Book Vs Movie Podcast

Book Vs. Movie: Three Days of the CondorThe James Grady Book Vs. the Robert Redford-Starring Movie The Margos talk about the paranoia-soaked 70s with a discussion about the novel & film Three Days of the Condor starring a dreamy Robert Redford and a luminous Faye Dunaway. The story is about a man who loves to read and works for the CIA and gets sucked into a life-threatening chase between himself and outside forces of the government.Published in 1974 (the same year Richard Nixon resigned from office), author James Grady used his experience working in politics in his native Montana to weave a tale around everyman Malcolm Ronald, who reads mystery and spy novels and analyzes the plots for the U.S. government. When his entire office is killed in one fell swoop--he goes on the run with his code name, “Condor,” to find a faithful ally to spare his life. The 1975 movie directed by Sydney Pollack stars a fantastic cast and takes a few liberties with the screenplay (by Lorenzo Semple, Jr. and David Rafiel.) What

Book Vs. Movie: Special Guest, Author Kristen Lopez"But Have You Read the Book?"Our special guest, Kristen Lopez, is the film editor for The Wrap and the author of But Have You Read the Book? In this episode, we talk about her favorite book-to-movie adaptations, how she came across this fun project, the latest on the SAG AFTRA strike, the world of Turner Classic Movies, the hotness of Ben Mankiewicz, and the Warner Brothers private collections. Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupFollow us on Twitter @bookversusmovieInstagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo Margo D’s Blog www.brooklynfitchick.com Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@margodonohuebrooklynfitchick@gmail.comYou can buy your

Book Vs. Movie “The Exorcist” RIP William Friedkin (1935-2023)Replay of the DEC 2018 episode. The Margos revisit the 1971 novel The Exorcist written by the very interesting William Peter Blatty. Based on a true-ish story about a boy possessed by a demon in the 1950s, Blatty changed some key details to create this fiction classic. Director William Friedkin in 1973 just came off an incredible spate of box office successes, including 1971’s The French Connection earning him an Academy Award for Best Director. The Exorcist became the biggest financial success of his career but turned out to be something of a curse as well. The hosts read the book, watched the movie, and decided which they liked better in this episode. Plus, they talk about trivia about the book and movie. In this episode, they discuss The backstory of the “real” exorcism from the 1950s Author William Peter Blatty’s writing process, The story behind the major casting choices, How some of the more famous scenes were created, The supposed “Exorcist”

Book Vs. Movie:The Red ShoesThe Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tale vs. the 1948 Classic FilmThe Margos (and a special guest star!) put on their dancing shoes with the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale “The Red Shoes” along with the 1948 adaptation that is considered a ballet/film classic with some of the most beautiful sequences along with a meditation on “art versus life.” Published in 1845, The Red Shoes appears in “New Fairy Tales” and tells the story of Karen, a vain and selfish girl who has a particular pair of red shoes that causes her to dance with frenzy. Apparently, the author used his own sister’s name for the horrible lead and his father being a proud shoe cobbler who demanded to be treated with respect from even his wealthiest clients. The movie is a technicolor masterpiece filled with renowned dancers and is the coloration between Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (following the successful 1947 film Black Narcissus.) It’s considered one of the best British films ever and won the Academy Awar

Book Vs. Movie: The SwimmerThe 1964 John Cheever story vs. the 1968 Burt Lancaster FilmBurt Lancaster always claimed that his 1968 film The Swimmer was his best work, and we are here to show you exactly why! The John Cheever short story that appeared in the July 18, 1964 issue of The New Yorker is a surrealistic tale of an alcoholic man (Neddy Merrill) who journeys to his home through suburban New York via swimming pools. Along the way, he realizes that the life he thinks he is leading (high status with a beautiful family) is actually in shambles, and he is, in fact, alone and broke. The 1968 film is a masterclass of acting and direction, which is ironic considering the shoot was chaotic, with the firing of several actors and the director, Frank Perry, during the shoot. With a 24-year-old Marvin Hamlisch soundtrack, cameos from Joan Rivers and Janet Landgard, and Lancaster in a blue swimsuit showing off his 52-year-old body--the film was not well-received at the time by the press or at the box office. Since t

