Book Vs Movie Podcast

Book Vs. Movie“It’s a Wonderful Life”(2018 replay ep) The Margos get out their hankies and talk about another holiday classic“No man is a failure who has friends.” The Margos wanted to fit in one more holiday movie this year, and what better way to celebrate than with the number one weepie of all time--It’s a Wonderful Life? (Yes, it was based on a short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern and you can read it for yourself in under 15 minutes.)The Greatest Gift is the story of a man named George Bailey who wants to commit suicide. An unnamed stranger gives George his wish to see what life would be like if he had never been born. In the end, he chooses life. Van Doren Stern wrote this short story (which took him several years to finish) in 1944; at first, he could not find anyone willing to publish it. Eventually, he self-published 200 pamphlets and sent them as Christmas cards to family and friends.Director Frank Capra eventually landed the property and decided to completely revamp the story to i

Book Vs. Movie: Freaky FridayThe Mary Rogers Children’s Classic Vs. the 1976 & 2003 Disney AdaptationsIn December (because we have covered just about every holiday-themed Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, and Hannukah film we can find)! The Margos turn our attention to all things Disney, and this year we begin with the classic Freaky Friday by Mary Rogers, which has been adapted a few times since its 1972 publication. Rogers, whose father was composer Richard Rogers, had a full career as a composer, screenwriter, and children’s novelist with successes on stage like Once Upon a Mattress which ran on Broadway in 1959 and later toured the world. In 1972 she contributed to the Marlo Thomas album Free to Be You and Me (William’s Doll) before completing Freaky Friday. The story of 13-year-old Annabel Andrews, who switches bodies with her mother only to discover being a parent is much harder than it looks. Annabell finds out her father is sexist and runs her mother ragged with demands on home life. Ultimately,

Book Vs. Movie Christmas With the KranksYes, the 2004 movie is based on a book!The Margos have more holiday spirit than Luther & Nora Krank, the main characters of the John Grisham novel Skipping Christmas. Luther & Nora normally go all out during the holidays in equal zeal with their neighbors, who seem to think Christmas celebrations are THE most important thing in the world. (One Margo liked the movie more than the other!)But with their daughter spending the holidays in Peru for the Peace Corps, they decide to forgo decadent spending and take a vacation on a cruise instead. Mayhem ensues. The movie (titled Christmas With the Kranks) stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis as Luther & Nora Krankd and even though the film has been out for 15 years now--neither Margo has seen it before! So between the book & movie--which did we like better? Have a listen to find out!In this ep the Margos discuss:John Grisham’s incredible life story and success in publishingThe basic differences between the book &

Book Vs. Movie Podcast"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickensthe 2009 Jim Carey Animated MoviePlus, the Margos Pick Their "Top 5 Scrooge Performances"The Margos continue their holiday celebrations with the all-time classic "A Christmas Carol"  by Charles Dickens. There have been hundreds of adaptations on the theme of Scrooge and his ultimate salvation, but only one features stop-motion animation and Jim Carey so we pair the discussion with Disney's A Christmas Carol, directed by Book Vs. Movie favorite Robert Zemeckis.We had SO much fun recording this episode!  Topics we cover here:The Margos each pick our favorite "Scrooge" adaptationThe incredible life story of Charles Dickens and the reasons he wrote A Christmas CarolHow England changed how they celebrate Christmas after the publicationOur favorite adaptations of the workJim Carey’s frenetic performanceClips used:Sir Patrick Stewart readingJim Carey as the Ghost of Christmas past & ScroogeVanessa Williams's “Sleigh Ride”Book Vs. Movie podcast https://w

Book Vs. Movie: The Year Without a Santa ClausThe Rankin/Bass 1974 Classic Special Based on a Light Verse Book For many 70s kids, the Rankin/Bass specials with their catchy music and stop motion animation, were high art. From Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, their specials garnered big ratings and helped popularize holiday music. One of their most iconic specials was based on a 1956 Phillis McGinley book, The Year Without a Santa Clause which told the story of a burnt-out Kris Kringle who wanted to take leave for one Christmas. McGinley (1905-1978) was a master of the “light verse” and used humor to describe everyday life. Throughout her writing career (as a poet and children’s author) she loved to talk about humility and living a simple, suburban life. She was not aligned with Sylvia Plath or Betty Friedan who questioned the purpose of being a woman in the 20th Century. McGinley was a lonely child who married at 32 (late for the time) and lived a Mad Men kind of life in Larchm

