Alle afleveringen
175 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Sweet Smell of Success (1957) Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Ernest Lehman, & Clifford Odets
13 november 2023 · 1 uur 13 min
Book Vs. Movie: Sweet Smell of Success Lees meer
Ernest Lehman was an accomplished writer and adapter of material for the screen, known for his work on movies such as Hello Dolly!, The King and I, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In 1950, he wrote an original short story, "Tell Me About It Tomorrow,” published in Cosmopolitan magazine. This story became the basis of Clifford Odet’s screenplay for the 1957 classic film Sweet Smell of Success, starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis and directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film is a gripping portrayal of media manipulation, gossip, backstabbing, and strange family relationships set in the world of New York City newspapers and the desire for fame.
If you're wondering which version the Margos liked better, listen in to find out!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:The career of Ernest Lehman
Gossip columnists and their power to change narratives.
The differences between the short story and the film.
The cast of the 1957 film: Burt Lancaster (J.J. Hunsecker,) Tony Curtis (Sidney Falco,) Susan Harrison (Susan Hunsecker,) Martin Milner (Steve Dallas,) Sam Levene (Frank D’Angelo,) Barbara Nicholas (Rita,) Jeff Donnell (Sally) and Joe Frisco as Herbie Temple.
Clips used:
JJ’s table
Sweet Smell of Success (1957 trailer)
“Cookie full of arsenic”
“Cheek to Chico”
“Cigarette girls”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Prisoner of your fears”
“I pity you.”
Music: Elmer Bernstein
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 Group
Follow us on Twitter @bookversusmovie
Instagram: 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/@margodonohue
brooklynfitchi… -
The Gambler (1980) Kenny Rogers (as The Gambler), Bruce Boxleitner & Lee Purcell
5 november 2023 · 58 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Gambler
The 1978 Song & Kenny Rogers as The Gambler TV Movie
Yee ha! Lees meerThe Margos' latest episode is all about the Kenny Rogers classic "The Gambler." The song was written in 1976 by Don Schlitz, who was only 26 years old at the time. It took two years before Rogers made it a number 1 hit. The song's lyrics tell the story of a chance encounter on a train between the narrator and a seasoned gambler.
The gambler imparts his wisdom about life and gambling to the narrator, offering advice including the famous lines: "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table; there'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."
The song was so popular that it became the basis for several top-rated TV movies. The first one, "The Gambler" (1980), introduced the character of Brady Hawkes. In this film, Brady meets a young orphan named Billy Montana and takes him under his wing as they travel together.
In their latest episode, the Margos discuss both the song and the TV movie and share their thoughts on which they liked more between the 1978 song and the first TV movie. Give it a listen to find out!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The origins of the song and the AMAZING Kenny Rogers
Country music hits of the late 1970s and early 1980s
TV Movie culture of the 1980s
The cast of the 1980 film: Kenny Rogers (Brady Hawkes,) Bruce Boxleitner (Billy Montana,) Christine Belford (Eliza,) Harold Gould (Arthur Stobridge,) Clu Gulager (Rufe Bennett,) Lance LeGault (Doc Palmer,) Lee Purcell (Jennie Reed,) Ronnie Scribner (Jeremiah,) Noble Willingham (Conductor,) Bruce M. Fischer (Tabor,) and Borah Silver as Botkin.
Clips used:
Kenny Rogers on The Muppet Show in 1979
The Gambler TV trailer
Geico Kenny Rogers Ad
1991 TV ad
Grady meets Billy
“Dear Pa” letter
Jennie is “asked” to join Mr. Stobridge
Rufe Bennett is a creep!
Grady and Eliza …
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Misery (1990) Stephen King, Kathy Bates, James Caan & special guest Alex Steed "You Are Good"
29 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 35 min
Book Vs. Movie: Misery
The 1987 Stephen King Novel Vs. the 1990 Classic Movie Lees meerThe Margos and special guest Alex Steed of the You Are Good film podcast discuss one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever--1990’s Misery.
In both the novel and the film, the characters of Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes are central to the story. However, there are notable differences in their portrayals. In the book, readers get a more in-depth look at the internal struggles of Sheldon, whereas the film focuses more on external conflicts.
The basic story is Sheldon is en route to deliver his manuscript to finally leave the romance literary world behind and start on a new path as a “serious writer.” When his car overturns in the Colorado snowbanks, he is seemingly “rescued’ by former nurse Wilkes, his “biggest fan.” Trouble ensues when she finds out Paul killed off his creation (and her favorite character), Misery Chastain, and she forces him to burn his new work and create a whole new literary revival of the Misery series. Wilkes is also a psychopathic killer who gets the writer hooked on drugs while he is laid up in her home.
James Caan and Kathy Bates deliver memorable performances in the film, and Bates deservedly won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Wilkes. (Though Lizzie Caplan did a fine job in the second season of Castle Rock!) There is also a stage version of the story because--of course.
Between the book & movie, which did we like more? Have a listen and find out!
In this ep, we discuss:Stephen King's op-ed NY Times
Stephen King's adaptations and his works that deal with addiction and recovery
The unique villainry of Annie Wikles
The different versions of the story (the book, play, movie, and TV series)
The differences between the 1987 novel and the Rob Reiner-directed film
The cast of the 1990 film: James Caan (Paul Sheldon,) Kathy Bates (Annie Wilkes,) Richard Farnsworth (Sheriff Buster,) Frances Sternhargen (Deputy Virginia,) Lauren Bacall (Marcia Sindell,)…
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I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) The Lois Duncan novel vs. the Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar movie
22 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 24 min
Book Vs. Movie: I Know What You Did Last Summer
The 1973 Lois Duncan YA Novel Vs. the 1997 Movie Lees meer"I Know What You Did Last Summer" revolves around a group of friends, Julie, Helen, Ray, and Barry, who accidentally hit a stranger with their car on a dark, lonely road. In a panic, they make a harrowing decision to hide the accident, believing they can escape the consequences. However, one year later, their lives unravel as they receive ominous messages from a mysterious figure who knows their deadly secret.
Lois Duncan's novel, published in 1973, unfolds in the 1970s. The film, directed by Jim Gillespie, modernized the story to the late 1990s. This update significantly alters the atmosphere and dynamics, replacing the retro feel of the book with a more contemporary vibe.
Between the book & movie, which did we like more? Have a listen and find out!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:YA Horror novels of the 1970s
Author Lois Duncan
The differences between the 1973 (and the updated) version of the story and the movie
The cast of the 1997 film: Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie James,) Sarah Michelle Gellar (Helen Shivers,) Ryan Phillipe (Barry Cox,) Feddie Prinze Jr. (Ray Bronson,) Bridgette Wilson (Elsa Shivers,) Anne Heche (Missy Egan,) Muse Watson (Ben Willis/The Fisherman,) Johnny Galecki (Max Neurick) and Stuart Greer as the Officer.
Clips used:
“I think he is dead”
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997 trailer)
“We will dump the body”
“We will take this to our graves”
Killer in the balcony
What Are You Waiting For?