Book Vs. Movie: Ode to Billy JoeThe 1967 Song Vs. the 1976 Movie It was a hot and steamy summer day when we recorded this episode, so we decided to go as far south as we could get here in the USA with the tale of Billie Joe Macallister (named Billy Joe for the movie adaptation) and why he may have jumped to his death off the Tallahacthie Bridge. Mississippi native Bobbie Gentry wrote the song in 1967 for her first album, and it became a huge sensation. The song is written from the viewpoint of the narrator, a young girl who knew Billie Joe but did not say if she is privy to why he died the way he did. How did she know him, and what did they throw from the bridge? These are still asked of the singer, but she kept it opaque. (She is also a recluse who never gives interviews, though she is considered a legend in country music.The film was produced and directed by Max Baer, Jr. and written by Herman Racuher (of Summer of ‘42 fame ), who spoke privately with Gentry about the path he wanted to take fleshing out the

Book Vs. Movie: The KillersThe 1927 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Vs. the 1946 Classic FilmThe Margos are discussing Ernest Hemingway for the first time on the podcast after nine years of producing, which is shocking! His 1927 short story, The Killers, was first published in 1927 for Scribner’s Magazine and is a return of his character Nick Adams who appears in several short stories. Set in Summit, Illinois, Adams has to deal with a couple of hitmen looking to take out a boxer named “Ole Anderson.” A Swedish heavyweight fighter being warned about impending doom decides to let fate take over. Like many of his peers, Hemingway detested the Hollywood versions of his work that were sanitized due to the Hays Code. In the 1946 adaptation, director Robert Siodmak and screenwriter Anthony Veiller give us more background on “The Swede” and his life after his boxing career ended. So what are the main differences between the short story and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!In this ep, the

Book Vs. Movie: Valley GirlsThe Frank & Moon Zappa Song Vs. the 1983 Classic FilmWe know that Frank Zappa did not authorize using the song Valley Girl (co-written with his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit in 1982.) But we had to cover this movie because if there was ever a song that influenced the culture of the early 80s --this was it.Moon Zappa is the oldest child of the late Frank Zappa, and after spending most of her childhood waiting for her dad to make time for her, she reached out to him with his favorite love language--snarky lyrics. Using expressions from her peers in the San Fernando Valley--the Zappas created a song that lampoons the white bread, snotty culture of “Vals.” The fact it became a hit song (and Frank’s only Top 40 single) shocked everyone involved. The producers of the 1983 film tried to get Frank to sign the rights but only with the overall approval of the script and music. The film, directed by Martha Coolidge and starring Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, became a classic teen film

Book Vs. Movie: Rumble FishThe 1975 Novel Vs. the 1983 MovieRusty James is a 14-year-old kid in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who lives a troubled life in 1975’s Rumble Fish, written by former teen sensation S.E. Hinton who published her first work (the YA classic The Outsiders while a freshman in college in 1967. James spends his days getting into fights, hanging out with best friend Steve, trying to find time for his girlfriend Patty, and, most of all, idolizing his older brother, The Motorcycle Boy. The events leading up to his time in the reformatory make up for the main action, and the audience sympathizes with a kid who can’t seem to catch a break. The 1983 film was co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Simultaneously, he created The Outsiders adaptation, which would become a cult classic. With some of the same cast members (including Matt Dillon and Diane Lane) and the addition of Mickey Rourke, Nicolas Cage, and Dennis Hopper--Coppola aims for a French New Wave look and feel. Filmed on video and in blac

Book Vs. Movie: The Children’s HourThe 1934 Play Vs. the 1936 ("These Three") & 1961 AdaptationLillian Hellman’s first play, The Children’s Hour, caused a sensation in 1934 when it debuted on Broadway with the tale of two schoolteachers accused of being lesbians when homosexuality was illegal in much of the U.S. The show was so scandalous that a Chicago run was canceled. Hellman always stated that the play's moral was about the power of lies and how they can affect an entire community. In 1936, Hellman wrote the screenplay for its first adaptation, These Three, starring Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins, and Joel McRea, jettisoning the lesbian subplot. It was directed by William Wyler, who reluctantly allowed the changes due to the Hays Code but was eager to take on the material again one day. In this episode, the Margos talk about the 1936 & 1961 adaptations with most of the original script intact, both directed by Wyler. The story takes place in New England with two friends who run an all-girls boarding