Book Vs. Movie: Last ChristmasThe George Michael Classic Song Vs. the 2019 Holiday FilmHappy Holidays!The Margos have covered so many Christmas-themed episodes in the past that we had to reach out and use a classic holiday song, Last Christmas, written and produced by the late great George Michael, and talk about the adorable 2019 film adaptation written by the revered Emma Thompson.The song is one of those “earworm” ditties that you either hate or love (similar to Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time) that several major artists have sung since its debut in 1984. It’s a holiday story about love and longing that anyone can relate to, and if you hate it, you might as well skip this episode!Before he passed away on Christmas day in 2016 (the irony!), Michael said he would only accept Thompson as the screenwriter if it were ever made into a film. The result is a delightful mixture of wonderful acting (Emilia Clark, Henry Golding, and Michelle Yeoh,) direction by Paul Feig, a bevy of Michael’s best tunes, and

Book Vs. Movie: Eyes Wide ShutThe 1999 Classic Stanley Kubrick Film Vs. The 1926 Short Story by Arthur Schnitzler Do you know the password? The inside password? The Margos look at the 1999 Stanely Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut, which was released after the director’s death in March and at the SAME time as The Blair Witch Project and is one of the most debated of his works. A sex drama about an impossibly beautiful couple (then married Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman), the film explores the themes of marriage, fidelity, identity, consequences, and …masks? This is either one of the best films of Kubrick’s career or the dullest. Let’s get ready to discuss! Having bought the rights to the German author Arthur Schnitzler’s novella Traumnovelle/Rhapsody: A Dream novel in 1968, Kubrick wanted to create a masterpiece about love, sex, and identity but often felt he was not ready to film the version in his mind. When he met Cruise and Kidman in 1996, he finally met his essential “Bill and Alice Hartford,” two extraordinari

Book Vs. Movie: Searching for Bobby FischerThe true story of a chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, his father’s New York Times article, and the 1993 film The Margos gently enter into the world of chess (a game neither of us knows very well so, please be patient!) with Searching for Bobby Fischer. Josh Waitzkin was considered a chess prodigy when he played in tournaments around thew country as a young child. In 1985 his father, Fred Waitzkin, wrote an article for The New York Times “Fathering a Chess Prodigy” about the struggle to raise a son who is gifted in a sport/game. Fred wants his son to achieve his dreams, but he is fearful Josh won’t be a normal kid (Josh eventually became an International Chess Master at 16.) The book Searching for Bobby Fischer came out in 1988 and the 1993 film was directed by Steven Zaillian and earned praise for its cinematography and performances. Bobby Fischer led a very complicated (and frankly, sad) childhood as a chess champion which later turned him into a hermit. Did the chess b

Book Vs. Movie: PersepolisMarjane Satrapi's Comic Autobiography Vs. the Animated Feature The Margos this week delve into the complicated history of Iran via the life story of artist and writer Marjane Satrapi who wrote several comics under the banner of Persepolis from her early childhood to her later years as an activist. The original work was published in French as Satrapi is part French and Iranian and spent much of her adult life in France. She had a first-hand look at the Islamic Revolution in 1979 when her family members were jailed for being activists. Satrapi vividly recalls being forced to wear a veil, how women’s rights were taken away quickly during this time, and how this affected her education, her family situation, and the eventual war with Iraq. The 2007 film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 80th Academy Awards. Between the 2000 novel and the film--which did we like better? You have to listen to find out!!In this ep the Margos discuss:The life story of Marjane SatrapiWhat the Marg

Book Vs. Movie: The Witches Roald Dahl’s 1983 Children’s Novel Vs. the 1990 Nicolas Roeg Cult Classic FilmThe Margos finish October’s month of spooky books and movies with 1983’s The Witches by Roald Dahl (a favorite of this podcast!) This is one of his last works before his death in 1990 and is based on his love for his mother, Sofie Dahl. Stephen Roxburgh edited the work, and Quentin Blake’s illustrations received great praise at the time though the story was thought to be “misogynistic.” It’s now known as a modern classic. The story of an unnamed boy who lives with his Norweigian grandmother after his parents are killed and learns about witches who are ALL female and eat children is---intense. He learns that witches all over the world behave differently and that his being sent to an English school might make him vulnerable to the Grand Vulnerable High Witch of All the World. The story has kids turning into mice, magic potions, wigs, pea soup, and so much more weirdness, and an ending that might be more off

