Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Big books in big movies played by big actors

I don't know how many more variations I can squeeze out of this one idea, but I'm not done yet.

A lot of successful movies have been made out of successful books. That goes for most of the books on the previous characters list post.

Name the actor who played the book character (who was on my previous character list) in the movie of that book.

Special rules: If there wasn't a movie made, or if the movie wasn't well known, or the actor wasn't well known, then we will skip that character. But at least 11 of the books and the characters made it to the big screen. There were some remakes, so use the year for the movie.

Here are those 11 characters again who were played in big movies of their books. Who were the big actors who played them?

1. Holly Golightly (1961)

2. Captain Ahab (1956)

3. Tom Joad (1940)

4. Sofie Western (1963)

9. Atticus Finch (1962)

10. Lara Antipova (1965)

11. Jim Casey (1940)

12. Santiago (1958)

13. Humbert Humbert (1962)

14. Yossarian (1970)

19. Randle Patrick McMurphy (1975)

17 comments:

  1. I think I only know one, Audrey Hepburn.

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  2. I'd intended to answer with a big fat zero but now I've remembered Julie Christie as Lara in Dr Zhivago. That's one of the few I've seen because I often find film adaptations disappointing. I did try to read Dr Zhivago but it was a struggle.

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  3. I'm with Stephanie here. Audrey Hepburn, as Lightly Goholly.
    Oh! And Jack Nicholson, of course, as RPM.

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  4. Was Susannah York a big name? It took a while to sink in. I can't think of anything I've seen her in besides Tom Jones.

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  5. @ Stephanie Barr - Yes. Yes she was. :)

    2000s
    1990s
    1980s
    1970s
    1960s
    1950s
    The Calling (2009/III) .... The Prioress
    Franklyn (2008) .... Margaret
    Maude (2007) .... Maude
    The Gigolos (2006) .... Tessa Harrington
    Prick (2005/I) .... Jan
    "Casualty" .... Helen Grant (2 episodes, 2004)
    - Don't Go There (2004) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    - Breaking Point (2004) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    "Holby City" .... Helen Grant (9 episodes, 2003)
    ... aka Holby (UK: informal short title)
    - Understanding (2003) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    - Accidents Will Happen (2003) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    - Just Getting By (2003) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    - Love Nor Money (2003) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    - A Friend in Need (2003) TV episode .... Helen Grant
    (4 more)
    Visitors (2003) .... Carolyn Perry
    The Book of Eve (2002) .... May
    ... aka Histoire d'Ève (Canada: French title)
    St. Patrick: The Irish Legend (2000) (TV) .... Concessa
    Jean (2000) .... Jean

    So This Is Romance? (1997) .... Mike's Mum
    ... aka Romance and Rejection (USA: new title (recut version))
    "Ruth Rendell Mysteries" .... Liz (1 episode, 1997)
    - A Dark Blue Perfume (1997) TV episode .... Liz
    Loop (1997/I) .... Olivia
    The Higher Mortals (1993) .... Miss Thorogood
    Piccolo grande amore (1993) .... Queen Christina
    ... aka Pretty Princess
    "Trainer" .... Rachel Ware (23 episodes, 1991-1992)
    - Episode #2.10 (1992) TV episode .... Rachel Ware
    - Episode #2.9 (1992) TV episode .... Rachel Ware
    - Episode #2.8 (1992) TV episode .... Rachel Ware
    - Episode #2.7 (1992) TV episode .... Rachel Ware
    - Episode #2.6 (1992) TV episode .... Rachel Ware
    (18 more)
    Illusions (1992/I) (TV) .... Dr. Sinclair
    "Devices and Desires" .... Meg Dennison (6 episodes, 1991)
    - Episode #1.6 (1991) TV episode .... Meg Dennison
    - Episode #1.5 (1991) TV episode .... Meg Dennison
    - Episode #1.4 (1991) TV episode .... Meg Dennison
    - Episode #1.3 (1991) TV episode .... Meg Dennison
    - Episode #1.2 (1991) TV episode .... Meg Dennison
    (1 more)
    "Boon" .... Lady Tessa Bolton (1 episode, 1990)
    - Daddy's Girl (1990) TV episode .... Lady Tessa Bolton
    The Man from the Pru (1990) (TV) .... Amy Wallace
    Fate (1990)

