Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. Somes images are directly from Pixabay.
Many of our favourite stories are adapted for the stage, radio, television, and film and any or all of those combinations in some cases. It is unusual for any story to go “direct” into another medium. Nearly always cuts and changes do have to be made to suit the needs of the medium the story will “go into” or to make the best use of the things those mediums can bring to the tale which the printed word in itself won’t do. Sound effects especially, the use of appropriate music, and much more can add so much to an adapted tale.
Adaptations – The Positives
I adore the Peter Jackson adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. While there were things here I wished he hadn’t cut (mainly the way Saruman really was dealt with at the end of the books), everything else gelled together well I thought. The casting for these films was inspired and the music by Howard Shore is simply outstanding covering, as it does, everything from choral music to opera to Enya. I love all of those.
From a producer’s point of view, using published stories in this way makes sense. You already know the public like the tales because they have bought the books in vast numbers. The onus is then on them not to “muck it up”.
Sometimes films, radio plays and so on can introduce people to the books they were based on and that’s a good thing too. There are also those who don’t read a lot but take their stories in via film (especially) and I applaud that. They’re getting to enjoy stories they would not otherwise have done.
Adaptations then have a great purpose but, as with all creative arts I suspect, when they’re done well, they stand out. When they’re not done well, it can reflect badly on the author of the original book. This incidentally is generally unfair as most authors don’t adapt their own works for film etc.
This topic came to me as next week I’ll be sharing a review of Cinderella, which was the 2025 pantomime put on by The Chameleon Theatre Group. Pantomimes always adapt the classic fairytales usually by adding in extra characters such as Buttons and the Dame. But these adaptations have stood the test of time. They work. They take nothing away from the original tale. They add to it by adding further fun.
Adaptations – The Negatives
I can’t think of much here other than the point made above. There are authors disappointed with how adaptations of their work turned out. They’re not always wrong to be either! I must admit I haven’t liked the recent adaptations of the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot stories. I like Kenneth Branagh but he doesn’t work for me as Poirot (it probably doesn’t help that Sir David Suchet is generally recognised as the definitive version here).
Likewise, I like Julia Mackenzie but, for me, Joan Hickson had the character of Miss Marple down to the proverbial T. The problem with following those who have made a role their own is the succeeding actors will be judged by their predecessors and this will also reflect on the stories.
Sometimes I hear of stories which have been “spiced up” for a modern audience. I don’t like this. If the stories were thought good enough to bring to the screen, why feel the need to do that? And while times do change, a more honourable adaptation, to my mind, is to portray the story pretty much as the author originally intended but using the benefits of film, radio, music etc.
I liked the series Sherlock because it was Sherlock Holmes brought into the modern era. It didn’t try to rival the series where the detective was portrayed by Jeremy Brett (for me the definitive Holmes too). I thought this was a wise move. You could see the nod to the original stories but the modern series was its own work. I liked that aspect.
What Do I Look For in an Adaptation?
I look for either a nod to the original work or that it sticks as close to the original as possible. I wouldn’t want to see modern cars in a Miss Marple story, for example. I would want to see cars appropriate for the period instead. I would want the adaptation to flag up the original book (often via the credits) to give opportunities for people to check the original text out for themselves.
This is one of the great things about The Muppet Christmas Carol where Gonzo, playing the role of Charles Dickens as narrator, recommends people read the book. I do think Dickens would’ve appreciated that. He was a master of the book tour, indeed it could be argued he invented it, so plugs for his works would be bound to go down well.
I want to see faithful character portrayals. Poirot isn’t about to turn villainous, for example.
While there are things about The Lord of the Rings films I wish had been included to stay literally true to the trilogy, those movies do stick to the spirit of Tolkien’s world, which I think is the most important thing of all. What those movies did do for me was help me bring out the images I had in my head about what Rivendell and Mordor looked like and brought them to life. It added to the story for me. The score added even more. Music can be so powerful like that.
Conclusion
Generally, I prefer unabridged stories to abridged but there is an exception. The Tony Robinson adaptations of the much missed Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series work really well. In fairness, Pratchett did like his humorous footnotes, which are fabulous to read in a print book but difficult to incorporate into the reading out loud of a story without losing some of the flow! But again the spirit of the works and the actual stories were adhered to and I often revisit these adaptations when on lengthy car journeys.
I would far rather people took in stories by whatever means possible. I will always go for the books first but I recognise not everyone does think like that. If films or radio shows are the way in for folk, then go for it. All I want is those adaptations to truly serve well the books from which they come (which means sticking to the basic story for me and not adding in things the author didn’t intend or removing them either).
Do you have adaptations which worked for you or, conversely, those you thought failed? Do share your thoughts in the comments box.
Related Posts:-
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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