Sunday, October 28, 2007

Movies Based on Novels and Literature List

books
If you are anything like me, you love to read and you love the movies. Often times, a movie based on our a book we love will disappoint us.

The following is a list in progress for movies that are recommended for families.

1. Ben-Hur (1959) based on the novel by General Lew Wallace entitled Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

2. Boy's Town (1938) based on the book written by Fulton Oursler and Will Oursler entitled Father Flanagan of Boys Town.

3. Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) based on the biography of the Gilbreth Family by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.

4. Belles on Their Toes (1952) The sequel to the 1950 movie Cheaper by the Dozen. Based on the biography of the same name. Written by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.

5. Jane Eyre (1944). Based on the book by Charlotte Bronte.

6. The Last of the Mohicans (1992) based on the book by James Fenimore Cooper.

7. The Egg and I (1947) based on the book by Betty McDonald.

8. The Good Earth (1937) based on the book by Pearl S. Buck

9. Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) based on the book by James Hilton.

10. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) based on the book by John Steinbeck.

11. The Song of Bernadette (1943) based on the book by Franz Werfel.

12. Lilies of the Field (1963) based on the book by William E. Barrett.

13. Quo Vadis (1951) based on the book by Henryk K Sienkiewicz.

14. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) based on one of the books in the trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

15. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) based on one of the books in the trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

16. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) based on the last book in the trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

17. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) based on the book by Harper Lee.

18. Frankenstein (1931) based on the book by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

19. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) based on the book by Betty Smith.

20. Rebecca (1940) based on the book by Dauphine du Maurier.

21. The Wizard of Oz (1939) based on the novel by L. Frank Baum.

22. Gone With the Wind (1939) based on the book by Margaret Mitchell.

23. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) based on the book by various sources.

24. I Remember Mama (1948)Based on the book by Kathryn Forbes entitled Mama's Bank Account.

25. Anna and the King of Siam (1946) based on the book by Margaret Landon.

26. Captain's Courageous (1937) based on the book by Rudyard Kipling.

27. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) based on the book by Alexandre Dumas.

28. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) based on the book by T.E. Lawrence.

29. Little Women (1949) based on the book by Louisa May Alcott. Note: The original 1933 movie starring Katherine Hepburn is also highly recommended. The more recent one in 1994 starring Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon is not.

7 comments:

love2learnmom said...

I seem to remember that Dr. Zhivago is not appropriate for children or teens.

EC Gefroh said...

Oh I think you are right. Please go over the list just to be sure. Thanks!

love2learnmom said...

Other additions:

Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

I am glad you mentioned P&P-- We just finished reading the book, and watching the very old 1930s version! I am preparing a post about them!

gmh said...

Beware "Last of the Mohicans" (1992) is rated R and is certainly too intense for younger ones. But the older version (1936) with Randolph Scott as Hawkeye that is rather too tame and stagey.

Mara said...

I have always enjoyed Thomas Costain's book, "The Silver Chalice", finishing it just recently for the 3rd time. I was not surprised to learn that it was made into a movie (1954), which was Paul Newsman's acting debut. Unfortunately, most of the reviews were critical of Newman's performance, as well as other aspects of the movie, although I get the feeling that very few of the reviewers had read the book. It would be a great movie to see redone (Mel G., are you listening?)

Veritas said...

Austen fever seems to be everywhere right now. My daughter and I are reading the novels together and are trying to watch the various movie versions that are available. So I am wondering, how 'bout a 'Jane Austen Movie List', listing and comparing the various movie renditions (big screen and made for TV) of her books, as well as some of the modern retellings, and other movies about Jane Austen? I have searched online for such a list but have not found one list that is all inclusive. In addition, what I have found does not give reviews from a Catholic parenting standpoint.