Some great films have been made of British stage plays - especially in the fifties and sixties when first British theatre and then TV drama had a sort of mini-renaissance.
My own favourites include the film version of Pinter's The Birthday Party (oddly directed by future Exorcist man William Friedkin) featuring a tremendous central performance from Robert Shaw and nerve jangling support from Patrick Magee (who can forget the paper tearing?).
Although far from literal adaptations, Peter Shaffer's work has led to the magnificent Amadeus, the fascinating Equus, the deeply flawed The Royal Hunt of the Sun (again with Shaw, and a wildly miscast Christopher Plummer!) and the largely forgotten Follow Me (from his play The Public Eye).
There are many others, of course. I think the post-war play adaptation is one of the strongest strands in British films of the last 60 years. Often experimental, out-spoken and intensely intelligent - they were a real shot in the arm to the industry. What are your favourites?
Entertaining Mr Sloane screenplay by Clive Exton and directed by Douglas Hickox, this version of the stage play is not always the greatest of films but on the whole it is true to the spirit of its creator Joe Orton - it is farcical, anti-establishment and full of uncomfortable moments. Also it has got Beryl Reid in it. Well worth having a copy of it on that shelf full of stolen library books.
A Day in the Life of Joe Egg superb performances from a great cast, The Deep Blue Sea interesting even if I could n't see More and Leigh as a couple,The Killing of Sister George worth it for Beryl, Plenty ( just forget about Sting), The Winslow Boy,Educating Rita which I think works better opened out.
The failures Separate Tables awful performances(apart from Wendy) and Kerr miscast,Little Voice (Blethyn is terrible )Look Back in Anger should n't be opened out and Burton too old and wrong.
name='Mr Sloane' timestamp='1282154852' post='465800']
The failures Separate Tables awful performances(apart from Wendy)
And Felix!
The Family Way is based on a play recently revived at the NT as Rafta Rafta , which is now being filmed apparently.
name='Mr Sloane' timestamp='1282154852' post='465800']
A Day in the Life of Joe Egg superb performances from a great cast, The Deep Blue Sea interesting even if I could n't see More and Leigh as a couple,The Killing of Sister George worth it for Beryl, Plenty ( just forget about Sting), The Winslow Boy,Educating Rita which I think works better opened out.
The failures Separate Tables awful performances(apart from Wendy) and Kerr miscast,Little Voice (Blethyn is terrible )Look Back in Anger should n't be opened out and Burton too old and wrong.
I know what you mean about the opening out of Look Back in Anger - but I still think it is a powerful film and the cast are fantastic.
I might have expected you Mr S to mention the Joe Orton adaptations - I personally think Loot the more successfully realised, and Attenborough is a joy as the inspector.
name='GRAEME' timestamp='1282158002' post='465830']
I know what you mean about the opening out of Look Back in Anger - but I still think it is a powerful film and the cast are fantastic.
I might have expected you Mr S to mention the Joe Orton adaptations - I personally think Loot the more successfully realised, and Attenborough is a joy as the inspector.
I have nothing to judge it against I have never seen a stage production ( It would have been interesting to see the train crash Kenneth Williams version though) . I have only seen the Dinsdale Landen version of What the Butler Saw too which is simply a filming of the stage version but still funny and fast moving.
name='Mr Sloane' timestamp='1282158445' post='465836']
I have nothing to judge it against I have never seen a stage production ( It would have been interesting to see the train crash Kenneth Williams version though
When I first read that I thought you meant a Kenneth Williams version of Look Back in Anger
name='CaptainWaggett' timestamp='1282159332' post='465841']
When I first read that I thought you meant a Kenneth Williams version of Look Back in Anger
Anybody else seen the Stacey Keach version of John Osborne's Luther? Sounded absolutely mad - but I was totally engrossed when I caught it late night on Ch5 some years ago. Odd.
name='GRAEME' timestamp='1282167707' post='465927']
Anybody else seen the Stacey Keach version of John Osborne's Luther? Sounded absolutely mad - but I was totally engrossed when I caught it late night on Ch5 some years ago. Odd.
Mike Hammer plays Watford FC's highest-scoring striker and founder of an international anarchy movement? While stoned off his box? What's not to love?
I'm never quite sure what to make of the film of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. I like the play, I like Gary Oldman, I like Tim Roth. But somehow.... I'm just not sure they're the right people for the roles, though their performances are by no means awful.
I like The Entertainer and Hobson's Choice (is that post-war originally? not sure) as well as most of the others mentioned in this thread. I think I have the Stacy Keach Luther - is that the one in the American Film Theatre collection?
name='didi-5' timestamp='1282229869' post='466078']
I like The Entertainer and Hobson's Choice (is that post-war originally? not sure) as well as most of the others mentioned in this thread. I think I have the Stacy Keach Luther - is that the one in the American Film Theatre collection?
Luther was in the first season of the American Film Theater's series of plays made into films. So, I guess it's not a British film, but the playwright and director Guy Green were Brits and it was filmed at Shepperton.
Hobson's Choice was first produced during the First World War - but what the heck, it's a great film!
One Way Pendulum - one of the few films to star Jonathon Miller - is a fine adaptation of N F Simpson's British Theatre of the Absurd classic. I haven't seen it in many years - is it ever on TV?
I don't know whether this kind of stuff has aged very well, but it is certainly of its times and a historical document of some importance.
In a similar vein (although not quite as deranged) is Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment - an example of an outstanding British TV play (by David Mercer) made into a film, useful because I believe the original is lost (?). This happened a lot in America but I can't think of too many examples from the UK - apart from Brimstone and Treacle and the film version of that with Sting is no improvement on the excellent Michael Kitchen original.
I quite like The Ruling Class, but then I like anything with a potty Peter O'Toole.
Just remembered a good'un: A Man for All Seasons. Not seen the play, but the film is excellent.
I quite liked lindsey andersons "in celebration" alan bates,james bolam been a long time since i watched it though must dig it out ....
also pinters caretaker with alan bates,robert shaw and donald pleasentsand did i say i like alan bates
name='ollie' timestamp='1282732406' post='467899']
I quite liked lindsey andersons "in celebration" alan bates,james bolam been a long time since i watched it though must dig it out ....
also pinters caretaker with alan bates,robert shaw and donald pleasents
I haven't seen In Celebration, really like to!
I was also unaware that Anderson had done a version of Look Back in Anger in 1980 with Malcolm McDowell as Jimmy Porter - anybody seen it?
I'll see if i can find it (no promises ) it's in one of several boxesname='GRAEME' timestamp='1282736253' post='467925']
I haven't seen In Celebration, really like to!
will look at the weekend
Thanks for making me aware of this, could be a hard find released only on a warner vhs, quickly looked around the net "aha jim lad" sadly to no avail .......
I was also unaware that Anderson had done a version of Look Back in Anger in 1980 with Malcolm McDowell as Jimmy Porter -
anybody seen it?
Off the top of my head:
"The Bofors Gun" - based on "Events Whilst Guarding The Bofors Gun" John McGrath
"Total Eclipse" by Christopher Hampton
"Mojo" Jez Butterworth
"Decadence" Steven Berkoff
"Equus" Peter Shaffer
"Sleuth" Anthony Shaffer
"The Birthday Party", "Betrayal" Pinter
All worth a look. Of course, if you open up to tv adaptations . .
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