Music: Jennifer Love Hewitt's “How Do I Deal?”
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 Group
Follow us on Twitter @bookversusmovie
Instagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
Margo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo
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Carrie (1976) Piper Laurie(RIP) Sissy Spacek & Amy Irving (Replay of 2018 episode)
18 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 15 min
In honor of the recent passing of Piper Laurie, we are replaying our 2018 episode
that revisits a classic Stephen King tale--Carrie, which we originally covered in 2014 (using the old, old way we recorded back in the early days.) This is not only King's first movie adaptation but also based on his first published novel. There are so many changes between book & movie that we wanted to give it a modern treatment (meaning better sound and lots of clips!) Lees meerJust how different is the original novel versus the Brian DePalma masterpiece of horror? Whoo boy---there were some major changes made (and for very good reason, in many instances.)
So which did the Margos like better? Book or Movie? Check out the link below to find out!
In this ep the Margos discuss :
The backstory behind Stephen King’s first novel (and why his wife Tabitha is a hero to King fans everywhere!)
The major differences between the book and the 1976 movie
How "Carrie" became a famous “musical flop” in the 80s and is now considered a camp classic
The casting of the movie included Sissy Spacek "Carrie," Piper Laurie "Margaret White," Amy Irving "Sue Snell," John Travolta "Billy Nolan" and William Katt "Tommy Ross".
The music was used by famed composer Bernard Herrmann, who died just before the movie’s release.
The various “Carrie” TV movies and films that have been created since 1976
Clips Featured:Stephen King interviewed by MPR’s “Talking Volumes” in 2009
Carrie 1976 trailer
Carrie White being told she is a sinner by her mother
Miss Collins (Betty Buckley) talks with Tommy Ross and Sue Snell
Carrie unleashes her power at the prom
Outro Music: Carrie closing credits
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
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House of Usher (1960) Vincent Price, Roger Corman, Richard Matheson, & Edgar Allen Poe
16 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 19 min
Book Vs. Movie: House of Usher
The Edgar Allen Poe Short Story Vs. the 1960 Vincent Price Movie Lees meerThe Margos continue our month of scary movies with the 1839 short story, The Fall of House of Usher, by Edgar Allen Poe, and how it was adapted by Roger Corman in 1960 for the Vincent Price classic House of Usher. The story of the Roderick family, consisting of siblings Roderick and Madeline, is a gothic tale about their shared traumatic experiences that haunt them in their home. The narrator, who remains unnamed, witnesses supernatural occurrences and discovers that Madeline, supposedly dead and buried in the house, is alive. This revelation terrifies her brother, and Madeline uses it to seek revenge against him.
The movie, which Corman directed, is a classic adaptation that stands out for its interpretation of the story and the exceptional acting of Vincent Price. The film was listed in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2005 for its artistic merit. This begs the question: which version do we prefer, the short story or the movie?
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
Edgar Allen Poe
How the material has been interpreted recently
The differences between the short story and the movie
The cast of the 1960 film: Vincent Price (Roderick Usher,) Mark Damon (Phillip Winthrop,) Myrna Fahey (Madeline Usher,) and Harry Ellerbe as the butler, Bristol.
Clips used:
Roderick describes his particular condition
House of Usher 1960 trailer
The Usher family history
“A plague of evil”
“Strange noises in the house”
Music: Les Baxter
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 Group
Follow us on Twitter @bookversusmovie
Instagram: 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 I… -
Wait Until Dark (1967) Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, and Frederick Knott
9 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 23 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Wait Until Dark
The 1966 Richard Knott Play Vs. the 1967 Audrey Hepburn Film Lees meerThe Margos kick off "Scary Movie Month" by discussing Wait Until Dark, both the play by Frederick Knott and the 1967 Audrey Hepburn film. The movie features one of the best jump scares in cinema history. The original production starred Lee Remick and Robert Duvall as Susy and Roat, respectively. The story revolves around Susy, a blind woman who lives alone in her Greenwich Village apartment, and Roat, a creepy intruder who wants to find a doll filled with heroin that her husband accidentally brought home.
Roat and his two cronies play games with Susy, but she ultimately prevails with a bit of courage and some help from her young neighbor, Gloria. Remick's performance earned her a Tony Award nomination, and the play was quickly adapted into a feature film by producer Mel Ferrar (who was also Hepburn's husband at the time).
The movie is consistently ranked as one of the most influential thrillers of all time. So, which did we prefer: the play or the movie?
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
Broadway in the 1960s
The performances of the movie
The differences between the play and the movie
The 1982 Wait Until Dark with Stacy Keach & Katherine Ross
The cast of the 1967 film: Audrey Hepburn (Susy,) Alan Arkin (Roat,) Richard Crenna (Mike,) Efram Zimbalist Jr. (Sam Hendrix,) Jack Weston (Carlino), Samantha Jones (Lisa,) and Julie Herrod as Gloria.
Clips used:
“Tap Tap Tap”
Wait Until Dark 1967 trailer
Gloria and Susy
Alan Arkin and Audrey Hepburn
The big “jump scare”
Music: Henry Mancini and Sue Raney
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 Group
Follow us on Twitter @bookversusmovie
Instagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
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Ghost World (2001) Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Terry Zwigoff, & Daniel Clowes
2 oktober 2023 · 1 uur 9 min
Book Vs. Movie: Ghost World
The 1997 Daniel Clowes Graphic Novel vs. the Terry Zwigoff 2001 Film Lees meerThe Margos are feeling very moody and isolated, discussing the 2001 film Ghost World starring Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as best friends Enid and Rebecca, who are perfect early 00’s angsty and unimpressed with the world and was catnip for audiences and critics alike.
Based on chapter five’s “Hubba Hubba” by Daniel Clowes, the original 1997 graphic novel series Eightball, the story of two lonely misfits who interact with other lost souls, made for an unusual adaptation that earned an Academy Award nomination for Clowes and directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa.)
We read the source material (which you can find as a compilation of short stories in Adaptations: From Short Story to Big Screen by Stephanie Harrison), watched the film (has it aged well?), and tried to decide which we liked better--the book or the movie?
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
Daniel Clowes’s work
The state of graphic novels and independent films in the 1990s
Terry Zwigoff’s adaptation that was somehow NOT a Miramax film
The differences between the graphic novel and movie
The cast of the 2001 film: Thora Birch (Enid,) Scarlett Johannsson (Rebecca,) Steve Buscemi (Seymour,) Brad Renfro (Josh,) Illeana Douglas (Roberta Allsworth,) Bob Balaban (Enid’s father,) Stacey Travis (Dana,) Tom McGowan (Joe,) Brian George (convenience store owner,) Pat Healy (John Ellis,) Rini Bell (graduation speaker,) Terri Garr (Maxine,) David Cross (Gerald,) Ezra Buzzington (“Weird Al,”) and Bruce Glover as Feldman.
