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'.
Antony And Cleopatra (BBC) (1981)
5.9/10
Director: Jonathan Miller
Starring: Colin Blakely, Janet Key, Jane Lapotaire, John Paul, Esmond Knight, Ian Charleso...
Colin Blakely and Jan Lapataire star in this BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's passionate tale. Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire... Read more
Anything Goes (1955)
6.2/10
Director: Robert Lewis
Starring: Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Jeanmarie, Mitzi Gaynor, Phil Harris
An effervescent musical comedy, based on the play by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, with Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor as Broadway stars on the look... Read more
Arms and the Man / The Man of Destiny (1989)
Director: Desmond Davis, James Cellan Jones
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Patsy Kensit, Dinsdale Landen, Kika Markham, Pip Torrens,...
First produced for the stage in 1894, 'Arms and the Man' established Shaw's reputation as one of London's great wits. Helena Bonham Carter is Raina,... Read more
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
8/10
Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Josephine Hull, Jean Ad...
An hilarious adaptation of Joseph Kesselring's hit play about two seemingly harmless old ladies who murder lonely gentlemen callers - out of the goodn... Read more
As You Like It (1936)
6/10
Director: Paul Czinner
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Elisabeth Bergner
Filmed in 1936 when Olivier was still considered a promising young actor rather than one of the finest thespians ever, this is his first filmed perfor... Read more
As You Like It (BBC) (1978)
6.3/10
Director: Basil Coleman
Starring: Helen Mirren, Brian Stirner, Richard Pasco
One of Shakespeare's favourites throughout the ages. A fairy tale of tangled love and political intrigue lavishly staged by Canada's renowned Stratfor... Read more
At War with the Army (1950)
5.8/10
Director: Hal Walker
Starring: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Polly Bergen
In this, their first starring feature, Dean Martin plays a sergeant in girl trouble who tries to get Private First Class Jerry Lewis to help him out.... Read more
August: Osage County (2013)
7.2/10
Director: John Wells
Starring: Chris Cooper, Dermot Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, Julia Roberts, Juliette Lewis, Mer...
"August: Osage County" tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged... Read more
Auntie Mame (1958)
8/10
Director: Morton DaCosta
Starring: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne
Rosalind Russell re-creates her Broadway triumph as the flashy, lovably eccentric socialite who takes her orphaned nephew under her wing and shows him... Read more
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
7/10
Director: Gene Saks
Starring: Charles Boyer, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Mildred Natwick
Jane Fonda and Robert Redford star in this breezy film adaptation of the Neil Simon comedy about newly weds living in a five-story walk-up apartment.... Read more