    En håndfull tid (1989) .... Susanne Walker
    ... aka A Handful of Time (International: English title)
    "The Ray Bradbury Theater" .... Nora (1 episode, 1989)
    ... aka Le monde fantastique de Ray Bradbury (Canada: French title)
    ... aka Mystery Theatre (UK: rerun title)
    ... aka Ray Bradbury présente (France)
    ... aka The Bradbury Trilogy (UK: rerun title)
    ... aka The Ray Bradbury Theatre (UK)
    - The Haunting of the New (1989) TV episode .... Nora

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  6. 25. "After the War" .... Irene Jameson (2 episodes, 1989)
        - Yesterday and Tomorrow (1989) TV episode .... Irene Jameson
        - Partners (1989) TV episode .... Irene Jameson
    26. Melancholia (1989) .... Catherine Lanham Franck
    27. "Timewatch" .... Narrator (1 episode, 1989-1995)
    ... aka BBC History: Timewatch (UK: alternative title)
        - Light in the Dark (1989) TV episode (voice) .... Narrator
    28. Quattro piccole donne (1989) (TV)
    ... aka Piccole donne oggi (Italy)
    29. A Summer Story (1988) .... Mrs. Narracombe
    30. Just Ask for Diamond (1988) .... Lauren Bacardi
    ... aka Diamond's Edge
    31. Mio min Mio (1987) .... The Weaver Woman
    ... aka ???, ??? ??? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
    ... aka Mio in the Land of Faraway
    ... aka Mio min Mio (Norway)
    ... aka Mio, moy Mio (Soviet Union: Russian title)
    ... aka The Land of Faraway
    32. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) (voice) .... Lara
    ... aka Superman IV (Australia: TV title)
    33. Prettykill (1987) .... Toni
    ... aka Tomorrow's a Killer (USA)
    34. Barbablú, Barbablú (1987)
    ... aka Blaubart und seine Kinder (West Germany)
    ... aka Bluebeard, Bluebeard
    35. "The Two Ronnies" .... My Lady (1 episode, 1985)
        - Episode #11.4 (1985) TV episode .... My Lady
    36. "The Love Boat" .... Kay Webber (2 episodes, 1985)
        - Girl of the Midnight Sun/There'll Be Some Changes Made/Too Many Isaacs/Mr. Smith Goes to Stockholm: Part 1 (1985) TV episode .... Kay Webber
        - Girl of the Midnight Sun/There'll Be Some Changes Made/Too Many Isaacs/Mr. Smith Goes to Stockholm: Part 2 (1985) TV episode .... Kay Webber
    37. Daemon (1985) (TV) .... Rachel
    38. Star Quality (1985) (TV) .... Lorraine Barry
    39. A Christmas Carol (1984) (TV) .... Mrs. Cratchit
    40. Yellowbeard (1983) .... Lady Churchill
    41. Nelly's Version (1983) (voice) .... Narrator
    42. "We'll Meet Again" .... Helen Dereham (13 episodes, 1982)
        - The End of the Beginning (1982) TV episode .... Helen Dereham
        - Exceptional Circumstances (1982) TV episode .... Helen Dereham
        - One Day at a Time (1982) TV episode .... Helen Dereham
        - Old Enough to Fight (1982) TV episode .... Helen Dereham
        - You'll Never Know (1982) TV episode .... Helen Dereham
          (8 more)
    43. Alicja (1982) .... Queenie
    ... aka Alice
    44. Late Flowering Love (1981) .... (segments "Invasion Exercise on the Poultry Farm" and "A Subaltern's Love-Song")
    ... aka Betjeman's Britain (UK: alternative title)
    45. Loophole (1981) .... Dinah Booker
    ... aka Break In (USA: video title)
    46. "Second Chance" .... Kate Hurst (1 episode, 1981)
        - April II (1981) TV episode .... Kate Hurst
    47. Superman II (1980) .... Lara
    ... aka Superman 2 (Australia: TV title)
    48. Falling in Love Again (1980) .... Sue Lewis
    ... aka In Love
    49. The Awakening (1980) .... Jane Turner
    ... aka The Wakening (UK: alternative title)

