James Whale directs the first adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel, bringing a mix of humor, horror, and madness to the story.
Category: literary adaptation
‘Dracula’ – the 1931 Spanish version on Criterion Channel
This little known alternate version, shot on the same sets as the Lugosi classic, features a different cast and a sexy style and is proclaimed by many fans as a superior version.
‘1984’ seen from 1984 on Amazon Prime
John Hurt and Richard Burton star in Michael Radford’s impressive film adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic, which has the distinction of being made and released in 1984.
Joss Whedon does ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on Hulu
This modern dress version of the Shakespeare comedy was made with Whedon’s old friends and collaborators just after shooting ‘The Avengers.’
Hammer Films’ ‘The Horror of Dracula’ on HBO Max
Christopher Lee is an elegant, confident, altogether seductive Dracula and Peter Cushing an intense, driven Van Helsing in the 1958 remake of the vampire classic.
John Huston’s ‘The Dead’ on Criterion Channel
John Huston’s final film is one of his most exquisite works, a perfect cinematic short story and a beautiful adaptation of James Joyce.
John Huston’s ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ on Criterion Channel
Sean Connery and Michael Caine star in Huston’s magnificent adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s story, a larger than life tale on a glorious canvas.
Richard Burton is ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’ on Criterion Channel
Martin Ritt directs this superb film of John le Carré’s novel, the first of many adaptations of le Carré’s wary novels of Cold War espionage and still one of the best.
‘The African Queen’ – Bogie and Hepburn on Amazon Prime Video and Criterion Channel
John Huston’s adaptation of C.S. Forester’s novel is a grand and romantic Hollywood adventure with two glorious performances, gorgeous locations, and a rickety, temperamental steam-powered boat as a memorable costar.
John Huston’s ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ on Criterion Channel
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) is one of John Huston’s rare forays into the genre that would later be called film noir. His first, The Maltese Falcon (1941), helped set the template of the private eye noir. Ten years later, working from an adaptation of the caper novel by W.R. Burnett scripted in collaboration with the […]