Film and Literature

The 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs, based on Thomas Harris's bestseller, was a game-changer in the fields of both horror and crime cinema. FBI trainee Clarice Starling was a new kind of heroine, vulnerable, intuitive, and in a deeply unhealthy relationship with her monstrous helper/opponent, the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Jonathan Demme's film skillfully appropriated the tropes of police procedural, gothic melodrama and contemporary horror and produced something entirely new. The resulting film was both critically acclaimed and massively popular, and went on to have an enormous influence on 1990s genre cinema. Crime and horror authority Barry Forshaw closely examines the factors that contributed to the film's impact, including the revelatory performances of Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in the lead roles.

A serial murderer known only by a grotesquely apt nickname-Buffalo Bill-is stalking women. He has a purpose, but no one can fathom it, for the bodies are discovered in different states. Clarice Starling, a young trainee at the FBI Academy, is surprised to be summoned by Jack Crawford, chief of the Bureau's Behavioral Science section. Her assignment: to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter-Hannibal the Cannibal-who is kept under close watch in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Dr. Lecter is a former psychiatrist with a grisly history, unusual tastes, and an intense curiosity about the darker corners of the mind. His intimate understanding of the killer and of Clarice herself form the core of "The Silence of the Lambs-"and ingenious, masterfully written book and an unforgettable classic of suspense fiction.

Four screenplays studies in the american screenplay: Thelma and Louise -- Terminator 2 : judgment day -- The silence of the lambs -- Dances with wolves.

This introductory book presents key concepts of narrative theory (or "narratology") and analyses five prose texts--the parable of the sower in St. Mark's Gospel, Franz Kafka's The Trial, James Joyce's 'The Dead', Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse--by applying the principles of narrative theory. This book also discusses film versions of four of these texts: Orson Welles's The Trial, John Huston's The Dead, Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, and Colin Gregg's To the Lighthouse. By lucidly presenting the concepts of narrative theory and illustrating and testing these concepts Narrative in Fiction and Film will be an invaluable text for undergraduates studying narrative theory as part of a literature or film studies course.

Spanning comedy, drama, film noir, science fiction, westerns, action adventure, suspense and children's literature, this book offers a detailed survey of adaptations of film adaptations of novels.

Critical questions specific to film adaptations need to be not only developed but established. And, these questions, these approaches, need to be accessible to students, who are not yet educationally sophisticated enough to digest purely theoretical material. Analyzing Literature-to-Film Adaptations: A Novelist's Exploration and Guide signifies an exploration into film adaptation from a novelistsOCO perspective, from the author working with a screenwriter, embarking on a journey to understand the implications of literature-to-film adaptation and the complexities and problems it raises. Using well-known adaptations ( Mary ShelleyOCOs Frankenstein, Children of Men, The HandmaidOCOs Tale, The Hours; The Cider House Rules, Beloved, Atonement; No Country for Old Men and The Road ) the book will put forth an understanding of film and film analysis, as well as address literary analysis; though the crux of the book will be the introduction of an academic means for critical analysis of film adaptations. It will focus on literature-to-film adaptations, or literary narratives (novels, novellas, short stories) being adapted to film.

This is a comprehensive collection of original essays that explore the aesthetics, economics, and mechanics of movie adaptation, from the days of silent cinema to contemporary franchise phenomena. Featuring a range of theoretical approaches, and chapters on the historical, ideological and economic aspects of adaptation, the volume reflects today's acceptance of intertextuality as a vital and progressive cultural force. Incorporates new research in adaptation studies Features a chapter on the Harry Potter franchise, as well as other contemporary perspectives Showcases work by leading Shakespeare adaptation scholars Explores fascinating topics such as 'unfilmable' texts Includes detailed considerations of Ian McEwan's Atonement and Conrad's Heart of Darkness

Most books on film adaptation-the relation between films and their literary sources-focus on a series of close one-to-one comparisons between specific films and canonical novels. This volume identifies and investigates a far wider array of problems posed by the process of adaptation. Beginning with an examination of why adaptation study has so often supported the institution of literature rather than fostering the practice of literacy, Thomas Leitch considers how the creators of short silent films attempted to give them the weight of literature, what sorts of fidelity are possible in an adaptation of sacred scripture, what it means for an adaptation to pose as an introduction to, rather than a transcription of, a literary classic, and why and how some films have sought impossibly close fidelity to their sources. After examining the surprisingly divergent fidelity claims made by three different kinds of canonical adaptations, Leitch's analysis moves beyond literary sources to consider why a small number of adapters have risen to the status of auteurs and how illustrated books, comic strips, video games, and true stories have been adapted to the screen. The range of films studied, from silent Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes to The Lord of the Rings, is as broad as the problems that come under review.

