10 film adaptations of famous books that you probably have not seen. And in vain

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The Italian "Heart of a Dog", "12 Chairs" by the comedy master from the USA and the Soviet "Dog of the Baskervilles", but not the one that everyone remembers.

1. The Hound of the Baskervilles

• USSR, 1971.
• Detective.
• Duration: 155 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

A screen adaptation of one of the most famous novels by Arthur Conan Doyle about the great detective Sherlock Holmes. The detective and his partner, Dr. Watson, have to go to the Baskervilles estate, whose owners are haunted by the ancestral curse.

Sherlock Holmes is the most filmed human character in history (second only to the vampire Dracula), and "The Hound of the Baskervilles" is filmed more often than other books by Arthur Conan Doyle. There are American, British, and even Canadian on-screen versions of the story. And the Russian viewers most of all remembered the television movie by Igor Maslennikov, where the main roles were played by Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin.

However, 10 years before him, "The Dog of the Baskervilles" had already been released in the USSR. Then the role of Sherlock was played by Nikolai Volkov, and his partner was played by Lev Krugly. And by the way, in this version the doctors were called Watson, which is closer to the original pronunciation of his surname.

The film suffered a sad fate: shortly after its release, Lev Krugly emigrated to Europe and got a job in Munich on Radio Liberty, so the film was banned in the USSR. The surviving copy was found only in 2003, and then the classic "Hound of the Baskervilles" returned to the screens.

2. Dracula

• Great Britain, 1958.
• Horror.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

British studio Hammer brought the legendary novel by Bram Stoker to the screens. The plot tells about Count Dracula - an immortal vampire who kills Jonathan Harker who arrived to him, and then enters into a confrontation with Dr. Van Helsing.

Dracula is the only character that has been featured in more films than Sherlock Holmes. Stoker's novel was filmed at least a dozen times. But now the most often remembered version of Francis Ford Coppola in 1992 with Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, and the classic film from Hammer has already been forgotten.

But this picture definitely deserves attention. The main roles in "Dracula" were played by the legendary Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing (they often appeared on the screens as enemies, although they were friends in life). And at the same time, the 1958 film adaptation is no longer as conventional as the films of the 30s, and it is still really interesting to watch it.

3. The secret of Bourne's identity

• USA, 1988.
• Action, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 185 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

A man is found on the seashore. He is seriously wounded and does not remember anything at all, and in a dream he speaks different languages. The doctor discovers a microfilm sewn under his skin with a Swiss bank number. After the assassination attempt, the hero tries to figure out his past and realizes that he is connected with a very dangerous job.

The most famous novel by Robert Ludlum is now known for the 2002 film adaptation with Matt Damon, which later turned into a whole franchise. But in this picture, the story from the original was greatly changed, and the subsequent parts are almost completely unrelated to books. But the 1988 film retells the plot of the original source much closer.

The adaptation is over three hours long, so it was even turned into a three-episode miniseries on television. But even those who love the Damon movie should check out this version to learn more about Jason Bourne's story. And also the main role was played by the wonderful Richard Chamberlain.

4. Dowry

• USSR, 1936.
• Drama.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

The screen version of the play of the same name by A. N. Ostrovsky is dedicated to Larisa Ogudalova. It is time for her to get married, but the girl from a poor family has no dowry. Then she agrees to the proposal of not the most prominent gentleman Yuli Karandyshev. But right before the wedding, Larisa's former lover Sergey Paratov comes to the city.

For the first time, Ostrovsky's play was transferred to the screens back in 1912, but this silent film is unlikely to interest many now. And the most popular today can be considered the 1984 version of Eldar Ryazanov called "Cruel Romance", although his reading of the classics caused a lot of controversy.

The 1936 film "Dowry" was shot by Yakov Protazanov. In terms of presentation, he clearly inherits the techniques of silent cinema, but already departs from traditional theatricality. Contemporaries criticized the author a lot for changing some characters, but nevertheless, the magnificent play of the actors of the classical school will not leave anyone indifferent.

5. Where the buffalo roams

• USA, 1980.
• Comedy, biography.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

This film is based on almost autobiographical books by journalist Hunter Thompson. He travels the country with his attorney Oscar Laslowa Acosta and tries to describe events such as the American football tournament and the presidential election. But Thompson and Laslowe are constantly using drugs.

Hunter Thompson's books are based on his own life and often do not have a clear structure, as if conveying an altered state in which the author was constantly living. And they are trying to show exactly the same thing in film adaptations.