Book Vs. Movie: Rosemary’s BabyThe Ira Levin Novel Vs. 1968 Classic FilmIt’s October, and the Margos are filling the month with scary, spooky films based on creepy books, and few have a more sinister premise than Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin. The story of a 1960s housewife who is married to a struggling actor who will make a deal with the devil himself in order to succeed. Released in 1967, the story is set in NYC, where Guy and Rosemary settle into the Gothic Bramford apartment building with a strange history of murder and witchcraft. The nosy, older neighbors, Minnie and Roman Castevet, start to meddle in their lives, and soon enough Guy is becoming a successful actor, and Rosemary becomes pregnant. What should be the happiest time in her soon becomes a hellscape of pain, tannis root drinks, creepy sex, and “chocolate mouse.” Is Rosemary carrying the spawn of Satan? The movie stars Mia Farrow, is directed by the deeply problematic Roman Polanski, and is now considered a classic thriller. So between the boo

Book Vs. Movie: Don’t Look Now The Daphne DuMaurier Short Story Vs. the Nicolas Roeg FilmIt’s October, and the Margos are feeling excited about watching spooky movies! This week we talk about the ever-amazing Daphe DuMaurier, and her short story Don’t Look Now, which was published in 1971 and later adapted by director Nicolas Roeg and starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. The story and film are considered classic tales of horror for the tale of parents dealing with the loss of a child while on vacation in Venice. John and Laura are on holiday trying to escape their grief from the death of their daughter, who died from meningitis (in the book), when they meet identical twin sisters who are older and have psychic abilities. One of the sisters is also blind. They warn the couple that their son, Johnnie, has “second sight” and will be killed if they stay in Venice. The movie has many of the same beats as the original story but is controversial for a sex scene between the leads that may or may not be “rea

Book Vs Movie Coal Miner’s Daughter The Margos Head to Butcher Hollow to Talk About One of the Top Country Music Artists of All TimeLoretta Lynn is a multi-hyphen: singer, songwriter, musician, wife, mother, and author. The Margos were thrilled to discover that the 1980 movie Coal Miner’s Daughter was based on her 1976 autobiography of the same name. As superfans--we needed to bring this episode to our followers--you are all welcome!Loretta began her life in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky and later became one of the most revered & successful artists in recorded music. She was the oldest of eight children and by the time she was just shy of 16--she married her life mate Oliver “Doolittle” Webb. The film stars an incandescent Sissy Spacek as Lynn, Tommy Lee Jones as “Doo” Lynn, and Levon Helm (of “The Band” fame) as her father, Ted Webb. Sure, you can argue that the movie follows the “music biopic” re the humble beginnings, the creation of the first hit song, drugs, loneliness, and the downside of fame. But dammi

Book Vs. Movie: The Adeventures of Captain Underpants The First Children’s Book by Dav Pilkey Vs. the 2017 Movie The Margos end their Banned Book Month with a children’s media empire, the Captain Underpants series, that has helped millions of kids who were not big fans of reading learn to love books. For some reason, this book and many of its sequels have been banned from libraries in America. In this episode, we try to dig into the popularity, the story behind Dav Pikley’s creations, and why people across America are storming school library meetings to ban books. Dav Pilkey of Cleveland, Ohio, went to elementary school in the 1970s and was diagnosed with hyperactive disorder and dyslexia, making him want to avoid the constrictions of regular school life. He drew comic books, wrote stories, and was usually punished for not being able to sit still. Sitting at a desk alone in the school hallways, he created ‘Captain Underpants,” -a superhero who wore underwear and a cape because that is what most superheroes w

Book Vs. Movie: The Giver The 1993 Classic 1993 Novel by Lios Lowry & the 2014 MovieThe Margos continue their “Banned Book Month” with The Giver by Lois Lowry, one of the most praised young adult novels of the 1990s that is also one of the most challenged books of the last 30+ years. Lowry based the story partly on her “army brat” upbringing with its strictness and her desire to honor life’s journey throughout its ups and downs. We can forget that other people do not have that privilege by wanting to live in a world without pain. In the novel, our lead character, Jonas, lives in a Community where “sameness” is desired, and no one wants to stand out. Everyone has a role designed for them, and there is no music or dancing. Desire and wanting are considered “bad,” and at 12, you are given your “adult” career. Jonas is made a Receiver of Memory by an Elder and is training for the job when he learns that not perfect babies are “released” from the community and taken “Elsewhere.” Jonas learns his father does