Clips used:
Meeting Seymour
Ghost World (2001 original trailer)
High School graduation
Enid gets hired and fired
The art class scene introducing the painting
Enid helps Seymour date
Seymour attacks Josh
Music: “Jaan Pehechan Ho” by Mohammed Rafi
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.
Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts.
Join our Patreon page “Book V… -
The Lorax (2012) Dr. Seuss, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, and Danny DeVito
25 september 2023 · 56 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Lorax
The Dr. Seuss 1971 Children’s Book Vs. the 2012 Adaptation Lees meerThe Margos close out “Banned Books Month” with a visit with Dr. Seuss and The Lorax, a tale of environmental conservation and the dangers of rampant deforestation. Theodore Seuss Geisel was known for his colorful characters, accusations of racism, and having some of his books pulled for outdated notions or controversial take on capitalism.
The Lorax (first published in 1971) was written after a recent trip to Africa where Geisel and his wife were concerned about the environment and wildlife in danger of extinction. The Lorax wants “The Onceler” to stop the destruction of the environment. Over the years, many logging companies tried to get the book banned for being “mean” to their industry. So much so that in 1995, two different forest/wood flooring industries raised funds to create their own version called Truax, which supported the logging industry. (Seriously)
There was a 1972 faithful adaptation starring Eddie Albert, but in this episode, we discuss the 2012 film starring Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, and Ed Helms. It’s filled with lots of music and rare mentions of the actual book. We have THOUGHTS about this one!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The life and work of Dr. Suess
The inspiration for The Lorax.
The reasons schools ban his work.
The differences between the book and movie
The cast of the 2012 film: Danny DeVito (The Lorax,) Ed Helms (The Onceler,) Zac Efron (Ted Wiggins,) Taylor Swift (Audrey,) Rob Riggle (Alyosis O’Hare,) Jenny Slate (Mrs. Wiggins,) Betty White (Grammy Norma,) Nasim Pedrad (Isabella,) Stephen Tobolowsky (Uncle Ubb,) Elamrie Wendel (Aunt Grizelda,) Danny Cooksy (Brett & Chet,) Joel Swetow, Michael Beattie, and Chris Renaud.
Clips used:
Grammy Norma
The Lorax (2012 trailer)
Music: John Powell & Cinco Paul
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts.
Join our Patreon … -
Bridge to Terabithia (2007) Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, & Katherine Paterson
17 september 2023 · 1 uur 10 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Bridge to Teribithia
The 1977 Classic YA Novel Vs. the 2007 Adaptation Lees meerBring out your tissues! The Margos continue Banned Books Month with the 1977 classic by Katherine Paterson--Bridge to Teribithia. The story of Jess Aarons, a fifth-grade kid who grows up lonely and poor but with an artistic temperament that helps him imagine other places and realities. His life changes when he becomes friends with a new kid, Leslie Burke, a fellow dreamer and misfit who encourages his art and helps him find magic in the woods.
Together, they create a world called Teribithia in the forest to help them deal with feeling alienated from peers and, in Jess’s case--his sad, abusive home. A tragedy befalls them that causes a permanent change in Jess. (Trust us, this will break your heart!)
The 2007 film was co-written and co-produced by David L. Paterson (son of the author who, in real life, lost a friend when he was a child.) The director is Gabor Csupo, and produced by Disney Studios.Between the book and movie--which did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The true story that the book is based on.
The work of Katherine Paterson.
The reasons schools ban this work.
The differences between the book and movie
The cast of the 2007 film: Josh Hutcherson (Jess Aarons,) AnnaSophia Robb (Leslie,) Bailee Madison (May Belle,) Zooey Deschanel (Ms. Edmunds,) Robert Patrick (Jack Aarons,) Kate Butler (Mary Aarons,) Devon Wood (Brenda Aarons,) Emma Fenton (Ellie Aarons,) Latham Gaines (Bill Burke,) Judy McIntosh (Judy Burke,) Lauren Clinton (Janice Avery,) Cameron Wakefield (Scott Hoager,) Elliot Lawless (Gary Fulcher,) and Jen Wolfe as the teach Ms. Myers.
Clips used:
Jess & Leslie discuss a magic world
LOOTERS podcast promo
Bridge to Teribithia (2007 trailer)
Avoiding Janice on the bus
Jess & Leslie become friends
“Why Can’t We Be Friends”
Mr. Aarons tells Jess what happened to Leslie
Jess punches out Gary and Ms. Myers has…
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Fahrenheit 451: The Ray Bradbury 1953 Novel Vs the 2018 Michael B. Jordan & Michael Shannon Film
10 september 2023 · 1 uur 19 min
Book Vs. Movie: Fahrenheit 451
The Ray Bradbury 1953 Classic Novel Vs. the 2018 HBO Adaptation Lees meerThe Margos turn up the heat (get it?) with a look at the 1953 literary classic Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury--a banned book for decades. Inspired by the Cold War and the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigating actors, artists, and writers claiming communism, Bradbury’s work has been controversial since its publication over its depiction of an America that embraces book burning and a total lack of individualism.
The story centers around a “fireman,” Guy Montag, an American in the not-so-distant future whose job is to burn all deemed objectionable books. He seems to live an ordinary life, not questioning his line of work along with his wife Mildred, who is endlessly watching TV screens (“parlor walls”) that contain her “real family.” One day, he meets teenage neighbor Clarisse, who lives a life built on free thinking, which is odd to Guy.
When Clarisse goes missing, and Guy’s wife believes he is behaving suspiciously (when she is not overdosing), we learn he has a big secret. He has been storing away contraband books and starting to read what has before been banned.
The 2018 adaptation is written and directed by Ramin Bahrani and will be the movie we compare to the original material in this episode.
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The life and work of Ray Bradbury
The reasons this novel has been banned over the years
Did Bradbury believe that censorship was a big issue?
The differences between the book and movie
The cast of the 2018 film: Michael B. Jordan (Guy Montag,) Michael Shannon (Captain Beatty,) Sofia Boutella (Clarisse,) Khandi Alexander (Toni Morrison,) Lilly Singh (Raven,) Martin Donovan (Commissioner Nyari,) Andy McQueen (Gustavo,) Dylan Taylor (Douglas,) Grace Lynn Kung (Chairman Mao,) Keir Dullea (Historian,) and Cindy Katz as Yuxie.
Clips used:
Bradbury speaks to what the book is really about (Big hint: Kill your television…
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Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret (2023) Judy Blume, Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, & Kathy Bates
4 september 2023 · 1 uur 17 min
Book Vs. Movie: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret
JUDY BLUME Y’ALL!!!!! Lees meerThe Margos begin our annual “Banned Books Month” as always, loving the books and hating why we must feature them. Judy Blume is one of the most successful authors of all time, and her books, some of the most requested to be removed from libraries, make our hearts hurt and fill us with rage!
Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret is a story about an 11-year-old girl, Margaret Simon, who is dealing with issues many of us readers can relate to--feeling anxious, wanting to fit in, unsure of your place in the world, etc. It’s been a classic in YA literature since 1970, and Blume was very particular about its adaptation. The film is written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig for Lionsgate films.
