I'm a big fan of The Great Gatsby. Love the book, love the movie, love the time period, love it all. I haven't watched Redford and Farrow work their magic on the screen as Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan in some years. Because I saw the movie, at age 10, before I ever read the book, I've always pictured the characters in The Great Gatsby as the actors who played them.
Yesterday, Ty, Gwynnie and I watched the movie. Ty is a huge Fitzgerald fan. (Don't start up a conversation about the Lost Generation or you'll lose half the night. And please, don't even get her started on Zelda Fitzgerald! "She only got famous because of F. Scott.")
The movie stands the test of time in all areas but one. The music! Lots of little 70's TV show clarinet and oboe licks that seem just too fast for the scene. I would love for that movie to be re-scored. Maybe the star-filter when shooting CUs of Daisy were a little dated, but otherwise . . . it's still wonderful.
But then, a great story never fails no matter what decade it appears. I think it's my favorite book to movie adaptation. Maybe paired with Emma Thompson's version of Sense and Sensibility. What are your favorite adaptations?
lisa
Anne (with an e!) of Green Gables!!
Posted by: Katy McKenna | September 19, 2006 at 01:14 PM
The Merchant-Ivory adaptations always seem right on. A Room with a View is still one of my favorite novels, and the film is lovely and funny and gorgeous!
And of course, I think ol' Em did a brill job with her screen adaptation of S 'n' S. What a smart cookie she is. Have you see The Remains of The Day? Another great adaptation w/Em in it. Though I think it was a M/I production, too.
Posted by: shanna | September 19, 2006 at 01:56 PM
You already called mine-- Sense and Sensibility for sure. Though. . . the 6 hour Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is a lovely way to spend a rainy Saturday.
Posted by: Missy | September 19, 2006 at 03:32 PM
I think Emma Thompson can do no wrong. She may be the best actress alive. LOVE her.
Posted by: Katy McKenna | September 19, 2006 at 04:03 PM
I think that the TNT version of "Gatsby" was great, with Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd and that British dude who played Gatsby (he had that killer smile so aptly described by Fitzgerald).
I also recently watched the BBC "Pride & Prejudice" miniseries and drooled all over my couch over Colin Firth.
One of the most faithful book adaptations was "Because of Winn Dixie." LOVED IT!!!
Posted by: Pattie | September 19, 2006 at 04:36 PM
Sense and Sensibility and Les Miserables with Liam Neeson.
Posted by: Suzan | September 19, 2006 at 04:56 PM
Completely agree with Missy (below) -- both S&S and P&P were fabulous.
Posted by: Maria Kenney | September 20, 2006 at 10:33 AM