Alice's Playhouse
In Alice's Playhouse you will discover an exceptional collection of feature films adapted from some of the most celebrated plays ever written. Often featuring towering performances, outstanding direction and exceptional writing, this collection is a superb archive of contemporary drama masterfully transferred to the silver screen.
Filmizations of The Bard's work may be scrolled via the 'Shakespeare' sub-feature in green on the left, along with other notable playwrights who have been adapted for celluloid.
For adaptations of novels and short stories, check the 'Special Interest' link and click on 'Based on...'
Right: Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh relax during the filming of Tennessee Williams' masterpiece, 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.
Lost in the Stars (1973)
6.6/10
Director: Daniel Mann
Starring: Brock Peters, Clifton Davis, Melba Moore, Raymond St Jacques
Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson's musical "Lost in the Stars" is based on Alan Paton's classic novel "Cry, The Beloved Country". This film, like the s... Read more
Love and Human Remains (1993)
Director: Denys Arcand
Starring: Thomas Gibson, Ruth Marshall, Mia Kirshner
Quebec film-maker Denys Arcand's ('Jesus of Montreal') first English-language film is this dark comedy that follows a bunch of young urban adults in p... Read more
Love's Labour's Lost (1999)
6.1/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Alicia Silverstone, Nathan Lane, Richard Briers, Martin Scorses...
Shakespeare's breezy comedy is given some song-and-dance treatment in this mix of Bard and Broadway musical action that is set in the 1930's. A young... Read more
Luther (1974)
6.8/10
Director: Guy Green
Starring: Stacy Keach, Patrick Magee, Hugh Griffith, Judi Dench
It seems fitting that theatre's protesting, angry young man John Osborne ("Look Back in Anger", "The Entertainer") should write a play about one of hi... Read more
M Butterfly (1993)
6.8/10
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Barbara Sukowa, Jeremy Irons, John Lone, Ian Richardson
Inspired by the true story and based on the Tony Award-winning play by David Henry Hwang, about the bizarrely extended relationship between a French d... Read more
Macbeth (Welles) (1948)
6.6/10
Director: Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy
This adaptation of the Bard was shot in 23 days on a western backlot at Republic Studios and is pure cinema: moodily magnificent photography reinforce... Read more
Macbeth - Shakespeare Retold (2005)
Director: Mark Brozel
Starring: James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, Joseph Millson, Toby Kebbell, Vincent Regan, Richard...
Shakespeare's Scottish play is skilfully transferred to a modern day restaurant where chef Joe Macbeth (James McAvoy) has worked hard to make Duncan D... Read more
Madea's Family Reunion (2006)
5.1/10
Director: Tyler Perry
Starring: Tyler Perry, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Lisa...
Tyler Perry adapted his play, directed and also played three characters in his sequel to 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman', in which pistol-packing grandma... Read more
Mame (1974)
6/10
Director: Gene Saks
Starring: Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Robert Preston
Lucille Ball coaxes the blues right out of the horn in this brassy, big-screen musical extravaganza. She stars as an eccentric woman who becomes guard... Read more
Mango Kiss (2004)
4.7/10
Director: Sascha Rice
Starring: Daniele Ferraro, Michelle Wolff, Sally Kirkland, Dru Mouser, Tina Marie Murray
A stylish romantic comedy that finds butch lesbian Lou unexpectedly falling in love with her best friend, Sassafras. After taking a trip to San Franc... Read more