Join us in this discussion!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:The life and work of her majesty--Judy Blume!
Why this book is considered too controversial for kids
The differences between the book and movie
The book Periods, Period. By Alisha Gaddis & Steph Garcia, Illustrations by Desiree Nash
The cast of the 2023 film: Abby Ryder Forston (Margaret Simon,) Rachel McAdams (Barbara Simon,) Kathy Bates (Sylvia Simon,) Benny Safdie (Herb Simon,) Elle Graham (Nancy Wheeler,) Amari Alexis Price (Jamie Loomis,) Katherine Kupferer (Gretchen Potter,) Kate McGluggage (Jan Wheeler,) Aidan Wojtak-Hissong (Moose Freed,) Landon S. Baxter (Evan Wheeler,) Echo Kellum (Mr. Benedict,) Zackary Brooks (Phillip Leroy,) Isol Young (Laura Danker,) Mia Dillon (Mary Hutchins) and Gary Houston as Paul Hutchins.
Clips used:
“We’re moving!”
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret (2023 trailer)
“We must increase our bust”
Bra shopping
The party
Argument about religion
Music: Hans Zimmer
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 Group
Follow us on Twitter @… -
Smoke Signals (1998) Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, & Sherman Alexie
27 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 5 min
Book Vs. Movie: Smoke Signals
The Sherman Alexie Short Story Vs. the 1998 Movie Lees meerIn this episode, the Margos delve into the acclaimed indie film Smoke Signals, released in 1998. This film was based on a series of short stories by Sherman Alexie in 1993, titled The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. The story follows two young men, Victor Joseph and Tom Builds-the-Fire, who grew up on a Spokane Indian Reservation. It explores the interconnectedness of their families, the perception of Native Americans in mainstream media, and the truth behind Tom's father's death.
Smoke Signals was well-received by critics and audiences alike and was showcased at various film festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival, the Gotham Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards. In 2018, it was even added to the National Film Registry. Chris Eyre directed the movie, which was based on Alexie's screenplay.
We'll also be discussing our personal preferences between the two. Come and join this discussion.
Calm History:
If you want to learn about curious moments from history while lowering your stress, try the new podcast Calm History. Each episode is narrated in a calm voice to help you to relax or fall asleep. You’ll enjoy learning about famous explorers, leaders, athletes, inventions, civilizations, and ancient wonders. There is even a 6-part series about The Titanic. Search your podcast player for Calm History, or use the link to calmhistory.com in the episode notes.In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The controversies of writer Sherman Alexie
The history of how America treats Indigenous people. (Big hint--not great!)
The differences between Alexie’s short stories and the film
The cast of the 1998 film: Adam Beach (Victor Joseph,) Evan Adams (Thomas Builds-the-Fire,) Irene Bedard (Suzy Song,) Gary Farmer (Arnold Joseph,) John Trudell (Randy Peone,) Michael Greyeyes (Junior Polatkin,) Michelle St. John (Velma,) Elaine Miles (Lucy,) Cynthia Geary (Cathy the gymnast,) Perrey Rea…
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Three Days of the Condor (1975) Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, & Sydney Pollack
20 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 26 min
Book Vs. Movie: Three Days of the Condor
The James Grady Book Vs. the Robert Redford-Starring Movie Lees meerThe 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 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 Margos discuss:
The original “Sausage Fest” novel
The politics and news of the 1970s (paranoia aplenty!)
The differences between the novel and film
The cast of the 1975 film: Robert Redford (Joe Turner “The Condor,”) Faye Dunaway (Kathy Hale,) Cliff Robertson (Higgins,) Max von Sydow (Joubert,) John Housman (Wabash,) Addison Powell (Leonard Atwood,) Walter McGinn (Sam Barber,) Tina Chen (Janice Chong,) Jess Osuna (The Major,) Helen Stenborg (Mrs. Russell,) Patrick Gorman (Martin,) and Hansford Rowe as Jennings.
Clips used:
The “Condor” likes to read books!
Three Days of the Condor (1975 trailer)
The “Condor” calls in
Faye Dunaway and Robert Redford
Cliff Robertson explains the "game"
The last scene
Music by Dave Grusin
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.…
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"But Have You Read the Book?" Special Guest: Kristen Lopez
13 augustus 2023 · 57 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Special Guest, Author Kristen Lopez
"But Have You Read the Book?" Lees meerOur 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.
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The Exorcist: (1973) RIP William Friedkin 1935-2023 (Replay of DEC 2018 ep.)
7 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 4 min
Book Vs. Movie
“The Exorcist” RIP William Friedkin (1935-2023)
Replay of the DEC 2018 episode. Lees meerThe 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” curse.
Clips used:
William Friedkin being interviewed in 1973
Movie trailer (4K edition)
Original TV Trailer
Chris (Ellen Burstyn) speaks to doctors
Fathers Karas (Jason Miller) and Merrin (Max von Sydow)
Casting out the demon “The Devil” and pea soup.
Outro Music: “Tubular Bells”Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts.
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Follow us on Twitter @bookversusmovie
Instagram: 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/@margodonohue
brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
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The Red Shoes (1948) Hans Christian Anderson, Moira Shearer, "The Archers" & guest Dale Bridges
7 augustus 2023 · 1 uur 22 min
Book Vs. Movie:
The Red Shoes
The Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tale vs. the 1948 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 Award for Best Original Score and Best Art Direction.
What are the main differences between the short story and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
Our special guest is Dale Bridges, author of The Mean Reds, available from Stephen J. Austin University Press.
You can follow his artwork at https://www.dalebridgesart.com/ and on Instagram @Bridges.writer
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The original fairy tale
The history of the movie
The cast of the 1948 film: Anton Walbrook (Boris Lermontov,) Marius Goring (Julian Craster,) Moira Shearer (Victoria Page,) Robert Helpmann (Ivan Boleslawsky,) Leonide Massine (Grischa Ljubov,) Albert Bassermann (Sergei Ratov,) Ludmilla Tchernia (Irinia Boronskaya,) and Esmond Knight as Livingstone “Livy” Montague.
Clips used:
Victoria Page meets Boris Lermontov
The Red Shoes 1948 trailer
The crowd enters the theatre
Lermontov picks his dancers
Grischa Ljubov meets Victoria Page
The last …
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The Swimmer (1968) Burt Lancaster, Joan Rivers, John Cheever, & Marvin Hamlisch
31 juli 2023 · 1 uur 21 min
Book Vs. Movie:
The Swimmer
The 1964 John Cheever story vs. the 1968 Burt Lancaster Film Lees meerBurt 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 then, it has gained a cult following with a look at what small-budgeted movies coming soon in the 1970s.