"There is no better, smarter examination of the relationship between comics and film." --Mark Waid, Eisner Award-winning writer of Kingdom Come and Daredevil In the summer of 2000 X-Men surpassed all box office expectations and ushered in an era of unprecedented production of comic book film adaptations. This trend, now in its second decade, has blossomed into Hollywood's leading genre. From superheroes to Spartan warriors, The Comic Book Film Adaptation offers the first dedicated study to examine how comic books moved from the fringes of popular culture to the center of mainstream film production. Through in-depth analysis, industry interviews, and audience research, this book charts the cause-and-effect of this influential trend. It considers the cultural traumas, business demands, and digital possibilities that Hollywood faced at the dawn of the twenty-first century. The industry managed to meet these challenges by exploiting comics and their existing audiences. However, studios were caught off-guard when these comic book fans, empowered by digital media, began to influence the success of these adaptations. Nonetheless, filmmakers soon developed strategies to take advantage of this intense fanbase, while codifying the trend into a more lucrative genre, the comic book movie, which appealed to an even wider audience. Central to this vibrant trend is a comic aesthetic in which filmmakers utilize digital filmmaking technologies to engage with the language and conventions of comics like never before. The Comic Book Film Adaptation explores this unique moment in which cinema is stimulated, challenged, and enriched by the once-dismissed medium of comics.

America's Film Legacy, 2009-2010 is a guide to the most significant films ever made in the United States. Unlike opinionated "Top 100" and arbitrary "Best of" lists, these are the real thing: groundbreaking films that make up the backbone of American cinema. Each of the 50 newest titles in the National Film Registry is covered in a detailed essay that includes cast, credits, and major awards, as well as screening information and film stills. From well-known movies like The Muppet Movie and Dog Day Afternoon, to more obscure films, like A Study in Reds and Hot Dogs for Gauguin, Daniel Eagan's beautifully written and updated edition is for anyone who loves American movies and who wants to learn more about them.

Popular movies can enhance the study of history. A dominant form of entertainment throughout the 20th century, they can serve as nontraditional primary sources and offer remarkable opportunities to observe attitudes about social concerns, gender or racial issues, politics, and historical events that were current when the movies were made. This book is a topical guide for educators, providing detailed analysis of 35 movies, followed by discussion questions that will help students interpret how each movie's content and themes reflect the times when it was made. The book covers four main topics: the Great Depression, World War II, the early years of the Cold War, and the changing expectations and images of women in movies from 1930 to 1970. An historical overview chronicles how each topic was treated in movies from that time period. The movies should have wide appeal in grades 7 through 12 and can help students learn to think more critically about the images and messages that appear in popular media today.

How Movies Work, offers the filmgoer an engaging and informative guide to the appreciation and evaluation of films. It provides a comprehensive consideration of movies from idea to script, casting, financing, shooting and distribution. Bruce Kawin addresses the book not just to students of film but to any filmgoer curious to know more about the process of the conception and creation of our favorite entertainment and art form.

Robbins, T. Spurs (Freaks)--Adams, S. H. Night bus (It happened one night)--Haycox, E. Stage to Lordsburg (Stagecoach)--Rooney, F. Cyclists' raid )The wild one)--Woolrich, C. Rear window.--Tevis, W. The hustler.--Johnson, D. M. The man who shot Liberty Valance.--Cortazar, J. Blow-up.--Clarke, A. C. The sentinel (2001: A space odyssey).

Selected filmography: film adaptations of English novels, 1719-1930s

This work analyses in detail the adaptations of novels by eight popular writers to the screen.

Part of the Elements of Composition Series.

This work discusses the relationship between film and literature, explaining and evaluating the issues most frequently raised on the subject. It also lists nearly 2,500 articles and books published from 1908 to 1985 on the comparison of film to drama, fiction, and poetry. These comparisons arose shortly after the first appearance of moving pictures as writers attempted to establish the differences between movies and drama. The study has since grown into a significant scholarly concern.

Adaptations have long been a mainstay of Hollywood and the television networks. Indeed, most Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning films have been adaptations of novels, plays, or true-life stories. Linda Seger, author of two acclaimed books on scriptwriting, now offers a comprehensive handbook for screenwriters, producers, and directors who want to successfully transform fictional or factual material into film. Seger tells how to analyze source material to understand why some of it resists adaptation. She then gives practical methods for translating story, characters, themes, and style into film. A final section details essential information on how to adapt material and how to protect oneself legally

1907-1977

1978-1988