Invoking film adaptations of books as comparable to film adaptations of plays is like comparing asparagus to celery. A play is already constructed for dramatic presentation and is dialogue heavy. Adapting books requires a lot more heavy lifting and significant cuts. And while there's nothing wrong with reading plays, I like it myself, plays are meant to be seen. Like movies.
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Originally Posted by JSWolf
Some movies that comes to mind based on plays that are really good are Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, 12 Angry Men, Noises Off, A Few Good Men, Doubt, Barefoot in the Park, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Casablanca, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and My Fair Lady.
While the plays were good, the movies are as good or better.
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I've gotta ask: what are you basing "as good or better" on? There's only the one film, but there could be umpteen stage presentations. Some will be better than others. In regard to
Sweeney Todd, are you comparing the film to the original Broadway production with Angela Lansbury? I saw it, and there's no comparison. And comparing
Fiddlers is comparing Zero Mostel to Topol. That's just absurd. On the other hand, I suspect Topol is better than the local high school senior. What's your standard for comparison?
I'll grant you
Casablanca as the play hadn't been produced, but that's a low bar.