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 Margos discuss:
John Cheever's writing career and aesthetic
The troubled production of the film
The cast of the 1968 film: Burt Lancaster (Ned Merrill,) Janet Landgard (Julie Ann Hooper,) Janice Rule (Shirley Abbott,) Joan Rivers (Joan,) Kim Hunter (Betty,) Tony Bickley (Donald,) Marge Champion (Peggy,) Bill Fiore (Howie,) Rose Gregio (Sylvia,) Charles Drake (Howard Graham,) Diana Muldaur (Cynthia,) and Dolph Sweet as Henry Biswanger.
Clips used:
“That’s my wagon” opening scene
The Swimmer (1968 trailer)
Neddie opening scene
Julie and Ned
Joan Rivers!!!
Ned and his mistress
Ned at the public park
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will …
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Ode to Billy Joe (1976) Bobbie Gentry, Robby Benson, Glynnis O'Connor, and Max Baer, Jr.
24 juli 2023 · 1 uur 4 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Ode to Billy Joe
The 1967 Song Vs. the 1976 Movie Lees meerIt 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 story. It stars Robby Benson as a sexually confused young man who pursues teenage Bobbie Lee (Glynnis O’Connor.) The film was a massive hit in 1976, and if you check the IMDB and Reddit boards, you will still find people unsure of “what” was going on with Billy Joe that day.
So, what are the main differences between the song and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep, the Margos discuss:
Bobbie Gentry’s career and the long-lasting effect of the song’s success.
Theories about the characters of the song
The cast of the 1976 film: Robby Benson (Billy Joe McAllister ), Glynnis O’Connor (Bobbie Lee Hartley ), Joan Hotchkis (Mrs. Hartely), Sandy McPeak (Papa,) James Best (Dewey Barksdale ), Terence Goodman (James Hartley,) and Becky Bowen as Becky Thompson.
Clips used:
Bobbie Gentry (1967 Andy Williams special)
Ode to Billy Joe (1976 trailer)
Billy Joe meets Bobbie’s parents
Bobbie Lee and Billy Joe have a date
…
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The Killers (1946) Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien, Ernest Hemingway
16 juli 2023 · 1 uur 29 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Killers
The 1927 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Vs. the 1946 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 Margos discuss:
Ernest Hemingway and his incredible life and career
The cast of the 1946 film: Burt Lancaster (Pete Lund/Ole “Swede” Anderson,) Ava Gardner (Kitty Collins,) Edmond O’Brien (Jim Reardon,) Albert Dekker (“Big Jim Colfax,”), Sam Levene (Lt. Sam Lubinsky,) Vince Barnett (Charleston,) Virginia Christine (Lily,) Jack Lambert (“Dum-Dum” Clarke), Phil Brown (Nick Adams,) Charles D. Brown (Packy Robinson,) and Donald MacBride as Reardon’s boss.
Clips used:
The opening scene at the Brentwood diner
The Killers (1946 trailer)
Nick warns The Swede
Main boxing scene
Ava Gardner sings
Kitty leaves Reardon
Colfax dies, and Kitty panics
Music: Miklos Rozsa
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.
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Valley Girl (1983) Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Martha Coolidge, and Frank & Moon Zappa
10 juli 2023 · 1 uur 10 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Valley GirlsThe Frank & Moon Zappa Song Vs. the 1983 Classic Film Lees meerWe 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 that must have stung Frank, who sued the producers as Valley 9000 and lost.So what are the main differences between the song and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen and find out!
This episode is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group, With Every Memory by author Janine Rosche:
"At its heart, With Every Memory is the story of what happens when an already-broken family loses the one person holding them together. Lori Mendenhall returns home to a family she barely recognizes after the same car accident that killed her son stole the last eight years of memories from her. Lori’s once-loving husband is a stoic workaholic with questionable intentions, and her teenage daughter has been chewed up and spit out by the world following the loss of her twin brother. As Lori’s good and bad memories resurface, she must decide whether the family she’s returned to is beyond hope. "In this ep the Margos discuss:
The effect Valley Girl (the song)…
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Rumble Fish (1983) Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, & Nicolas Cage
5 juli 2023 · 1 uur 10 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Rumble Fish
The 1975 Novel Vs. the 1983 Movie Lees meerRusty 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 black and white, the movie has been a mainstay at film festivals and retrospectives for decades.
With her flair for getting into the minds of her teen subjects and realistic portrayals of angst and loneliness--Hinton is a legend in the world of YA Fiction, and her films remain popular with her fans.
So what are the main differences between the book and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The background of S.E. Hinton and her unusual career
The changes Coppola made with the original story.
The cast of the 1983 film: Matt Dillon (Rusty James,) Mickey Rourke (The Motorcycle Boy,) Diane Lane (Patty,) Dennis Hopper (Father,) Diana Scarwid (Cassandra,) Vincent Spano (Steve,) Nicolas Cage (Smokey,) Chris Penn (BJ Jackson,) Lawrence Fishburne (“Midget,”) William Smith (Officer Patterson,) Glenn Withrow (Biff,) Tom Waits (Benny, the Bartender,) Sofia Coppola (Donna,) and S.E. Hinton in a cameo performa…
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The Children's Hour (1961) & These Three (1936) Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, & Lillian Hellman
26 juni 2023 · 54 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Children’s Hour
The 1934 Play Vs. the 1936 ("These Three") & 1961 Adaptation Lees meerLillian 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 school and have a student who gossips about their relationship. While the parents are upset about having lesbians around their children, Karen and Martha fight for their careers and reputation.
What are the other differences between the original play and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
Playwright Lillian Hellman and her politics
The censoring of the original work to film
The cast of the 1961 film: Audrey Hepburn (Karen,) Shiley MacLaine (Martha,) James Garner (Joe,) Miriam Hopkins (Lily,) Fay Bainter (Amelia,) Karen Balkin (Mary,) Veronica Cartwright (Rosalie,) and Mimi Gibson as Evelyn.
Clips used:
Aunt Lily confronts Martha
These Three trailer (1936)
The Children’s Hour (1961 trailer)
BBC 1971 play
Mary and Cousin Joe talk
The coming-out scene
Karen announces her wedding day
Music: Alex North
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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives, & Tennessee Williams
19 juni 2023 · 1 uur 21 min
Book Vs. Movie: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
The 1955 Play Vs. the 1958 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 adapted by Richard Brooks during a time known as the “Hays Code,” which meant the homosexual yearnings expressed by Brick Pollitt (played by Paul Newman in the movie) for his recently deceased best friend Skipper had to be downplayed. Also, the character of Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor in an Academy Award-winning performance) is more toned down and “likable” to ensure not to offend movie-goer sensitivities.
What are the other differences between the original play and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
Playwright Tennessee Williams and how this particular story evolved
The censoring of the original work to film
Why the play endures.
The cast of the 1958 film: Elizabeth Taylor (Maggie Pollitt,) Paul Newman (Brick Pollitt,) Burl Ives (“Big Daddy” Pollitt,) Jack Carson (Gooper Pollitt,) Judith Anderson (“Big Momma” Pollitt,) Madeleine Sherwood (“Sister Woman” Pollitt,) Larry Gates (Dr. Baugh) and Vaugh…
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Strangers on a Train (1952) Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, & Patricia Highsmith
12 juni 2023 · 1 uur 18 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Strangers on a Train
The 1950 Novel Vs. the 1951 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 Talented Mr. Ripley” series. Her private life consisted of several relationships with both men and women, including a married psychologist who helped her with theories about sociopaths and psychopaths.
