SHORT STORY ADAPTATIONS
Now Playing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt stars and David Fincher directs this adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story.
Recent DVDs
Midnight Meat Train (2008)
From Clive Barker's Books of Blood Series, this story follows Leon, a NY-based photographer
whose efforts to track down "the subway butcher" lead to an unholy secret.
Saawariya (2007)
Billed as the first mainstream Hindi film funded by a major U.S. studio, "Saawariya" is
based on Dostoevsky's short story "White Nights."
The Princess of Nebraska (2007)
Based on a short story by Yiyun Li, this is Wayne Wang’s low-budget companion piece
to A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, which was filmed immediately before it. The tale of an aggressively modern
18-year-old Chinese girl who hits the streets of San Francisco intending to get an abortion, but whose experiences make her
think twice about it.
Youth without Youth (2007)
A Frances Ford Coppola film based on a short story by Romania's Mircea Eliade.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
This was originally adapted in 1957, starring Van Heflin and Glenn Ford. This time around
Russell Crowe Crowe plays the desperado caught by a local sheriff determined to transport
him to captivity. Based on an Elmore Leonard story.
The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
This is a remake of the 1972 Elaine May/Neil Simon comedy based on Bruce Jay Friedman's "A Change of Plan."
Ben Stiller is the feckless husband this time.
Suburban Girl (2007)
Stars Alec Baldwin and Sarah Michelle Gellar. The long awaited adaptation based on two stories in Melissa Bank's Girl's Guide to
Hunting and Fishing
Lust, Caution (2007)
After Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee has followed up with another short story adaptation.
Wang Hui-Ling, who co-wrote Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,
adapted this tale of a patriotic student who's willing bait in a plot to assassinate
a high-up Chinese collaborator in Japanese-held WWII Shanghai. From a short story by the late Chinese author,
Eileen Chang.
1408 (2007)
John Cusack stars. Based on a Stephen King story about a debunker of paranormal occurrences who encounters real terror
when he checks into notorious Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel. Originally appeared as a King audio book,
Blood and Smoke and was subsequently included in King's 2002 short story collection
Everything's Eventual.
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)
From the story "Kneller's Happy Campers" by Etgar Keret. Comes from the Sundance screenwriting lab and
is about a bizarre afterlife way station, reserved for suicides.
Next (2007)
Story adaptation by Gary Goldman (Total Recall). Nicholas Cage and Julianne Moore star.
Love Comes Lately (2007)
Starring Barbara Hershey. Story concerns an aging author (Otto Tausig) who tries to rekindle a romance
with Hershey's character. Based on a story by Isaac Bashevis Singer.
The Last Mimzy (2007)
Based on the short story "All Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Lewis Padgett, pen name for Henry Kuttner.
(Title drawn from Lewis Carroll's "The Jabberwocky".)
About two ordinary children drawn into extraordinary adventures at their Seattle summer home by the arrival of a
curious black box inscribed with obscure symbols.
Death-Defying Acts (2007)
A low budget update of stories by 19th-century French author Guy de Maupassant.
Lunacy (2006)
A film by by Czech surrealist writer-director Svankmajer that is loosely based on two short stories
by Edgar Allen Poe and incorporates a main character inspired by the Marquis de Sade. Will show at the
Tribeca Film Festival.
Midnight Clear (2006)
Wes Halula's script is drawn from director Dallas Jenkins' short film, which, in turn, was based on his
father Jerry B. Jenkins' short story, "The Deacon's Wife." (That's Jerry B. Jenkins of Left Behind fame.) Starring William Baldwin, this tale draws together disparate and mostly lonely
lives on Christmas Eve.
Away from Her (2006)
Sarah Polley directed this film, based on the Alice Munro story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain,"
about a couple whose 50-year marriage is tested when
the wife goes into a nursing home for treatment for memory loss and falls for another patient.
Jindabyne (2006)
Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne star in this adaptation of Raymond Carver's
"So Much Water So Close to Home." Set in Australia, and events are centered in the mountainous southwest
region surrounding the town of Jindabyne ("valley" in the Aboriginal tongue). Hence the movie's title.
Robert Altman also used this
story (and others) in his Carver adaptation, Short Cuts.
Old Joy (2006)
About a camping trip shared by two longtime friends. This is an excellent example of indie-style
filmmaking: A limited cast in a well-contained story told with
subtle intelligence. The source is from the book, Old Joy, a series of photographs by
Justine Kurland, accompanied by a story by Jonathan Raymond. Published by Artspace, and a little hard to find now.