Book Vs. Movie: Slaughterhouse-Five The 1969 Kurt Vonnegut Masterpiece Vs. the 1972 Filmed AdaptationThe Margos continue “Banned Book Month” with one of the most controversial works by celebrated author Kurt Vonnegut, 1969’s antiwar novel Slaughterhouse-Five: or The Children’s Crusade: A Dirty Dance with Death. Vonnegut’s fictional account of his real-life experience as a prisoner of war and the WW2 Dresden bombing was published at the height of the Viet Nam conflict and appreciated by millions who loved the science-fiction blend of sex, the futility of war, American hypocrisy, and the meaning of life. The lead character of Billy Pilgrim is “unstuck in time” as he moves from different events in life due to his traumatic war experiences. Captured by the Germans after the Battle of the Bulge, the weak Pilgrim and his cohorts are marched to Dresden during the waning days of WW2, not knowing that the allies were planning to bomb the open city that had approximately 25,000 citizens who were not in the military.

Book Vs. Movie: The Chocolate War Robert Cormier 1974 YA Novel Vs. The 1988 Keith Gordon FilmThis September, the Margos are going to cover books that have been placed on “Banned Books” lists at schools and libraries in America over the last 100+ years, starting with The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, which has consistently been banned in high schools for language, religious questioning, and sexual imagery since its publication. The story of Jerry Renault, a lonely high school freshman at a Catholic school mourning the loss of his mother and trying to figure out how to find his way in life while maintaining his individuality. The main high school clique, the Vigils, run by creepy Archie, wants Charlie to refuse to sell chocolates to make him stand out (badly) to Brother Leon. Leon needs to sell 20,000 boxes of chocolates because he borrowed too much cash ahead of time and the school administration is close to finding this out. When Jerry is “allowed” by the Vigils to sell the chocolates, he continues to ref

Book Vs. Movie: James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl’s 1961 Children’s Novel Vs. the 1996 Henry Sellick AdaptationThe Margos have covered Roald Dahl several times on this podcast for good reason, he has written dozens of interesting stories in the 20th Century. He is also a polarizing and controversial figure, but his influence on children’s literature is undeniable. James and the Giant Peach is very typical in his storytelling in that it features a protagonist who is a small child that is smart, lonely, and is abused by the adults in their lives. Dahl dedicated it in 1961 to his daughter Olivia who died from complications of measles only a year after the book's publication. James Henry Trotter is an orphan sent to live with two mean Aunts after his parents die. They work him tirelessly until he meets a magician who gives him magic crystals--that he loses almost immediately. But, soon, a giant peach grows on his front lawn, sending him on a grand adventure. The Giant Peach takes James and his friends all the

Book Vs. Movie: Chitty Chitty Bang BangThe 1964 Ian Fleming Story vs the 1968 Dick Van Dyke Movie The Margos can’t seem to escape the allure of Ian Fleming with an episode devoted to his only children’s story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which was published in October 1964--two months after his death at the age of 56. He wrote the story for his son Caspar and based many of the characters on his children and their friends with the backstory of “aero-engine racing carts” of the 1920s by Louis Zborowski in London. The story of Commander Caractacus Pott and his adventures with his car “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”--so named for the sound she made when in motion.” The car goes on many adventures around England and France, including the ability to “swim” and “fly” and evade bad guys that kidnap the kids to use them in robberies. Albert “Cubby” Broccoli produced the film which took many liberties with the basic story and added second-tier music from the Sherman Brothers (Disney masters who worked for MGM on this project.) It

Book Vs. Movie: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas Agatha Christie’s Holiday Mystery Vs the David Suchet “Poirot” TV Series The Margos return to Agatha Christie and one of her most famous detectives with Hercule Poirot’s Christmas which was originally released in 1938. The “locked room mystery” is one of her most well-loved stories. This being the holiday season, we thought it made for a perfect inclusion to our December episodes!  A family returns home to visit with their elderly (and rich) father during the Christmas holidays and is soon found murdered in his locked bedroom. The family switches blame upon one another constantly but Poirot uncovers clues that show the culprit who exacted revenge as a man who hated his father for abandoning his mother.  Agatha Christie’s Poirot, with actor David Suchet, aired this episode in December 1994 (Season Six, Episode 1)  So, between the original story and the TV adaptation--which did we prefer?  In this ep the Margos discuss: The life of Agatha Christie  David Suchet as Po