She was surprised to find her book sold to Alfred Hitchcock for $7500 and angry her agent did not ask for more. (Hitch was known for his secrecy.) The movie adaptation changed her setting from the South and Southwest to NYC and Washington, DC, and included a gay subtext about the relationship between the lead characters.
In an adapted script by Raymond Chandler and Czenzi Ormonde, Guy becomes a tennis pro who ultimately cannot go through with the killing of Bruno’s father. (Spoilers in this episode!)
What are the other differences between the book and the film? And which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
Author Patricia Highsmith
The clever plot and how it has been used over the years.
Hitchcock’s work ethic…
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The Last Picture Show (1971) Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd, Peter Bogdanovich & Larry McMurtry
5 juni 2023 · 1 uur 22 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Last Picture Show
The Larry McMurtry 1966 Novel Vs. the 1971 Peter Bogdanovich Film Lees meerThe 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 books held throughout his life.
The story of Sonny, Duane, Jacy, Ruth, Billy, and more would become a huge part of the film culture. The movie earned over $20 million at the box office on a small production budget and eight nominations for Academy Awards in 1972. It is listed in the United States National Film Registry.At the time of production, the town of Archer City (named Anarene in the film) was scandalized by both the book and the movie. By the time the 1990 sequel Texasville was filmed in the same location and most of the original cast, the town had forgiven them all for the risque material.
So between the short story and movie--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep, the Margos discuss:The bios of McMurtry & Bogdanovich
The differences between the book and movie
Peter Bogdanovich on Dick Cavett 1971
Karina Longworth’s Polly Platt series on You Must Remember This
The cast of the 1971 film: Timothy Bottoms (Sonny,) Jeff Bridges (Duane,) Cy…
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Blow-Up (1966) David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, The Yardbirds, & Michelangelo Antonioni
29 mei 2023 · 1 uur 17 min
Book Vs. Movie: Blow-Up
The Julio Cortazar Short Story Vs. the Michelangelo Antonio Movie Lees meerThe 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’s first English-speaking production) follows Thomas (David Hemmings,) a fashion photographer in demand who obsesses over antiques and modernism. The movie also stars Vanessa Redgrave as a woman being photographed by Thomas in a clinch with an older man. She tries to seduce the roll of film from him after following him home. But he keeps the original and discovers, after blowing up the negatives) that he might have uncovered a murder.
Thomas travels through underground London (via The Yardbirds) and the pastoral field, seeking the truth.
So between the short story and movie--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep, the Margos discuss:The bios of Antonioni & Cortazar
The mod movement of the 1960s London.
The cast of the 1966 film: David Hemmings (Thomas,) Vanessa Redgrave (Jane,) Sarah Miles (Patricia,) John Castle (Bill,) Jane Birkin (the Blonde,) Gillian Hillis (the Brunette,) Peter Bowles (Ron,) Veruschka von Lehndorff (herself,) Jimmy Page (The Ya…
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RIP Tina Turner (1939-2023) What's Love Got...I, Tina REPLAY EP MAY 2023
24 mei 2023 · 57 min
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) Lees meerWith 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 career highlights. Both actors were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances, and the film was a financial and critical success at the time. So between the autobiography & movie--which did we like better? In this ep, the Margos discuss:
The life story of Tina Turner
How Hollywood changed the narrative to fit a more conventional telling of the rock biopic.
The cast: Angela Bassett (Tina Turner,) Laurence Fishburne (Ike Turner,) Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (Alline Bullock,) Sherman Augustus (Reggie,) Vanessa Bell Calloway (Jackie,) Khandi Alexander (Darlene,) Penny Johnson Jerald (Lorraine Taylor,) and Rob LaBelle (Phil Spector.)
Clips used:
What’s Love Got to Do With It trailer
Tina escapes to another hotel
“Rolling on the River”
Music by Tina Turner
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Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) Vs. "Be Water, My Friend" Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, & Shannon Lee
20 mei 2023 · 1 uur 22 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Dragon: The Bruce Lee StoryThe Shannon Lee Book/Memoir Vs. the 1993 Biopic Lees meerBruce 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 movie actor in Hong Kong came in handy with his series The Green Hornet, playing sidekick Kato. Though it only lasted one season, it helped gain a worldwide fan base.
Heading back to his childhood home, Lee produced, wrote, and acted in several films that are now considered Kung Fu classics, including The Big Boss & Fists of Fury. When he passed mysteriously on July 20, 1973, he was still producing what would become his biggest film, Enter the Dragon.
His death at the age of 32 by Cerebral Edema has been explored dozens of times over the last fifty years, with the latest theory being he had too much water in his system, and his kidneys could not function properly.The irony is that we are pairing the 1993 movie Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (starring Jason Scott Lee and Lauren Holly) with Shannon Lee’s 2020 book Be Water My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee. One of his key philosophies was to “be like water” in dealing with all aspects of life.
Linda Lee wr…
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Laura (1944) Gene Tierney, Vincent Price, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Otto Preminger & Vera Caspary
16 mei 2023 · 1 uur 6 min
Book Vs. Movie: Laura
The 1943 Novel Vs. the 1944 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 changes from an obese restauranter to a lanky writer who works in his tub. Dana Andrews plays the detective who falls in love with Laura (and who can blame him?!)
The film's production had intense disagreements between the movie studio, the actors, the directors hired, and even columnist Walter Winchell had a say in the plot. But it is now considered a movie classic.
So between the book and movie--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:The life of writer Vera Casparay
The intriguing plot and why it is considered a mystery/romance picture
The troubled production
The cast of the 1944 film: Gene Tierney (Laura Hunt,) Dana Andrews (Mark McPherson,) Vincent Price (Shelby Carpenter,) and Judith Anderson playing Ann Treadwell.
Clips used:
“Laura” (1944) theme
Mark McPherson calls Laura a “dame.”
Christopher Cross “Laura”
Laura (1945 trailer)
Mark McPherson meets Waldo Lydecker
Laura meets Shelby
“The interrogation scene”
Mu…
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The Thin Man (1934) William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Cesar Romero & Dashiell Hammett
8 mei 2023 · 1 uur 4 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Thin Man
The Dashiell Hammett Novel Vs. the 1934 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 spends his time between the city and San Francisco living as a bon vivant. One day, back in NYC, he runs into Dorothy Wynert, the daughter of a former client looking for her father.
Later, we learn that his secretary (and former lover), Julia Wolf, was found murdered by his former wife, Mimi. The police think she was murdered by her gangster friend Shep Morelli. Mimi’s new husband is much younger, tall, handsome, and slim (the THIN man!) There are all kinds of banter, double-crossing hijinks, and more plot holes than you can shake a stick at.
