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'.
Midsomer Murders: Series 12 (2014)
7.7/10
Director: Sarah Hellings, Peter Smith, Jeremy Silberston
Starring: John Nettles, Peter Smith
Welcome to England's most murderous county... The English village mystery gets a contemporary spin in this hit British television series that has e... Read more
Midsomer Murders: Series 13 (Part 1) (2014)
7.7/10
Starring: John Nettles, Peter Smith, Neil Dudgeon
Welcome to England's most murderous county... The English village mystery gets a contemporary spin in this hit British television series that has e... Read more
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
7.9/10
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Wendy Hiller, John Hurt, Leo McKern, Paul Scofield, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, S...
Adapted by Robert Bolt and Constance Willis from Bolt's hit stage play, this is a literate, penetrating treatment of the conflict between Thomas More... Read more
The Room Upstairs (1987)
5.8/10
Director: Stuart Margolin
Starring: Stockard Channing, Sarah Jessica Parker, Linda Hunt, Sam Waterston
Stockard Channing stars as a teacher of hard-to-reach kids who learns to reach out in her private life as well when she starts up a boarding house. Lo... Read more
Body of Lies (2008)
7.1/10
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Golshif...
Pals Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up with Leonardo DiCaprio for this rapid-fire espionage thriller based on the novel by David Ignatius. DiCapr... 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 Paleface (1948)
7.6/10
Director: Norman Z McLeod
Starring: Bob Hope, Jane Russell
A Bob Hope comedy 'The Paleface' (1948) - Hope is a daffy dentist and a shaky gun; Jane Russell is the gorgeous gunslinger Calamity Jane, and together... Read more
The Blue Umbrella (2005)
7.6/10
Director: Vishal Bharadwaj
Starring: Shriya Saran, Pankaj Kapur
Set in the idyllic region of Himachal Pradesh in India's northwest, this enchanting family film centres around Binya, a young girl who finds a blue um... Read more
Midsomer Murders: Series 11 (Part 4) (2008)
7.1/10
Director: Sarah Hellings
Starring: John Nettles, Peter Smith
The English village mystery gets a contemporary spin in this hit British television series that has earned a worldwide following. Bucolic settings har... Read more
Midsomer Murders: Series 13 (Part 2) (2014)
8.1/10
Starring: John Nettles, Peter Smith, Neil Dudgeon
Welcome to England's most murderous county... The English village mystery gets a contemporary spin in this hit British television series that has e... Read more