Book Vs. Movie: Cat on a Hot Tin RoofThe 1955 Play Vs. the 1958 Classic FilmThe Margos are feeling very Southern in this episode devoted to the work of Tennessee Williams and his personal favorite work--Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The 1955 play was based on his 1952 short story “Three Plays of a Summer Game” and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama during its Broadway debut. The story of the Pollitt family in the Mississippi Delta and their personal grievances and torturous secrets was considered incredibly raw and racy for the conservative 1950s. The 1955 play was directed by Elia Kazan and starred future Dallas star Barbara Bel Geddes as Maggie “The Cat” Pollitt and Ben Gazzara as Brick Pollitt. Burl Ives (“Big Daddy”) and Madeleine Sherwood (“Sister Woman”) would go on to star in the film adaptation in 1958. Bel Geddes and Kazan were nominated for the Tony Award in the original production, and the themes of homophobia, family bonds, and sexism excited audiences then and to this day. The film was directed and adapte

Book Vs. Movie: Strangers on a TrainThe 1950 Novel Vs. the 1951 Classic FilmThe Margos return to Alfred Hitchcock with his classic thriller Strangers on a Train, based on Patricia Highsmith’s debut novel. The story of two men meeting up and deciding to commit double murder in just a few hours may strain credulity--but it is a fun story ride!In the novel, budding architect Guy Haines meets wealthy gadabout Charles Anthony Bruno (called Bruno throughout the book) on a train ride to Texas. Guy wants to divorce his cheating (and pregnant) wife, Miriam, to marry his true love, Anne Faulkner. Bruno has a father who wants him to grow up and be more responsible, while he would rather travel, drink, and spend his family’s money. Bruno proposes they kill the person in their lives holding back their happiness. Guy agrees to escape the conversation and is shocked when Bruno strangles Miriam to death. Bruno now wants a favor in return. Highsmith was a master of thrills and suspense with several books, including “The Talen

Book Vs. Movie: The Last Picture ShowThe Larry McMurtry 1966 Novel Vs. the 1971 Peter Bogdanovich Film The Margos put on a Texas-sized episode of Book vs. Movie with The Last Picture Show--both the 1966 novel by Larry McMurtry and the 1971 film by Peter Bogdanovich. Both tell the tale of lonely people living in a forgotten Texas city with barely enough room for their hopes and dreams. McMurtry was a native of Archer City, Texas, born in 1936. When he was young, his family did not own many books and relied on oral storytelling to pass the time. A graduate of both the University of North Texas and Rice University, he would go on to create the town of Thalia as a stand-in for his native land to become the “Thalia: A Texas Trilogy,” which includes Horseman, Pass By (adapted into the 1963 Hud,) Leaving for Cheyenne (adapted into the film Lovin’ Molly in 1974) and 1966’s The Last Picture Show. He would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for Lonesome Dove, and his status as a top-notch writer and collector of antique boo

Book Vs. Movie: Blow-UpThe Julio Cortazar Short Story Vs. the Michelangelo Antonio Movie The Margos are feeling very mod today with this particular episode. We talk about Michelangelo Antonini, one of the most revered directors of the 1960s & 1970s, with a Palm d’Or, the Golden Lion, the Golden Bread, and the Golden Leopard among his film accomplishments. 1966’s Blow-Up is his biggest English language hit, and it captured the New Wave movement in modern filmmaking. The original story is from Julio Cortazar in a short story titled “Las Babas del Diablo,” written in 1959. The symbolism-heavy story is told with several unreliable narrators and the artist's relationship to their medium. Our protagonist is Roberto, a French-Chilean translator who loves photography and may or may not be connected to reality. He remembers watching a middle-aged woman in a park with a teenage boy. Is she procuring him for an older man? Roberto takes photographs and obsesses over the crime about to happen. The 1966 film (Antonioni

Book Vs Movie: “What’s Love Got to Do With It” (1993)Tina Turner’s 1986 Autobiography “I, Tina” Vs. the Angela Bassett Film RIP Tina! (1939-1983)With Tina Turner finally being nominated for a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination as a solo artist--the Margos decided now was the time to take a look at her life story (up to the age of 46) with her 80s bestselling autobiography (co-written by Kurt Loder!)“I, Tina” and compare it with the 1993 film “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Anna Mae Bullock of Natbush, Tennessee, began her life sticking out in her Baptist choirs as a child and grew up to be one of the biggest stars in the world. From the moment she met Ike Turner--her life went on a trajectory of fame, struggle, acclaim, and abuse to reaching the Guinness World Book Of Records for the World’s Largest Playing Audience at 180,000. The movie based on “I, Tina,” was directed by Brian Gibson and stars Angela Bassett and Tina Turner, and Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner, focusing mainly on their marriage and c