The movie, directed by W. S. Van Dyke in 1934, stars William Powell & Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and their dog, Asta. Screenwriters Albert Hackett & Francis Goodrich simplified the plot in the first six films about the couple. Powell and Loy shine with their glamorous look, which delighted audiences during the Great Depression, and would go on to be nominated for four Academy Awards (It Happened One Night s…
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The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) William Wyler, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Virginia Mayo, & Fredric March
1 mei 2023 · 1 uur 15 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Best Years of Our Lives
The MacKinlay Kantor Novel Vs. the 1946 Classic Film Lees meerThe 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 and had his ideas on how to tell the story he set in fictional Boone City. He hired top actors Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, and WW2 veteran Harold Russell, who suffered a debilitating injury while serving in WW2.
The movie would go on to win a slew of Academy Awards (including two for Russell!) and is considered a classic.
So between the book and movie--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:The backstory of MacKinlay Kantor
Literature surrounding WW2
The legacy of the movie
The cast of the 1946 film: Myrna Loy (Milly Stephenson,) Frederic March (Al Stephenson,) Dana Andrews (Fred Derry,) Teresa Wright (Peggy Stephenson,) Virginia Mayo (Marie Derry,) Hoagy Carmichael (Butch Engle,) Harold Russell (Homer Parrish,) Cathy O’Donnell (Wilma Cameron,) Roman Bohne (Pat Derry) Marlene Aames (Luella Parrish,) and Gladys George as Hortense Derry.
Clips used:
Fred leaves (opening clip)
The Best Years of Our Lives origina…
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The Little Foxes (1941) Bette Davis, William Wyler, Herbert Marshall, & Lillian Hellman
24 april 2023 · 1 uur 11 min
Book Vs. Movie:
The Little Foxes
The Lillian Hellman 1939 Play Vs. the 1941 Bette Davis Film Lees meerPlaywright 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 Oscar) who have family money that she wants to get her hands on. His many health problems interfere with her good time.
The title comes from the Song of Solomon of the King James Bible: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”
William Wyler directed the 1941 movie and followed closely with the original material (save for a few fewer racial slurs!) Wyler and MGM head Samuel Goldwyn loved the original production but felt that Bankhead would not draw in an audience like Bette Davis (who was extremely reluctant to take the part.) Much of the original Broadway cast did make it to the film, including Dan Duryea and Patricia Collinge.
Wyler and Davis (former lovers) fought throughout the production, with Davis insisting on her changes to the story and wearing heavy makeup to look older.
Forty years later, she put up with having a difficult reputation with widely known easygoing journalist Mike Wallace in …
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Octopussy (1983) Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Ian Fleming, Louis Jordan, & Steven Berkoff
15 april 2023 · 51 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Octopussy
The Ian Fleming Short Story Vs. the 1983 Roger Moore Bond Lees meerThe Margos are feeling very Bond--James Bond that is with 1983’s Octopussy based on a short story by Ian Fleming in the posthumously released Octopussy and The Living Daylights. Fleming, a former British Agent and the creator of Bond, passed away in 1964; he had left several short stories and novels that helped to continue the brand, including comic strips printed in newspapers worldwide. (We can’t promise not to giggle about the title throughout the episode!)
Major Dexter Smythe was a hero in the Second World War and was implicated in a murder scheme and a cache of Nazi gold. In the original story, Bond is a secondary character, and we learn about the tragic life of Smythe. He is a man of only 56 but acts like 96 with loss and alcoholism chasing him through life. Smythe killed a man and let him rot for 15 years under a glacier, so there is that. His pet is an octopus, and Bond allows him the opportunity to either turn himself in or take his own life. While looking for a scorpion fish to feed Octopussy, he stung to death and dragged into the water. All to be eaten by his beloved pet. Bond declares it is an accidental death and moves on.
This film brings Roger Moore back into the part of Agent 007 as he fights Russians, Maud Adam as Octopussy--a “wealthy businesswoman and smuggler” in Udaipur, India. The rest is two hours of jaw-dropping stunts, exotic locations, and fewer puns than expected.
So between the short story and movie--which did the Margos like better?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The life of Ian Fleming and the many variations of Bond over the last 60+ years
The “plot” of this story
The cast of the 1983 film: Roger Moore (James Bond,) Maud Adams (Octopussy,) Louis Jordan (Kamal Khan,) Kristina Wayborn (Magda,) Kabir Bedi (Gobinda,) Steven Berkoff (General Orlov,) Vijay Amritaj (Vijay,) Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny,) and Desmond Llewelyn as Q.
Clips used:
Bond meet…
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Rear Window (1954) Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart, Grace Kelly, & Cornell Woolrich
10 april 2023 · 1 uur 11 min
Book Vs. Movie: Lees meer
Rear WindowThe 1942 Short Story Vs. the 1954 Classic Film
The Margos are swooning throughout this episode for one of the greatest movies of all time, adapted from a short story by a very interesting (and prolific) author. Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window is one of his finest works based on the short story; It Had to be Murder by Cornell Woolrich.
Woolrich is considered one of his generation's best mystery/suspense writers, with dozens of titles making it to movie adaptations, including The Bride Wore Black, Night Had a Thousand Eyes, Mrs. Winterbourne, and Original Sun. He was so proficient as a writer of novels, screenplays, and short stories he had two noms de plumes--William Irish & George Hopley.
A lonely man (he once dedicated a book to his hotel room), when he passed in 1968, he left his work to his alma mater Columbia University which eventually helped change the copyright laws. (See Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, 1998.)
The story's bones are the same as the film: an injured man stuck in his apartment becomes a “peeping tom,” spying on his neighbors and being grumpy to “Sam,” who is paid to help him. Our protagonist believes he has witnessed a murder across the street and is trying to get the police to take him seriously.The 1954 adaptation was shot on the Paramount Studio lot with a full-sized apartment building courtyard to mimic the real thing in Greenwich Village. James Stewart plays LB “Jeff” Jeffries, a photojournalist who is home recovering from a broken leg. Jeff must wear a cast for one more week before returning to his adventurous life. He passes the time by snooping on his neighbors across the courtyard.
Grace Kelly plays his impossible beautiful girlfriend from the upper crust society who is trying to get a commitment from Jeff. (He negs her constantly, which makes ZERO sense!) Jeff wants to see Lisa be more adventurous when he thinks he witnesses a murder across the courtyard.
Thelma Ritter plays his nurse Stella,…
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Touch of Evil (1958) The Film Noir classic directed by Orson Welles starring Charlton Heston & Janet Leigh
5 april 2023 · 1 uur 6 min
Book Vs. Movie: Touch of Evil
The 1956 novel Badge of Evil Vs. the 1958 Film Noir Classic Lees meerThe Margos dive right back into one of our favorite genres--film noir! The 1958 Orson Welles’s directed film Touch of Evil is based on a 1956 novel by Whit Masteron titled Badge of Evil. The book sold reasonably well at the time, but at the time, the movie was given mixed reviews due to Welles not staying until the final edit process.