    50. "Prince Regent" .... Maria Fitzherbert (7 episodes, 1979)
        - Defeat and Victory (1979) TV episode .... Maria Fitzherbert
        - God Save the King (1979) TV episode .... Maria Fitzherbert
        - Father and Son (1979) TV episode .... Maria Fitzherbert
        - The Trouble with Women (1979) TV episode .... Maria Fitzherbert
        - The Bride from Brunswick (1979) TV episode .... Maria Fitzherbert
          (2 more)
    51. The Golden Gate Murders (1979) (TV) .... Sister Benecia
    ... aka Specter on the Bridge (USA: theatrical title)
    52. Superman (1978) .... Lara
    ... aka Superman - Le film (Canada: French title)
    ... aka Superman: The Movie
    53. Long Shot (1978) .... An Actress
    54. The Silent Partner (1978) .... Julie Carver
    ... aka L'argent de la banque (Canada: French title)
    55. A Month in the Country (1978) (TV) .... Natalia
    56. The Shout (1978) .... Rachel Fielding
    57. Eliza Fraser (1976) .... Eliza Fraser
    ... aka The Adventures of Eliza Fraser
    ... aka The Rollicking Adventures of Eliza Fraser (USA: cable TV title)

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  7. 58. Sky Riders (1976) .... Ellen Bracken
    59. That Lucky Touch (1975) .... Julia Richardson
    ... aka Bleib mir ja vom Leib (West Germany)
    60. Conduct Unbecoming (1975) .... Mrs. Marjorie Scarlett
    61. The Maids (1975) .... Claire
    ... aka Jean Genet's The Maids (Australia: DVD box title) (USA: poster title)
    62. Gold (1974) .... Terry Steyner
    ... aka The Great Gold Conspiracy (USA)
    ... aka Wilbur Smith's Gold (Australia: cable TV title)
    63. "Great Mysteries" .... Countess Josephine (1 episode, 1973)
    ... aka Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
        - La Grande Breteche (1973) TV episode .... Countess Josephine
    64. "Armchair Theatre" .... Cecily Cardew / ... (7 episodes, 1959-1972)
        - The Creditors (1972) TV episode .... Tekla
        - I Took My Little World Away (1965) TV episode .... Mandy Hope
        - The Importance of Being Earnest (1964) TV episode .... Cecily Cardew
        - Duel for Love (1961) TV episode
        - The Rebel and the Soldier (1959) TV episode
          (2 more)
    65. Images (1972) .... Cathryn
    66. Zee and Co. (1972) .... Stella
    ... aka X, Y and Zee (USA)
    67. Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1971) .... Penelope Ryan
    ... aka Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s Happy Birthday, Wanda June (USA: complete title)
    68. Jane Eyre (1970) (TV) .... Jane Eyre
    69. Country Dance (1970) .... Hilary Dow
    ... aka Brotherly Love (USA)
    ... aka The Same Skin (UK)

    70. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) .... Alice
    71. Battle of Britain (1969) .... Section Officer Maggie Harvey
    ... aka The Battle of Britain (USA: DVD title)
    72. Lock Up Your Daughters! (1969) .... Hilaret
    73. Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) .... Eleanor
    74. The Killing of Sister George (1968) .... Alice 'Childie' McNaught
    75. Duffy (1968) .... Segolene
    76. "ITV Playhouse" .... Grace (1 episode, 1968)
        - The Photographer (1968) TV episode .... Grace
    77. Sebastian (1968) .... Rebecca Howard
    ... aka Mr. Sebastian
    78. "Theatre 625" .... Bronwen / ... (2 episodes, 1966-1967)
        - The Winner (1967) TV episode .... Bronwen
        - Kiss on a Grass Green Pillow (1966) TV episode .... Jane
    79. "Jackanory" .... Storyteller (5 episodes, 1966)
        - The Children of Green Knowe: Part 5 - Christmas at Green Knowe (1966) TV episode .... Storyteller
        - The Children of Green Knowe: Part 4 - Green Noah (1966) TV episode .... Storyteller
        - The Children of Green Knowe: Part 3 - Alexander's Flute (1966) TV episode .... Storyteller
        - The Children of Green Knowe: Part 2 - Hide and Seek (1966) TV episode .... Storyteller
        - The Children of Green Knowe: Part 1 - Arrival at Green Knowe (1966) TV episode .... Storyteller

