Half the month is almost over and this movie blog almost forgot to mention National Novel Month. Yes, I do mean novels, books, fiction of course! For, where would the movies be without great novels to provide the stories that come to life on the screen.
I’d run out of fingers and toes if I tired to count the number of authors I’ve heard speak that have had a book optioned for a film and are hopeful that maybe, someday, just maybe, their words will be spoken by an actor. There is always hope, as this month alone, at least 10 movies I’m aware of that are “based on the book” are being released.
November is a terrific choice for National Novel Month as some of the greatest authors were born in the ninth month of the year. And, the good news for producers is that many of them have work in the public domain. The Westport Library has an ever growing collection of adaptations of works by Mary Anne Evans aka George Eliot (November 22). Jonathan Swift author of Gulliver’s Travels was born on November 30, 1667. I offer belated birthday wishes on his 162nd birthday to Bram Stoker author of Dracula November 8, 1847. Many argue that Dracula is one of the greatest Victorian novels ever written. (Or so claimed a professor I once had!) C.S. Lewis is a youngster by comparison to his fellow Irishman, Stoker. Lewis’ books have enjoyed resurgence with recent film adaptations of his Chronicles of Narnia. Finally, American novels past and present owe much to Mark Twain (November 30, 1835).
So the next time you choose a film from our large collection, take a second glance. It may just be based on a movie!
