In 1954, Walt Disney and company decided to tackle their first science-fiction venture, a full-length live-action adaptation of Jules Verne’s 1870 novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Originally, the plan was to animate Verne’s story–after all, Disney’s animation studio had found undeniable success in adapting literary works ranging from Felix Salten’s environmental novel Bambi, A…
For years, I was quite certain that when it came time to cast the role of the tortured, mysterious Maxim de Winter for the 1940 film version of Rebecca, the first—and only—name on everyone’s lips in Hollywood had to have been Laurence Olivier. How could it NOT be? The dashing, dark, and oh-so-handsome Brit had…
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) is based on Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel of the same name. Quasimodo (voiced by Tom Hulce) is a deformed man of Gypsy descent who lives in the cathedral’s bell tower and serves as the bell-ringer. He has been reluctantly raised (and hidden from public view) by the evil Judge…
The delightful 1945 romantic fantasy The Enchanted Cottage was first recommended to me by one of my favorite grad school professors (hi, Dr. Riley!). There were only three of us in this particular class, and we were flung together for three long hours every Wednesday afternoon, so a sense of easy camaraderie developed. There were many times…
The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) is based on a 1931 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald called “Babylon Revisited.” Fitzgerald’s often-anthologized story, with its dark themes of disillusionment and self-imposed alienation, is a seminal work of American modernism. However, it loses something in its translation to the screen. As with many literary adaptations…
A version of this post originally appeared as a part of our series of Summer Under the Stars recommendations in August 2010. It’s being reprinted here as part of the LAMB’s “Acting School 101” tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. Growing up with horses, it’s probably a given that I should be a fan of National Velvet…
A version of this post originally appeared as a part of our series of Summer Under the Stars recommendations in August 2010. It’s being reprinted here as part of the LAMB’s “Acting School 101” tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth Taylor: one of the most gorgeous, appealingly talented actresses to emerge from classic Hollywood … the…
A version of this post originally appeared as a part of our series of Summer Under the Stars recommendations in August 2010. It’s being reprinted here as part of the LAMB’s “Acting School 101” tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) is based on a play by Mississippi-born playwright extraordinaire, Tennessee…
True Classics 