Despite being one of the most profitable industries in the world, cinema is not short of critics. There are many voices that point out that the films do not provide original stories and that it only limits itself to "imitating" and borrowing arguments from other artistic manifestations.
True is that many of the plots are imported from literary texts. Question that has given rise to another debate that seems eternal. Are books always better than movies?
Nosferatuby FW Murnau (1922)
The original idea was to adapt Dracula by Bram Stoker, but the producers didn't get the rights. Even so, they changed the name of the character and continued with the project.
The result: one of the most important works of German Expressionism and one of the best adaptations of the literary classic. It also set a precedent for copyright: Stoker's widow, Florence Balcombe, sued the producers for plagiarism. The courts agreed and ordered the destruction of all copies. Fortunately, many survived.
Bram Stoker's Dracula, by Francis Ford Coppola (1992)
From the "illegal" project Nosferatu, Bram Stoker's vampire has taken part in over 100 films. For many, the most complete adaptation is the one directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1992.
Gary Oldman played the controversial Earl. The cast was completed by Keanu Reeves, Wynona Ryder and Anthony Hopkins.
Saga Twilight
The so-called “youth literature” revitalized an industry in crisis in the early 2000s. After several Best Sellers, it didn't take long for these “teen dramas” to invade theaters.
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the Twilight series of novels, written by Stephenie Meyer, also beat audience records in cinemas around the world.
Overall, the tapes received negative reviews. For some, they have the dubious honor of being one of the few cases in which books are considered worse than movies.
The Godfatherby Francis Ford Coppola (1972)
Widely considered one of the best movies of all time. And this despite being based on a text that Mario Puzo, its author, admitted on more than one occasion that he did not like it and that he had only written it for money.
Puzo himself, together with Coppola, must have simplify a complex and long plot as much as possible to be able to adapt it just under three hours long.
Saga Harry Potter
The most popular magician in Western culture, he became, as in literature, a cinematographic phenomenon. Tapes with a cast of only British actors, The inalienable condition established by JK Rowling to assign the rights to her work.
In general terms, eight films well valued by critics and book fans.
Psychosisby Alfred Hitchock (1960)
When Robert Bloch published the novel of the same name on which the film is based in 1959, Alfred Hitchcock was among the first to read it. Immediately, he ordered his agents to, on the one hand, take over the rights to the book. On the other hand, that they buy all the copies they saw in bookstores, so that the public would not know the story.
Hitchock was successful in his endeavors. When the film was released, practically no one knew the plot. That the protagonist died before the middle of the story, generated an instantaneous state of shock in the public.
The Shiningby Stanley Kubrick (1980)
One of the biggest box office hits in Stanley Kubrick's extensive filmography. Cult film for many moviegoers, with several of the most iconic shots in the history of cinema.
However, At the time it did not receive positive reviews, nor was it well valued by the public. Part of the disgust was due to the script substantially modifying the plot of the novel on which it was based. What few know is that this was one of the conditions that the New York director imposed in writing to take on the project.
The one who was most dissatisfied with the result of the tape was the author of the original story: StephenKing.
The diaryof Bridget Jonesby Sharon Maguire (2001)
The homonymous novel written by Helen Fieding is one of the most important contemporary works within British culture. Always behind the all powerful Harry Potter.
When it was announced that an American (Renée Zellweger) would play an English "heroine", the public was outraged. Nevertheless, the work of the actress would end up being highly praised, while the result of the film in general, left everyone satisfied. There are several that include this film within the best adaptations of books made to the cinema of all time.
gone With the Windby Victor Fleming (1939)
One of the most important classics in the history of cinema, also takes its plot from a hit novel published just three years before the film's release.
Oscar winner in 10 categories (including Adapted Screenplay). It is estimated that a total of 10 screenwriters participated in reducing the majesty of the original text to just over two hours of film.
The silence of the lambsby Jonathan Dame (1991)
If faithful adaptations to the original text are concerned, The silence of the lambs stands out above the majority. The collaboration between a young FBI agent and a very dangerous serial killer is masterfully portrayed. Winner of 5 Oscars, the so-called “greats”: film, direction, actor, actress and screenplay.
They starred Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn.
Pride and prejudiceby Robert Z. Leonard (1940) and Joe Wright (2005)
Jane Austen's famous novel published in 1813From the origins of cinema, it was one of those stories in books that many want to adapt but few dare. In 1941, director Robert Z. Leonard was the first. It would take more than half a century for the classic of English literature to return to the big screen, this time with Joe Wright as director.
With both films, many of Austen's recurring readers complain about how shortened the plots are. However, the original spirit is reflected.
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