What's the best book that hasn't been a film that would not be expensive

[henslee]

to make? -- meaning not expensive sets, not a period movie, etc.

Fore example, SOUNDER and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and ABOUT SCHMIDT would be cheaper than A Sci-Fi epic or a war movie with battle scenes.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Dead Eye Dick - Vonnegut

[Archae]

2. The Roaring Trumpet

First in the "Compleat Enchanter" series by Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague DeCamp.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. The Alienist-- Caleb Carr

I SOOOOOO want to see this made. I don't know why someone hasn't jumped on it yet.

FSC

[mark414]

15. if you liked that

then you'd like "the devil in the white city" by...his name escapes me at the moment

it's a true story that follows basically three perspectives in late 19th century chicago

one being the creation of the world's fair

two being that crazy nut who whacked off mayor carter harrison

three being this dapper young gent who killed a whole hell of a lot of people, primarily young females...

all true...fantastic read

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. Yep, read it.

I love Chicago. The Museum of Science and Industry has been one of my favorite places for years. As soon as the hard copy came out, it was on my bookshelf.

FSC

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Devil in the White City is by Erik Larson

[yellowdogintexas]

4. The Joyous Season by Patrick Dennis (of Auntie Mame fame)

Hilarious, warm, funny and features a pair of smart assed kids, siblings

what more could you want?

[Longgrain]

5. I'm still waiting for a decent filming of Don Quixote

A bit off topic since there have been versions of it before...Most Notably as described in "Lost in LaMancha".

Loved the stage version, so I know it can be done, just the film version of "Man of LaMancha" was horrible!

(Tho it did have Sofia Loren in it :loveya: )

[henslee]

6. You have a good point. Plus it is pubic domain which removes

the bookrights cost that surely come with some of these other books mentioned.

[Longgrain]

7. There must have been about fifty

attempts to make a film version of Don Quixote, including Orson Wells failed, rarely seen attempts...I'm guessing the scope of the source material is just too broad and intimidating for most folks.

I still love the stage adaption even tho it was more "based on" the book rather than a "literal" retelling...

A literal retelling would end up being a 50 Hour movie that would put the "Lord of the Rings" to shame...

[joebascemy]

33. I agree, but...

Quixote seems to be cursed, as well as prohibitively expensive to mount a good production. Poor Terry Gilliam! He could have done a great job with it, too, since it is his kind of story. Maybe Lazarillo de Tormes or a Smollett book? The Death Ship by B. Traven?

[cruadin]

8. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" ...

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
A richly textured and well written story of many generations of the Buendia family in the mythical town of Macondo.
It would require some period costumes and sets, but most of the book is told as small vignettes in family, and village-size settings.

[NightTrain]

9. Jack Kerouac's ON THE ROAD.

Granted, they'd have to recreate 1947 to make a faithful adaptation of the book, but I can't imagine the budget would be anywhere near what it cost to make, say TITANIC.

[henslee]

10. Didnt they make a bunch of movies based on OTR starring Hope & Crosby?

Stupid joke.

[koopie57]

11. I guess my idea

is a very simple children's book from Scholastica, but I think it could be made with a low budget and yet offers possibilities .. I always thought The Plain Girl would be nice to see on the screen. It is about an Amish girl who has to go to a one-room school house with kids who were not Amish.

[henslee]

12. Is this it?

This is the book

http://www.jodipicoult.com/truth_c.html



That was turned into a Lifetime movie.....



http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2004/oct04/oct04/3_wed/news4wednesday.html

[koopie57]

18. No, this is the one I was thinking of

Plain Girl
By: Virginia Sorensen
As the only Amish girl in her school, Esther stands out like "a blackbird against the sky." Apart from her kin, she is both attracted to the new life she sees and afraid that it may draw her away. By a Newbery Medal-winning author.

Pb, illus.

Read Aloud Levels: 2 - Adult
Read Alone Levels: 4 - Adult
What do these mean?



Plain Girl $5.95
"Despite her father's objections, a young Amish girl secretly looks forward to attending public school where she makes a best friend and gains a new perspective on her family's way of life."

[mark414]

13. zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance...

[laura888]

14. Kafir Boy

about a guy who grew up in South Africa. Excellent!

[briemann]

16. A Confederacy of Dunces.

Great book.

[MsAnthropy]

28. That would make the BEST movie

Every once in a while I hear someone has optioned it but it never gets anywhere.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. House of Leaves perhaps.

I dunno..or Survivor.

[jmowreader]

19. Stephen King's The Long Walk would be perfect for this

You'd do it outside--sets don't get much cheaper. And the film would be mostly intense dialogue...think My Dinner With Andre with gunfire.

[henslee]

21. Learning about plenty of dear to the heart books. Kick.

[SCDem]

23. Sophie's World by Joseph Gaarder or the other book he wrote

The Solitaire Mystery wonderful books... but probably hard to get the excitement out in film that I had while reading the books.

[paula777]

24. The Catcher in the Rye

[MsAnthropy]

29. I agree

I wonder if it will become available after J.D.'s death

[kodi]

25. Microcosmic God

ted sturgeon's story. the best in science fiction.

[warrens]

26. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter

Sex, humor and soap operas. Can't miss.

[LDS Jock]

27. My Pet Goat

I've heard some people were so fascinated by it that even the horrors of 9/11 couldn't pry them away from it.

[Wat_Tyler]

30. Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland.

[Gabi Hayes]

31. they're in process of making the most expensive movie EVER, about this:

[henslee]

32. Please explain? About the real curious george?

[TN al]

34. Polar Star...

...then they can do Red Square, Havanna Bay, and Wolves Eat Dogs. Maybe they could just start it all by remaking Gorky Park.