Book Vs. Movie: Dragon: The Bruce Lee StoryThe Shannon Lee Book/Memoir Vs. the 1993 Biopic Bruce Lee is one of the biggest martial artists of all time and created the style Jeet Kune Do, which caused controversy within the martial arts community. As a Chinese-American, he wanted to spread the word to anyone eager to learn and not keep secrets. He also believed in pushing himself to the limit in everything he did, which caused friction in Hollywood and Hong Kong film communities. Born Lee Jun-fan November 27, 1940, in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong by parents who tried to keep their smart, energetic son who would get into street fights in the 1950s. After being sent back to America to get his act together, Lee became more interested in school (mainly history and philosophy) and brought his new martial arts ideas to eager Bay Area students to Seattle. After demonstrating his new brand of Kung Fu in a 1964 championship in Long Beach, California, Hollywood came calling for Lee. His early years as a child m

Book Vs. Movie: LauraThe 1943 Novel Vs. the 1944 Classic FilmThe Margos continue with the 1940s with the film noir genre--Laura starring the gorgeous Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, and Vincent Price. Based on the 1943 novel Ring Twice for Laura by Vera Caspary, the story of the mysterious Laura Hunt, who is found murdered (or was she?), was initially serialized in Collier's magazine in October and November 1942. It became a hit novel and was released as an Armed Services Edition to the troops in World War 2. Narrated in the first person, “Laura” is going murdered at her apartment door with her face left unrecognizable. Detective Mark McPherson tries to find her killer and focuses on her former lover, Waldo Lydecker, and her finance Shelby Carpenter. In the middle of the investigation, Laura shows up, surprised that someone was killed in her place. So who is the real victim and killer? The movie, directed by Otto Preminger, brings Gene Tierney as Laura, and from there, the character of Lydecker c

Book Vs. Movie: The Thin ManThe Dashiell Hammett Novel Vs. the 1934 Classic FilmThe Margos are looking for actors with chemistry and witty banter, so we had to dive into the fabulous world of Nick and Nora Charles and The Thin Man. What began as a feature in Redbook magazine in December 1933 turned into a best-selling novel by one of the most important writers of the 20th Century--Dashiell Hammett. We discussed Hammett when talking about The Maltese Falcon, and for several reasons, The Thin Man became his last novel. Hammett was a passionate anti-fascist who joined the Communist Party in 1937. By the 1950s, Congress investigated him before the House of Un-American Activities (HUAC), where he refused to “name names.” He went to a federal penitentiary in West Virginia and found himself impoverished afterward. His partner Lillian Hellman would go on to run his estate posthumously. The Thin Man is a story about a former New York City police officer (Nick Charles) who marries a wealthy socialite (Nora Charles) and

Book Vs. Movie: The Best Years of Our Lives The MacKinlay Kantor Novel Vs. the 1946 Classic FilmThe Margos continue their journey through post-WW2 America with one of the most celebrated movies of the 20th Century--The Best Years of Our Lives. The film was based on the novel Glory for Me by MacKinlay Kantor, who wrote the story of wounded GIs dealing with trauma in blank verse form. He started as a war correspondent in London and flew in some bombing missions. Glory for Me was an unglamorous look at what war makes people do to survive the experience and struggle to live a “normal” life afterward. He based his characters on real soldiers he had met while on his assignments and was passionate about telling the truth. Kantor eventually won the Pulitzer Prize in 1956 for Andersonville, a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. He was unhappy with director William Wyler’s take on his work which he felt was sanitized and disrespected actual war veterans. Wyler had flown in combat missions over Europe on the Memphis Belle

Book Vs. Movie:The Little FoxesThe Lillian Hellman 1939 Play Vs. the 1941 Bette Davis FilmPlaywright Lillian Hellman is one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th Century who had a complicated life filled with love affairs and massive success and was the toast of Broadway for works such as The Little Foxes, The Children’s Hour and Watch on the Rhine. She was also a House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) pariah and was called a liar by author Mary McCarthy on The Dick Cavett Show in 1979. Between controversies and celebrations, she had a 30-year relationship with fellow writer Dashiell Hammett and had many of her works adapted into film. The New Orleans native lived HARD in her 79 years before passing in 1984. The Little Foxes is a semi-autobiographical tale of a 1900 Southern family scheming to gain wealth by any means possible. Regina Hubbard Giddens (played by the legendary Talulah Bankhead on Broadway) is a woman who is married to a man she despises (Horace) and has two brothers (Benjamin and