We discover the literary origin of some of the best films in the history of cinema.
And the Oscar goes to… This weekend the names of the winners of the Oscars are revealed, the most renowned film gala on the whole scene, which will take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles this Sunday at 5pm local time – 02h of the dawn of Monday 10, Spanish time, for devotees of the Seventh Art who want to follow the gala live.
And literature, whether through novels, essays or comics, has been one of its most frequent sources of inspiration since the beginning of the cinema.
Without going any further, one of the great favorites to win the statuette this 2020 is the adaptation of one of the essential classics in any library: Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott. On this occasion, director Greta Gerwig brings her vision and has a luxury cast (Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh or Laura Dern) to take her to the big screen.
From the tragedies of William Shakespeare, through autobiographies turned into successful musicals to fantasy worlds in Middle-earth, many are the tapes that were born from the pages of a book.
That is why from PlanetadeLibros we celebrate this year's Oscars with these six novels that conquered the hearts of academics in their film version.
one. Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
To be or not to be, that is the question. The well-known declaratory phrase of Hamlet It is only the tip of the iceberg of one of the most enigmatic and complex works of universal literature. The celebrated play of William Shakespeare revolves around Prince Hamlet and his eagerness for revenge towards his uncle Claudius, responsible for the death of his father.
The classic has been represented hundreds of times on stages around the world and has also had different film adaptations, the most popular, perhaps, that of Laurence Olivier premiered in 1948. The film won the Oscar for the best film with three other statuettes, including the best actor for Olivier himself. In fact, Laurence Olivier is considered one of the best filmmakers and performers who have approached the work of the Bard, because he also directed and starred in both versions of Henry V Y Ricardo III.
two. Around the World in 80 Days (Julio Verne)
From London to India, passing through Japan, San Francisco and the seas of the Pacific Ocean. The visionary mind of Julio Verne devised one of the greatest adventures in Around the World in 80 Days.
A respectable and measured British sir, Phileas Fogg, and his French butler, Jean Passepartout, engage in a trip around the world after Fogg's strange bet: to get around the globe in eighty days. Now it would be very easy to meet this unusual challenge, but in 1872 the means of transport were very different and, above all, much less fast.
The adventures of Fogg and company reached the glory of the Hollywood Oscars with their victory in 1956, including the prize in the queen category and the best adapted screenplay. The tape, directed by Michael Anderson, It was a blockbuster and brought together many of the stars of the time: David Niven, Cantinflas, Shirley McLaine, Charles Boyer, Marlene Dietrich, Buster Keaton, Frank Sinatra and a long string of star system of the golden Hollywood.
3. Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)
Two young lovers condemned to not be able to enjoy their courtship for the confrontation between their families. One of the most important romantic tragedies of Western culture dating back to Greek mythology and medieval legends that William Shakespeare cleansed in the immortal Romeo and Juliet.
Second appearance of the British playwright in this list, although this time with a movie, West Side Story, that many do not relate to the original Shakespearean. Verona becomes New York, the Montesco and the Capulets are two street gangs (the sharks and the jets) and the lyrics leave room for dance songs and choreographies.
Based on the theater musical composed of Leonard Bernstein, the film is considered one of the best musicals in the history of seventh art and is the most Oscar-winning In these ninety editions. West side story he won in 10 categories, including the best film and direction (Robert Wise). By the way, the iconic balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet it also has its own musical version with the theme Tonight.
Four. Tom jones (Henry Fielding)
One of the greatest classics of British literature emerged from the hilarious and humorous pen of Henry Fielding A novel full of scandals, romances and various lightnesses in 18th-century England as well as a scathing criticism of the hypocrisy of high society.
The Tom jones cinematographic has the face of Albert Finney, Oscar's recently deceased and orphan, despite having been nominated five times, never took the stage. However, Tom jones yes he sang victory by winning four golden statuettes (film, direction, Tony Richardson; adapted screenplay and music) against such legendary titles as The conquest of the west, Cleopatra or Fellini 8 1/2. Like the book, the film is one of the greatest successes of British cinema in its history and one of the few comedies to win the highest award from the Hollywood Academy.
5. Smiles and tears (Maria Von Trapp)
Another musical and also directed by Robert Wise, one of the undisputed geniuses of the genre. Released on Broadway with songs composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the script part of the autobiography of Maria Von Trapp in which he narrates the vicissitudes of the Jewish family that he formed after leaving the abbey in which he performed the functions of a novice. In times of the rise of Nazism in Austria invaded by Hitler's forces, the Von Trapp, music lovers, undertake a forward flight to exile abroad.
Smiles and tears imposed on the great favorite of that edition, Doctor Zhivago, and won 5 Oscar Awards, including the best film and the best director. The angelic Julie Andrews, the tenderness and comicity of the story and, above all, some songs turned into hits popular as The Sound of Music, My Favorite Things, Edelweiss or Do, Re, Mi have converted to Smiles and tears in one of the most beloved films by different generations of viewers throughout this last half century.
6. The Lord of the Rings III: The Return of the King (J. R. R. Tolkien)
The end of the literary journey had an unbeatable outcome on the big screen: 1.2 billion dollars raised at the global box office and 11 Oscar, an absolute record of statuettes shared with Ben Hur Y Titanic. The Lord of the Rings III: The Return of the King He made a full unusual in ninety years of History of the Hollywood Awards: eleven victories of eleven nominations and became the first fantasy film to win the most coveted award of the seventh art.
The trilogy of J. R. R. Tolkien It brings together millions of fans around the world and the pages of this third volume collect the last steps of Frodo and Sam to destroy the Ring of Power in the Cracks of Destiny as the armies of the Dark Lord prepare for the final battle in Middle Earth . The idyll of the Hollywood Academy with the film trilogy of Peter Jackson It was such that the three films obtained a total of 17 Oscars and 30 nominations.
Six great movies for six great books. And if we have awakened your cinephile appetite, here you go our selection of cinema and literature. 😉
