Definitive Film Versions of Class Reading-List Favorites

Countless works of literature have been adapted for the big screen, yet teachers are often left searching for quality film versions of books they assign to students.

Too often, a film adaptation falls short of a renowned literary work’s lofty expectations. One need only suffer through Roland Joffe’s 1995 vision of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne to understand that great source material does not automatically mean the film will be equally brilliant (even if the cast includes the likes of Gary Oldman and Robert Duvall).

With this in mind, EducationWorld has compiled the following list of often-taught works of literature and their definitive film adaptations. These films are all classroom-appropriate given their source’s reading level, and are regarded not only for their cinematic excellence, but also for their faithfulness to the original work. These movies may be used to supplement reading assignments, or spark student discussion about how a story may be re-interpreted via a different medium.

The Crucible (1996), directed by Nicholas Hytner (rated PG-13)

Based on the original play by Arthur Miller, this film is unique in that Miller was also hired to pen the screenplay. This rare author endorsement adds credibility to the film version.

Like the original story, the film follows the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and features the impressive talent of Daniel Day-Lewis starring as John Proctor. The Crucible is well regarded among critics and was nominated for two Academy Awards, including one for Miller for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Hobbit (2012-13-14), directed by Peter Jackson (presumably rated PG-13)

Jackson dazzled moviegoers with his vision of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece The Lord of the Rings, so it’s no surprise that his take on that story’s prequel would be equally good. The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on a quest to rid the world of a terrible dragon. Along the way, he encounters a mischievous creature and comes to possess a magic ring.

Jackson received near-universal acclaim for his work on LOTR, and his efforts on The Hobbit have been endorsed by the estate of Tolkien. To screen all three films would eat up a ton of class time, so perhaps showing selected scenes would be best.

Little Women (1994), directed by Gillian Armstrong (rated PG)

The fifth film version of the Louisa May Alcott novel is without question the best. It remains faithful to the source material while compartmentalizing the story into a brisk 115 minutes. Little Women can be difficult to film given the number of storylines involved, yet the 1994 version does so admirably and retains much of what makes the novel the quintessential coming-of-age story for girls.

This is another film that received critical acclaim, as it was nominated for three Academy Awards, a BAFTA and a Writer’s Guild of America award.

Henry V (1989), directed by Kenneth Branagh (rated PG-13)

Widely considered to be greatest Shakespearian film adaptation of all time, Henry V is all the more impressive, considering it was Branagh’s directorial debut. The rookie director also wrote the screenplay and headlined the all-star cast, which includes the likes of Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Judi Dench and Christian Bale.

Known for the St. Crispin’s Day speech featuring the iconic “We band of brothers,” the film is so much more. The incredible detail of the film and combined talents of the cast make the often-difficult Shakespearian dialogue easier to absorb. This is THE Shakespearian film worth screening in class.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), directed by Robert Mulligan (not rated)

The film version of the controversial novel by Harper Lee is arguable more famous now than its literary source, due largely to the iconic performance of Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. To Kill a Mockingbird was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three, in addition to three Golden Globes. It is considered one of the truly great pieces of American filmmaking.

As with most literary adaptations, To Kill a Mockingbird does vary slightly from its source. But rather than alter the story, Mulligan instead focuses on the trial of Tom Robinson and the character of Boo Radley. The movie omits a sizeable portion of the book, but retains all of the social commentary regarding the trial and conviction of an innocent black man in the South.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), directed by Brian Henson (rated G)

Surprisingly, the Muppet version of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic is both the most entertaining and most faithful film adaptation yet. While just about every film version of the story takes creative license to change dialogue or even the way characters appear, the Muppet version recites dialogue verbatim and maintains Dickens’ original vision of Victorian England.

Too often filmmakers re-write dialogue or eliminate key scenes from the work. The Muppet version goes to great lengths to retain these details. Examples include the scene in which Scrooge is shown the moaning specters outside his window, and the appearance of the Ghost of Christmas Present, who ages as his visit proceeds. Sure, it may be strange to see Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchet, but Michael Cane is a brilliant Scrooge, and the regular Muppet cast of characters does the source material proud.

Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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