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'.
Una (2016)
6.2/10
Director: Benedict Andrews
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Tara Fitzgerald, Riz Ahmed, Rooney Mara
Opened out by David Harrower from his 2005 stage two-hander Blackbird, the first feature directed by the Australian stage director-dramatist Benedict... Read more
Becket (1964)
8/10
Director: Peter Glenville
Starring: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud
Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole star in this grand historical drama adapted from the Jean Anouilh play about the tumultuous relationship of an archbi... Read more
Mickybo and Me (2005)
7.3/10
Director: Terry Loane
Starring: John Jo McNeill, Niall Wright, Julie Walters, Adrian Dunbar
Set in the divided Belfast of 1970, this is the story of two young boys obsessed with 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'. Based on Owen McCafferty'... Read more
Alan Bennett at the BBC (2010)
Director: David Hinton, Giles Foster, John Schlesinger, Malcolm Mowbray, Richard Eyre, Stephen Frears, Stuart Burge, Udayan Prasad, Jonathan Stedall
Starring: Alan Bates, Alan Bennett, Daniel-Day Lewis, James Fox, Janet McTeer, Jim Broadbe...
Alan Bennett is one of Britain's most popular and prolific authors and playwrights. He initially wrote for the stage, but found that with his observan... Read more
The Browning Version (1994)
7.3/10
Director: Mike Figgis
Starring: Albert Finney, Matthew Modine, Greta Scacchi, Julian Sands, Michael Gambon, Ben...
Albert Finney gives a grand performance as a departing language studies teacher at an established English Boys School. Matthew Modine and Greta Scacch... 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
Sleuth (2007)
6.5/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Michael Caine, Jude Law
Anthony Shaffer's play comes to the screen for the second time in this ambitious remake directed by Kenneth Branagh from a script by Harold Pinter. Mi... Read more
Henry V (Olivier) (1944)
7.7/10
Director: Laurence Olivier
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Leslie Banks, Robert Newton, Esmond Knight, Renee Asherson, Fe...
'Henry V' is one of Shakespeare's most compelling historical plays. Laurence Olivier won a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as an actor, prod... Read more
Heights (2004)
5.5/10
Director: Chris Terrio
Starring: Glenn Close, Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden, Jesse Bradford, Eric Bogosian, Matt...
A smart ensemble drama revolving around 24 hours in the lives of five ambitious New Yorkers. Glenn Close is the link as a Broadway diva who's just fo... Read more
Blithe Spirit (1945)
7.2/10
Director: David Lean
Starring: Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond, Rex Harrison, Margaret Rutherford
David Lean adapts Noel Coward once again ('This Happy Breed', 'Brief Encounter') with excellent results. Rex Harrison is an author writing a book on... Read more