The Illusionist (2006)
From a story by Steven Millhauser and starring Edward Norton. Directed by Neil Burger. From Millhauser's collection The Barnum Museum.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King. (2006)
An 8-part anthology starring the likes of William H. Macy, Kim Delaney and William Hurt. Originally aired on
TNT.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Based on the story by E. Annie Proulx, this film directed by Ang Lee has collected nominations and awards all
over the place.
Heading South (Vers le sud) (2005)
This film is a gem. A French film adaptation of stories from the collection
La chair du maître
by Dany Laferriere. About three women who are sex tourists in Haiti.
Stars Charlotte Rampling and Karen Young. Unfortunately, this collection of stories has not been translated
into English.
Shortcut to Happiness (2004)
Caught in legal limbo, this film was shelved for 6 years. Based on the short story "The Devil and Daniel Brewster"
by Pulizer Prize winning poet Stephen Vincent Benet. Alec Baldwin directed and stars.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Directed by Clint Eastwood, this film adaptation based on the stories of F.X. O'Toole.
O'Toole became a literary sensation
at the age of 70 upon the publication of Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner.
His day job was boxing trainer and cut man (the person responsible
for stopping a fighter's bleeding between rounds).
The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (2004)
This film is an adaptation of J.T. Leroy's story collection of the same name. May be particularly interesting now, given
the controversy surrounding the identity of the author. Or not.
Ladies in Lavender (2004)
Based on a story by William J. Locke that first appeared in Colliers
in 1908, this film adaptation is making its U.S. debut at the
Palm Springs Film Festival. Directed by Charles Dance, who also adapted,
it stars Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.
We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004)
Released in August and new on DVD, this film adaptation is based on two works by Andre Dubus: the novella, We Don't Live Here Anymore and
a rather long story, "Adultery."
Tony Takitani (2004)
Based on a story by celebrated Japanese author Haruki Murakami,
this visually poetic fable tells the story of Tony Takitani, a solitary technical illustrator.
Raised as an only child and partially estranged from his father, Takitani is unaware of his own
loneliness until he falls in love with Eiko. He soon marries her and comes alive for the first time.
But Eiko's obsessive passion for couture leads to tragedy.
Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)
From the story of the same name by horror writer Joe R. Lansdale,
this film adaptation has already achieved cult status. You can find it on
a number of critics' best DVDs of 2004 lists.
Rollerball (2002)
Based on the story Roller Ball Murder by William Harrison. Also adapted in 1975.
Not Yet on DVD
"Red 71" by Patrick Cain (2008)
In the middle of Nowhere, Ariz., various characters gather at the titular Red 71 Club, this is
Patrick Roddy's sophomore directorial outing.
Jolene (2008)
Based on E.L. Doctorow's short story.
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
From a Jonathon Raymond story called "Old Train," Michelle Williams stars as a cash-strapped woman whose trip to Alaska
with her dog takes a grim turn when her car breaks down in the Pacific Northwest.
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2007)
Screenplay by Yiyun Li, based on her short story. Film focuses on the
communication difficulties between a Chinese father and his American-resident daughter who have spent 12 years apart.
The Duchess of Langeais (2007)
French title: Ne touchez pas la hache. Previewing at the Toronto Film Festival, this film based on a Balzac short story is set amid the
extravagant balls of 1820s Paris. Directed by French auteur Jacques Rivette.
The Pool (2007)
Co-screenwriter Randy Russell's short story is moved from Iowa to Panjim in the Indian state of Goa. About a
young man's curiosity to see how the other (wealthier) half lives.
All God's Children Can Dance (2007)
First English-language translation of a Haruki Murakami story. Tale involves an excessively well-endowed
son's quest for his real father.
Nothing But Ghosts (2006)
Based on the stories in Judith Hermann's trendy 2003 collection,
this is a five-way cross-cutter following rootless types in Germany, Iceland, Italy, the U.S. and Jamaica.
Frozen Land
This Finnish film adaptation of "The False Note" by Leo Tolstoy
is directed by Aku Louhimies from a script by
Paavo Westerberg. (The same story was previously adapted Robert Bresson
in 1983 as L'Argent.) Frozen Land began playing in film
festivals abroad in January, 2005. Not available on DVD in the U.S.
El Cobrador: In God We Trust
Director Paul Leduc wrote the script, adapting short stories by Brazilian writer Rubem Fonseca.
Stars Peter Fonda as a well-heeled but unhinged mining corporation exec who gets a thrill from running down pedestrians at night and Lazaro Ramos as a terrorist who exacts revenge on the affluent West in the name of the downtrodden third world.
The Boy on the Galloping Horse
Based on a story by Tariej Vesaas this Polish film is about a writer taking his son to a city for an operation.
