows the pro... Read more
Another Thin Man (1939)
7.5/10
Director: W S Van Dyke
Starring: Myrna Loy, William Powell, Virginia Grey, Otto Kruger, C Aubrey Smith
In their third outing, the Charleses travel to the Long Island estate of a wealthy munitions mogul who is convinced his ex-business partner is out to... Read more
Apocalypse Now (1979)
8.5/10
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Sam Bottoms, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Laurence Fishburne, Har...
A flawed masterpiece, intended as the definitive Vietnam film, based on Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness'. With Martin Sheen, Robert Duvall, Dennis... Read more
Appaloosa (2008)
6.7/10
Director: Ed Harris
Starring: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Lance...
After drifting into a troubled Western outpost and discovering the helpless locals are being terrorised by a ruthless rancher and his hired thugs, two... Read more
Appaloosa ( Blu-ray ) (2008)
6.7/10
Director: Ed Harris
Starring: Ed Harris, Jeremy Irons, Lance Henriksen, Renee Zellweger, Timothy Spall, Tom Bo...
After drifting into a troubled Western outpost and discovering the helpless locals are being terrorised by a ruthless rancher and his hired thugs, two... Read more
Aquamarine (2006)
5.3/10
Director: Elizabeth Allen
Starring: Emma Roberts, Joanna 'Jojo" Levesque, Sara Paxton, Jake McDorman, Arielle Kebbel...
Claire and Hailey are best buddies facing imminent separation when Claire's mother accepts a marine biology job in Australia. However their problems... Read more
Arabian Nights (1974)
6.8/10
Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
The final part of Pasolini's 'Trilogy of Life' series, following 'The Decameron' and 'The Canterbury Tales', was two years in the making. The location... Read more
Arch of Triumph (1985) / The Last of the Belles (1974)
Director: George Schaefer, Waris Hussein
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Lesley-Anne Down, Donald Pleasence, Frank Finlay, Richard Chamb...
Based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, 'Arch of Triumph' stars Anthony Hopkins as a doctor in war-time Paris who managed to escape the confinemen... Read more
Archangel (2005)
6.5/10
Director: Jon Jones
Starring: Daniel Craig, Yekaterina Rednikova, Gabriel Macht, Lev Prygunov, Harry Ditson
Based on the best selling novel by Robert Harris and starring Daniel Craig as Fluke Kelso, an academic and Soviet historian, who is preparing to leave... Read more
Army in the Shadows ( aka Army of Shadows ) (1969)
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring: Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret
A.k.a. 'Army of Shadows'. Based on Joseph Kessel's novel, this war drama follows several months in the life of French Resistance fighter Philippe Gerb... Read more