Books Into Film

[calgodot]

I find it relaxing to engage in a bit of fantasy every now and then.

If you could adapt any book into a film, what book would it be?

(For the non-writing filmmakers, it's a given that you get a top-notch script.)

My choice: The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick. (And I'd adapt the script myself.)

From the jacket: "The story of Timothy Archer, an urbane Espicopal bishop haunted by the suicides of his son and mistress - and driven by them into a bizarre quest for the identity of Christ."

(Ideal cast: Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Jennifer Connelly and John C. Reilly)

Many of you may be passingly familiar with the work of Philip K. Dick from such films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, or Minority Report. Other films have also been made based on his work. A version of "A Scanner Darkly" is currently in production in Austin with Richard Linklater writing and directing. "Transmigration" is one of his relatively few non-science fiction novels.

Second Choice (realistically First, since I'll never likely be able to afford the rights to a Philip K. Dick novel now that its Spielbergian material): Hunger by Knut Hamsun. Perhaps one of the greatest novels ever written.

[Nigel]

Books into a movie....

It is always a hard choice for me--Since I read far more books than I watch movies. To me if it is a good book it will be a poor movie--If it is a great book it will be a good movie.

Short stories have the most potential for conversion. They often can be turned into a feature without having to cut any thing out or change the story to be in the 120 minute time slot.

Examples..."Lamb To The Slaughter" by Roald Dahl--Although I don't think it has been made into a movie on second thought.

Good luck

[Guest]

The only book that I'd like to see made into a movie, at this time, is Peter Hathoway Capstick's "Death In The Long Grass". For an ending scene I'd like to see Peter Hathoway Capstick's character... in the "long grass" with his paying client hunter, stalking an elephant herd, finding the old heavy tusked bull of their dreams... the client takes the shot, the herd erupts into a flurry and Peter Hathoway Capstick stumbles hard while running, trying to avoid being killed by the angry family of elephants, whose lives have been interupted yet again by the chest beating, tarzan era wanna-bes that seem to stream into Africa unchecked, ever in search of the magic dead animal parts that will set them above and apart from all other lesser men...
When the two hunters collect themselves, they go to the place where the animal was at when the client shot. Sure enough, there is blood... and after Peter Hathoway Capstick's character launches into an authorative diatribe about where the shot hit the animal, it's probability of being a mortal wound and their moral duty to follow and dispatch this animal with all rapidity... they follow the animals distintive tracks...with all rapidity.
After much time spent following the elephant, they espy it in the distance. Only the tops of the animal's ears can be seen through the tall grass as it rests in the relatively cool shade of a large baobo tree. As the two creep closer angling for the clear 'coup de grace shot, they notice that the elephant has turned around to face it's own tracks. Now the two men are very close indeed, when the client suddenly steps on a dry twig! There is an erruption of trumpeting now from the elephant, who is almost on top of his tormentors. Peter Capstick is down on one knee, in very cool, composed and self assured fasion. He has been in this predicament countless times before and now as he finds the sights of his .470 capstick chambered rifle exactly in the right place and the right angle to push the heavy bullet through three feet of honey-comb bone that surrounds the elephant's brain. He fires...
Unknown to Mr Capstick though was the end piece of a dead branch, which had lodged itself tightly into the bore of his rifle when he had fallen earlier.
... at the sound of the shot the pressure builds and tears the rifle apart. Sharp, heavy shards of metal and wood pierce both men's bodies. The bull is now upon them and Peter knows full well what their fates shall be...
When the bull is finished he joins the herd that has gathered together once again and off across the veldt and into the magical African sunset they go.

Owen

[coors]

I posted the above... misspellings and all.
Peter Hathaway Capstick passed away in 1996. He is my all-time favourite author! When I picked up one of his new books (I've either owned or borrowed from the library each and every one of his publications), I couldn't put it down till I finished. Though I've looked far and wide, I have not, nor shall I ever find this personable writer's equal!

Owen

[Guy Bennett]

I personally would like to see an adaptation of Basho (et al)'s "The Monkey's Raincoat." I think the continuously shifting perspectives and inherent disjunction of this renga classic could make for a fascinating film.

[tlatosmd]

Stephen King's Dark Tower saga would be great to see in film but probably it'd be even longer than that awful The Stand TV mini series.

[Actor]

• Steven Hunter's Dirty White Boys. In fact any of Hunter's books. I have heard that they all have been optioned but so far Hollywood has produced none of them.
• Any of Asimov's Lucky Starr books.
• Asimov's Foundation.
• Frank Harris' My Life and Loves. Keep it R rated, no porn.
• Re-make Beast Master and get it right this time.
• Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper.
• Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement.
• Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.
• The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron

[Evan Kubota]

"Driftglass" by Samuel Delany (short story). This would make an excellent 25-30 minute short. However, the story depends on the first person tone established by the protagonist. Creating a similar world on screen would be difficult.

"Dune" by Frank Herbert. I'm aware of the existing versions, but a truly A-level treatment with today's effects would be amazing.

[steve hyde]

most anything by Flannery O Connor. Has anyone around here seen John Houston's WISE BLOOD: a truly great film. I agree with Nigel - short stories lend themselves to feature length films. I read an interview with Ingmar Bergman once. He said he wrote most of his films as novellas and often left the dialogue unscripted so that the actors could work it out themselves. Apparently this was his approach in THE PASSION OF ANNA.

Steve

[mojohey]

Don't know if its been done or not... and also i'm only halfway through reading... ,

"Adventures With D W Griffith" by Karl Brown would be a lovely story, as it is Karl's story rather than D.W.G.