Border Post (2006)
Based on a story by Ante Tomic, who also co-wrote the screenplay. This Yugoslavian film is about a med student from Croatia,
and his Serbian buddy Paunovic (Sergej Trifunovic), doing military service in the Yugoslav army, where things are
more like vacation than boot camp.
The Tin Mine
Thailand's entry for the foreign-language film category of the Oscars.
Produced by Dedicate and GMM Tai HubHub, the film is adapted from short stories
by Ajin Panjapan and his semi-autobiographical
account of coming-of-age in a tin mine in post-World War II Thailand.
The Father
Based on an Andrei Platonov short story, drama centers around a WWII officer returns to discover family
and peacetime aren't much to his liking. The story was too strong for postwar Russian government--Ernest Hemingway
translated the long-banned seven pages into English.
Miscalculation
Hungarian film based on a futuristic story by Imre Kertesz. A parable about an arrogant aesthete.
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Recent News and Rumors
"The Islington Mystery" by Arthur Machen
Being developed by Alameda films. This story was also the inspiration for the
1960 film The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales.
"Reconstruction" by Susan Perabo
Fox 2000 has optioned this yet-to-be-published short story, part of Perabo's collection
titled Some Say the World.
"The Birds" by Daphne DuMaurier
Naomi Watts is rumored to be involved in a remake of the Hitchcock film based on the
DuMaurier story.
"How About You" by Maeve Binchy
An old-fashioned story of a young woman who has to spend Christmas
looking after the cantankerous residents of an old-folks home. To be
directed by Anthony Byrne.
"Baster" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory)are in final negotiations to direct.
Centers on a 40-year-old unmarried woman who decides to become pregnant
by inseminating herself using a turkey baster and sperm from a married friend.
"The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury
A remake of the 1969 film adaptation starring Rod Steiger as the mysterious man
with living tattoos that predict the future. From a collection of stories by
Bradbury.
"Quantum of Solace" by Ian Fleming
This short story is rumored to be the source for the next bond film.
"Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell
Another crack at The Thing. This time it will be adapted by Battlestar Galactica
exec producer Ronald D. Moore.
"Dogs" by Ted Kooser
Being adapted by Tom McCown.
The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis
Senator Entertainment has optioned screen rights to this collection and Ellis
will partipate in script-writing. The drama is set over the course of a week in 1983.
Seven storylines intersect, involving movie execs, rock stars, a vampire and
other morally challenged characters. Billy Bob Thornton and Kim Basinger have
signed on.
"Details" by China Mieville
Adapted by Dan Kay, this is the story of a daughter who disappears after uncovering a demonic force
only she can see and the father who stops at nothing to bring her back.
"The New Daughter" by John Connolly
Gold Circle Films has acquired John Travis'spec script based on the short story about a single father
who moves his two children to a home in rural Illinois near a burial mound that may be the key
to his daughter's increasingly ominous behavior.
"Martian Child" by David Gerrold
Due out next year starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet.
"Comfort" by Mary Gaitskill
From the collection Because They Wanted To, this is the story of a young musician
who lives in San Francisco and finds some emotional connection when he returns to Iowa to visit his
injured mother. Stephen Stewart, a playwright and graduate of San Francisco's American Conservatory
Theater, has written a script that White is showing to directors.
"Eliza Graves" by Edgar Allen Poe
Joe Gangemi is adapting this story, about a young doctor who
arrives at an island sanitarium but soon discovers the inmates have taken over the asylum.
"Becoming Capra" by Tay Kay Chin
An experimental project titled Becoming Royston comprises three products:
5-parts in webisode format; a 30-minute short and an 85 minute feature-length version. Royston Tan
is a Singapore filmmaker.
"The Ice at the Bottom of the World" by Mark Richard.
Richard wrote the script. Set in the Chesapeake Bay, where a Navy captain reluctantly retires for health reasons.
After years of neglecting his family while at sea, the grizzled veteran throws his dysfunctional family into chaos.
Charlize Theron will play one of his daughters, who returns home a heroin addict and the single mother of a mixed-race child.
"Drive" by James Sallis.
Originally a short story that appeared in the anthology Measures of Poison. Sallis then expanded to
novella-length and sold to Poisoned Pen Press. Set in the seamy underside of Southern California and
Arizona, it centers on a stuntman who moonlights as a wheelman during robberies and discovers that
a contract has been put on him. A Hugh Jackman starring vehicle.
The Member-Guest by Clint McCown.
The adaptation of this novel-in-stories is being co-written by McCown and Tom Mangan of River One Films.
Senza Patricio by Walter Veltroni.