Now everyone knows better the painting by Terry Gilliam "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", which was based on the same works. But "Where the Buffalo Roam" came out earlier. And this film is a little more understandable, albeit no less crazy. And at the same time you can enjoy Bill Murray in the title role.

6. The Three Musketeers

• France, Italy, 1961.
• Adventures.
• Duration: 193 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

The two-part French adaptation of the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas follows a poor nobleman, D'Artagnan, who traveled to Paris to become the king's musketeer. He will have to find true friends, face cunning enemies and even get involved in court intrigues.

And one more work, which has more than a dozen adaptations. Moreover, the 1961 French film was successfully shown in the USSR and he even became the leader of the box office. But then a domestic musical version with Mikhail Boyarsky came out, and many chose to forget about other film adaptations of The Three Musketeers.

However, if you look at this French film, you will notice that many scenes and even images of heroes came to the Soviet picture from here, and not from the book. And the atmosphere here is nevertheless closer to the original source.

7. A dog's heart

• Italy, Germany, 1976.
• Drama, comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

The retelling of the classic story by Mikhail Bulgakov was filmed in Italy. As in the original, the plot is dedicated to the brilliant professor Preobrazhensky, who transplanted the human pituitary gland and seminal glands in a dog. But soon the cute dog turned into a rather unpleasant man.

They try not to pay attention to foreign film adaptations of Russian classics in our country. But it is interesting that the Italian-German "Heart of a Dog" appeared much earlier than the domestic film by Vladimir Bortko. And the picture, although it differs in its atmosphere from the Soviet one, is very curious.

Professor Preobrazhensky is played here by Max von Sydow - the owner of a completely aristocratic appearance. Bormental seems to be more aggressive and emotional. But Sharikov surprisingly turned out to be cute and in some ways even a positive character.

8.12 chairs

• USA, 1970.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

And one more film adaptation of Russian classics from Western directors. The story is dedicated to the great strategist Ostap Bender and his partner Ippolit Vorobyaninov, nicknamed Kisa. They are trying to find the very chair in which the rich aunt hid her jewelry.

Surprisingly, "12 Chairs" have been filmed many times around the world: there are even Cuban and Brazilian versions. And in the Swedish film adaptation of 1954, the chairs were replaced by bras, one of which was sewn with jewelry. Even more interesting is the fact that many of these films were released long before the Soviet classics from Leonid Gaidai and Mark Zakharov.

But now it is worth paying attention to the American film, which was directed by the parody master Mel Brooks ("Dracula: Dead and Satisfied", "Robin Hood and the Men in Tights"). His version is more comedic, and Kisa Vorobyaninov often looks more interesting than Ostap. And the author decided to make the ending more positive. Still, Brooks knows how to shoot fun, and therefore the film will bring a lot of fun.

9. Dangerous Liaisons

• UK, France, Canada, 2003.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 252 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 5.

The action of the film adaptation of the novel by Choderlos de Laclos was moved to the 60s of the XX century. Secular lady Isabelle de Merteuil decides to take revenge on her former lover diplomat Gercourt, who is going to marry the young pianist Cecile. To do this, she asks the photographer Valmont to seduce the bride.

Choderlos de Laclos wrote only one novel in his life. But it was "Dangerous Liaisons" that became one of the main works of French literature of the 18th century. And nowadays, the book has been transferred to screens many times. There are classic versions: the film by Stephen Frears from 1988 or "Valmont" by Milos Forman. In others, the action is transferred to the present: surely many people know the picture "Cruel Intentions" on the same plot or the black and white version of Roger Vadim.

The 2003 version is not very well known, but it is worth paying attention to, at least for the sake of excellent actors in the main roles. Valmont was played here by the charismatic Rupert Everett, and Catherine Deneuve appeared in the image of the marquise.

10. Shining

• USA, 1997.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 273 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

One of the most famous novels of Stephen King in 1997 found a television incarnation in three parts. In the center of the plot is Jack Torrance, who gets a job as a caretaker at a hotel for the winter and moves there with his family. But it turns out that this place contains an ancient evil.

The author of the original Stephen King is behind the creation of this adaptation. He was very unhappy with the movie "The Shining", which was directed in 1980 by Stanley Kubrick. And therefore, with the support of the author, a more accurate version was created, where a psychological thriller gave way to a classic horror movie.

This film was criticized by many, and it was Kubrick's picture that became a real classic. But the television version allows you to better understand how Stephen King himself saw this story on the screens.