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  8. 80. A Man for All Seasons (1966) .... Margaret
    81. Kaleidoscope (1966) .... Angel McGinnis
    ... aka The Bank Breaker
    82. "Mystery and Imagination" .... Madeleine Usher (1 episode, 1966)
        - The Fall of the House of Usher (1966) TV episode .... Madeleine Usher
    83. Sands of the Kalahari (1965) .... Grace Munkton
    84. "Thursday Theatre" .... Milly Theale (1 episode, 1965)
        - The Wings of the Dove (1965) TV episode .... Milly Theale
    85. Scruggs (1965) .... Susan
    ... aka A Game Called Scruggs
    86. The 7th Dawn (1964) .... Candace Trumpey
    87. Scene Nun, Take One (1964) .... The Actress
    88. Tom Jones (1963) .... Sophie Western
    ... aka Tom Jones! (UK: poster title)
    89. Freud (1962) .... Cecily Koertner
    ... aka Freud: The Secret Passion (USA: alternative title)
    90. The First Gentleman (1961) (TV) .... Princess Charlotte
    91. The Greengage Summer (1961) .... Joss Grey
    ... aka Loss of Innocence (USA)
    92. Tunes of Glory (1960) .... Morag Sinclair
    93. There Was a Crooked Man (1960) .... Ellen

    94. "ITV Play of the Week" .... Abigail Williams (1 episode, 1959)
    ... aka Play of the Week (UK: short title)
        - The Crucible (1959) TV episode .... Abigail Williams
    95. "ITV Television Playhouse" .... Tricia Blake (1 episode, 1959)
        - Promenade (1959) TV episode .... Tricia Blake

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  9. I looked on IMDB, too, RM. I have to say, though, that her resume prior to Tom Jones was pretty sparse. If I remember correctly, they even said "introducing" about her, but it's been a decade or so since I saw it so I might be wrong.

    I think I've seen her in one other movie ever, but, hold on, let me check your list...Apparently, I saw her in the Superman movies, though I don't recall.

    Oh well, many of the "big stars" of today I've never seen in a movie either.

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  10. Susannah York is/was very well known in the UK, and nominated for an Oscar in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

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  11. Well, and we do get caught up in our own actors/actresses here. One could make an argument that it's far easier to justify the popularity and "greatness" of Catherine Deneuve and Susannah York vs. Angelina Jolie and Jennifer McCarthy.

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  12. My God, I thought your posts were getting shorter but look at your comments.

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  13. He was picking on me. That always takes a lot of comment space.

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  14. @Stephanie Barr - Her resume before Tom Jones???? Christ, she was only 22 when she got that break. How heavy was YOUR resume before age 22-23?

    95 movies plus tv + writing and directing. Hmmmm. You may want to rethink your argument. I think it is a case of you simply not having PERSONALLY been familiar with this actress.

    You seemed confused about Superman (the first one with a young Christopher Reeve). She played his mother on the planet Krypton. Opposite Marlon Brando as his father.

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  15. @Sue - Don't be silly. :)

    Okay, I'll shorten them more.

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  16. @A.- I think you know more than that. Think. :)

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  17. You're right! I didn't recognize her from the Superman movies but I can see it now.

    My being unfamiliar with a good actor's ouvre is not a reflection on that actor. My tastes are eclectic. And, admittedly, I rarely find myself interested in "critically acclaimed" movies.

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