Veltroni is the mayor of Rome and a film aficianado. His novel-in-stories is set in an imaginary
Buenos Aires and narrated in a lyrical magical realism style. To be directed by Italo auteur Gianni Amelio.
"The Firebird's Nest" by Salmon Rushdie.
Salman Rushdie is writing a screenplay based on his short story, and his partner Padma Lakshmi will star in the film version.
(The story, which explores a relationship between a younger, Indian-born woman and an older man, was written several years before Rushdie met Ms Lakshmi, who is in her early 30s.")
"Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage" by Alice Munro.
Warner Bros. has optioned this story about a nanny hired to care for a teenage girl whose mother has just died. The studio has set Mark Poirier to adapt it with the intention for Julianne Moore to star.
"Family Dancing" by David Leavitt.
Ryan Shiraki is adapting and directing a film version of Leavitt's short story "Family Dancing" for Persistent Entertainment and Starboard Entertainment.
This deal appears to be stalled.
"The Guy Not Taken" by Jennifer Weiner.
This short story, published Glamour, is a wish-fulfillment fantasy that explores a married woman's life had she chosen a different path.
"A Short Trip Home" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Another story, in addition to "Button" below has been optioned.
"The Joy of Funerals" by Alix Strauss.
This adaptation will be Stockard Channing's directorial debut.
"Will Power, Inc." by Todd Hasak-Lowy.
Hasak-Lowy has sold his story, which centers around a dieting business that hires bodyguards to
physically keep very rich, but very fat people from eating.
"Night and Day You are the One" by Ken Kalfus.
Universal has acquired the rights for this story from the collection Thirst.
"Achates McNeil" by T.C. Boyle.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies will write and direct this
adaptation. Margulies's play, Dinner with Friends won the 2000 Pulitzer.
"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber.
This on again, off again project is apparently back on with Mike Myers in the lead role.
"Batorsag and Szerelem" by Ethan Canin
Canin adapted his story and Chad Lowe will direct; William Hurt stars. Film title is Beautiful Ohio.
"Adrift" by Koji Suzuki.
Dimension Films has optioned feature rights of story by Suzuki, the author of the novel upon which
The Ring was based. Story centers around a fishing crew that finds a haunted yacht.
"On the Nature of Human Romantic Interaction" by Karl Iagnemma.
Warner Brothers has optioned feature rights. From the short story collection of the same
name. Iagnemma is a research scientist with MIT and his story concerns a young academic
who tries to formulate a series of equations that will force his girlfriend to commit.
"The Smoker" by David Schickler.
Owen Wilson and Natalie Portman are set to star in this adaptation of a story first published in the New Yorker.
"Dread" by Clive Barker.
Barker is producing for 20th Century Fox, based on his story of the same name.
"Brothers of the Head" by Brian Aldiss.
Short story adaptation by Tony Grisoni from an Aldiss story about twins joined at the
liver who form a rock band in the 1970s.
"The Return" by Joseph Conrad.
Directed by Patrice Chereau, this adaptation stars Isabelle Huppert and Pascale Greggory.
Film is titled: Trois Soirees. The story concerns a woman who leaves a note for her husband,
stating that she has left him, then changes her mind.
"Barnes" by James Michener.
Talks include the publication of the Jordan Roberts' script in Vanity Fair.
"Leiningen Versus the Ants" by Carl Stephenson.
This remake of the 1954 picture The Naked Jungle, based on Stephenson's story, concerns a plantation
owner and his fight against an army of ants.
Butterfly based on a story by Taiwanese author Chen Xue.
A lesbian love story about a married schoolteacher who falls in love with a much
younger woman. Director is Mak Yan-yan.
"Kieth" by Ron Carlson.
Carlson's story deals with a seventeen year-old girl whose carefully
planned out life is being deconstructed by a young man. Miramax intends for the teen market.
"Death Ship" "Button Button" by Richard Matheson.
Cameron Diaz is attached. This horror story also served as a basis for a Twilight Zone episode.
Working title of film is The Box, as it deals with a box that
arrives on the doorstep of a couple, bringing instant wealth. The only problem is that it
brings instant death to someone the couple doesn't know. Camelot Pictures, to be directed by
Richard Kelly.
"The Brief History of the Dead" by Kevin Brockmeier.
Warner Bros. has purchased rights, and adaptation to be written by
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Auburn.
Civilwarland in Bad Decline by George Saunders.
Ben Stiller's production company has bought the rights to this collection of stories.
"Sea Oak" by George Saunders.
Saunders has written a screenplay based on his own story in the Pastoralia collection.
©Stephanie Harrison
Updated 9/05/2008
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