Video Versions: Film Adaptations of Plays on Video

(Hardback)

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Description

Many of our favorite films began as playssome as well known as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and some not so well known as You've Got Mail's origin, a 1937 play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo. Video Versions identifies nearly 300 films and their theatrical origins, providing readers with an overview of the films and highlighting similarities and differences to the source plays. Perfect for teachers, students, and anyone interested in theater and film, it is the most complete resource available for video versions of plays. Each entry provides: the original play's title, author, and year of publication; the name of the film, year of production, director and adapter; the main cast and the characters they play; running time and rating if available. Following a plot summary, a critical analysis provides the similarities and differences of the play and film, including character and plot changes, setting, missing or added scenes, special film techniques, and behind-the-scenes information such as who turned down or lost particular parts when the play was adapted to film. A short list of sources for further reading follows each entry. Information about contacting distributorsfor obtaining the filmsis included in the introduction and an extensive index completes the volume.

Reviews

.,."if you have a VCR and a passion for both theatre and film, consider adding it to your library."-Dramatics
.,."this fascinating source is excellently written and highly informative. General readers; undergraduate and graduate students."-Choice
...if you have a VCR and a passion for both theatre and film, consider adding it to your library.-Dramatics
...this fascinating source is excellently written and highly informative. General readers; undergraduate and graduate students.-Choice
[A] treat....Fun to browse and offering useful information not readily found elsewhere, this is definitely recommended.-Video Librarian
Given the high quality...this volume is best shelved with the noncirculating reference materials, as any theatre lover may be tempted to keep it long overdue.-Today's Librarian
Theater and film lovers will enjoy reading about old friends, ' while others will enjoy browsing. An excellent collection development tool and a useful reference source for librarians and educators.-Library Journal
With its selective approach and analytical discussions, Video Versions could be helpful in public and high-school libraries to support literature classes as well as film and acting classes or curriculum.-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
An invaluable resource.- School Library Journal
An invaluable resource.-School Library Journal
An invaluable resource.School Library Journal
"A treat....Fun to browse and offering useful information not readily found elsewhere, this is definitely recommended."-Video Librarian
..."if you have a VCR and a passion for both theatre and film, consider adding it to your library."-Dramatics
..."this fascinating source is excellently written and highly informative. General readers; undergraduate and graduate students."-Choice
"[A] treat....Fun to browse and offering useful information not readily found elsewhere, this is definitely recommended."-Video Librarian
"An invaluable resource."-School Library Journal
"Given the high quality...this volume is best shelved with the noncirculating reference materials, as any theatre lover may be tempted to keep it long overdue."-Today's Librarian
"Theater and film lovers will enjoy reading about old friends, ' while others will enjoy browsing. An excellent collection development tool and a useful reference source for librarians and educators."-Library Journal
"With its selective approach and analytical discussions, Video Versions could be helpful in public and high-school libraries to support literature classes as well as film and acting classes or curriculum."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

Author Bio

THOMAS L. ERSKINE is Professor of English at Salisbury State University, Maryland, and founding editor of Literature/Film Quarterly. His most recent book was the casebook Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Yellow Wallpaper (1993). JAMES M. WELSH is Professor of English at Salisbury State University, Maryland, and Editor-In-Chief of Literature/Film Quarterly and the founding President of the Literature/Film Association. Most recent books are The Encyclopedia of Novels into Film (1998) and The Cinema of Tony Richardson (1999)