Video Versions: Film Adaptations of Plays on Video [Hardcover]

Thomas L. Erskine (Editor), James M. Welsh (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313301859 | ISBN-13: 978-0313301858 | Publication Date: March 30, 2000

Many of our favorite films began as plays--some as well known as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and some not so well known as You've Got Mail's origin, a 1937 play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo. Video Versions identifies nearly 300 films and their theatrical origins, providing readers with an overview of the films and highlighting similarities and differences to the source plays. Perfect for teachers, students, and anyone interested in theater and film, it is the most complete resource available for video versions of plays. Each entry provides: the original play's title, author, and year of publication; the name of the film, year of production, director and adapter; the main cast and the characters they play; running time and rating if available. Following a plot summary, a critical analysis provides the similarities and differences of the play and film, including character and plot changes, setting, missing or added scenes, special film techniques, and behind-the-scenes information such as who turned down or lost particular parts when the play was adapted to film. A short list of sources for further reading follows each entry. Information about contacting distributors--for obtaining the films--is included in the introduction and an extensive index completes the volume.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-Even though this is not a comprehensive listing of plays that have been transformed into film and then video, it is an invaluable resource. The adaptations are arranged alphabetically by title, with a page-length paragraph devoted to each one. This is followed by the name of the author, the adapter, cast members, and the length of the film. When available, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating is given, followed by a brief description of the play and where it was first staged. The second part of the abstract is devoted to a description of the motion-picture adaptation, including if and how it deviates from the original. Generally there is also a discussion of the characters in the film and the roles they play. The brief listing of where the film or video can be obtained will be invaluable to teens who may never have a chance to see a live theater production. As discussed in the introduction, there are issues about "recycling drama from stage to screen and from screen to stage," but the transformation from one medium to another can have a beneficial as well as a detrimental effect. The fact that most of the titles in the book are available in major video stores across the country is of significant importance.
John Kiefman, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Many films had their origins in the theater, and this volume identifies approximately 300 films that have been adapted from plays and are available on video. With their selective approach, the editors hoped to achieve a balance between original works and remakes and between the classics and more contemporary works. The film adaptations are ones that are most likely to be in classrooms as the plays are studied. Most filmed stage plays have been omitted, but two notable exceptions are included, Ibsen's Ghosts and Gay's The Beggar's Opera , because there are few film adaptations of these period pieces.Entries are arranged alphabetically by play title, from About Last Night to You Can't Take It With You . If the film version has a different title, the reader is led by a cross-reference to the correct heading (e.g., Prospero's Books SEE The Tempest). Each entry provides play title, author, and date. Information on the film version (or versions) follows: year of production, director, adapter(s), major cast members, running time in minutes, rating (where available), and a brief analytical discussion. Entries are signed by the contributor's initials and end with a brief list of resources. Most of the contributors are affiliated with English or theater programs in colleges and universitiesThere is plenty of interesting information here. Everybody Comes to Rick's is what the contributor describes as "the most famous unproduced play in American cultural history," because it was adapted into the film Casablanca . John van Druten's 1951 play I Am a Camera was the basis not only for the play and film Cabaret but also for a 1955 film called I Am a Camera and starring Julie Harris as Sally Bowles. The recent Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks film You've Got Mail evolved from the 1940 film The Shop around the Corner, which in turn was based on a 1937 play, Parfumerie . For reference purposes, many more adaptations can be found in Enser's Filmed Books and Plays (1993), Theatre: Stage to Screen to Television (Scarecrow, 1981), and More Theatre: Stage to Screen to Television (Scarecrow, 1993). With its selective approach and analytical discussions, Video Versions could be helpful in public and high-school libraries to support literature classes as well as film and acting classes or curriculum. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (March 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313301859
• ISBN-13: 978-0313301858
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,936,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)