In 1998, a “re-cut” of the film was based on a 58-page memo Welles had sent to the studio 40 years previously is now considered a modern classic and one of the last true “film noirs” to be released.
Whit Masterson was the nom de plume of two writers--Wade Miller and Will Daemer who wrote more than 30 books together (including Kitten With a Whip in 1964!) Their original story is about a man, Rudy Linneker, killed by a dynamite blast at this home. His daughter Tara stands to make $2 million and is engaged to someone her father disapproved of before her death. There are other suspects, including Ernest Farnum, a disgruntled employee who improbably confesses.
Detectives Leron McCoy and Hank Quinlan are considered “legends” in Los Angeles for their excellent work, and Assistant District Attorney Mitch Holt is suspicious. The rest of the story is a mish-mash of double-crossing police and families in danger, with several lives and careers ruined while exposing hypocrisy and crime in the L.A. police.
Orson Welles was given this project as a B Movie and decided to take apart the story and rebrand it as his vision moving the book action from San Diego to the U.S. & Mexico border. Our protagonist (played by Charlton Heston) was renamed Miguel Vargas and played in “brown face” to serve Welles’s theme of racism and American relations with Mexico.
34-year-old pre-Psycho Janet Leigh rounds out the cast as Vargas’s new bride, Susan Vargas, pre-Duel Dennis Weaver as the Night Manager, and an array of top-notch character actors played by a multi-racial cast.…
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Kinky Boots (2005) Vs the Broadway Musical (2013) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Joel Edgerton, Billy Porter, & Matt Henry
28 maart 2023 · 55 min
Book Vs. Movie: Kinky Boots
The True Story Behind the 2005 Movie & 2013 Broadway Musical (and the 2019 movie!) Lees meerThe “Month of Musicals” concludes with Kinky Boots, the true story of a footwear company in Earls Barton, North Hamptonshire, UK--WJ Brooks. The factory was in Steve Pateman’s family for decades when in the 1990s, they started losing money to the cheaper, faster competition. Pateman appeared on BBC’s Trouble at the Top documentary showing how his company switched to creating boots for transvestites who needed more security when they stood in high heels. The collection expanded to “kink wear,” dubbed “Kinky Boots” by the BBC producers, and the story took off.
In 2005, director Julian Jarrold and writers Geoff Deane and Tim Firth brought the story to life (unfortunately, the factory had to close in 2000.) Joel Edgerton plays Charlie Price (the Steve Patemen substitute), and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Lola is an amalgam of several drag queens that were customers of WJ Brooks's “Divine, Provider, and Lady Provider” brands.
The film has an amazing soundtrack, and Ejiofor was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Harvey Fierstein wrote the book for the musical with legendary talent Cyndi Lauper creating the music and lyrics before its debut in Chicago in 2013. The production would go on to be a smash Broadway hit, earning six Tony Awards and with productions around the world.The Margos debate between the film and the musical to try and decide which we like more!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
The backstory of the movie
The theme of drag in popular culture and how it is being weaponized currently
The cast of the 2005 film: Joel Edgerton (Charlie Price,) Chiwetel Ejiofor (Lola,) Sarah-Jane Potts (Lauren,) Jemima Rooper (Nicola,) Nick Frost (Don Burton,) Linda Bassett (Melanie,) Robert Pugh (Harold Price,) and Ewan Hooper as George.
The cast of the original 2013 Broadway show: Stark Sands (Charlie Price,) Billy Porter (Lola,) Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), and Lena Hall as …
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La Cage aux Folles Vs. The Birdcage: The early film/musical & the Robin Williams, Nathan Lane 1996 film
20 maart 2023 · 1 uur 1 min
Book Vs. Movie:
La Cage Aux Folles & The Birdcage Lees meerThe Original Film and Broadway Musical Vs. the 1996 Film
The “Month of Musicals” continues with the 1996 film The Birdcage, which took its influence from the play turned into Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles. The original 1973 french play takes place in Saint-Tropez, where a gay couple meets an ultra-conservative family member. It was a huge hit in Paris, playing for over a year in 1973, and was made into a film in 1978.
Originally written by Jean Poiret, the original played in Paris for over 1800 performances with Poiret and Michell Serrault as the leads Georges and Albin, aka “Zaza.” The 1978 film had Italian actor Ugo Tognazzi as the lead playing Renato Baldi to Serrault’s Albin. It played to art houses across America. Poiret wanted to film the American version of the film, so he refused to sell the rights to the play but had no problem selling it as a musical.
Grease producer Allan Carr helped bring the project to Broadway as a musical, with Harvey Fierstein writing the book. Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly & Mame) was a revered lyricist and songwriter who provided the music. Director Arthur Laurents helped to make the 1983 production a massive success, with the song “I Am What I Am” becoming a gay anthem.
It’s important to remember what the culture was like in 1984, and having a gay married couple running a drag nightclub being the protagonists was a huge deal in the Queer community. The idea that 40 years later, we have to fight ugly stereotypes about gay people and drag culture is dispiriting, but we are allies who will sing the work's praises. AND point out the hypocrisy happening in the news cycles today.
The original production won the 1984 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, and in 2004, Best Revival of a Musical. (And in 2010 as well!)
No less than comedy powerhouses Elaine May and Mike Nichols wrote and directed the 1996 filmed nonmusical adaptation, which stars Robin Willia… -
John Waters "Hairspray" 1988 and 2007 (Baltimore Magazine article adapted into two films)
12 maart 2023 · 1 uur 15 min
Book Vs. Movie: Hairspray
The 1988 John Waters Movie Vs. the 2007 Adaptation
“Musicals in March” Lees meerThe Margos continue their look at “Musicals in March” with the John Waters classic Hairspray, which started with the 1988 movie starring Rikki Lake, Divine, and Debby Harry. Based on his experiences of being a fan of the 1957-1964 Baltimore teen dance TV program--The Buddy Deane Show, Waters was a huge fan of R&B music. On the Buddy Deane show, the dancers were integrated, unlike Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, which was based out of Philadelphia at the same time.
Baltimore Magazine April 1985 by John Waters "Ladies & Gentleman: The Nicest Kids in Town!”
Being a self-described “Super Fan” of the show, the director has a well-known career as an avant-garde-loving and bizarre artist who loves things that are in bad taste. His interest in something as wholesome as Buddy Deane made him think about writing a more accessible film about a group of teen dancers/local TV stars who fight racism and oppression with their love of music and dance.
Given a modest budget of $2.8 million, the film was a box office hit, and the critics loved this new era of John Waters with even bigger hits in the 90s Cry-Baby & Serial Mom. Waters continues to write and direct his work and is very popular as an actor who appears in everything from Law & Order to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisles.
In 2002, the musical version premiered in Seattle with music and lyrics from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and the book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hit is not a big enough word for this adaptation's success in the 2000s. It won eight Tony Awards (including Best Musical) in 2003 and broke all box office records in London’s West End in 2008.
The 2007 movie was directed by Adam Shankman and stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken and continues the big box office that started with the original 1988 film.
What are the differences between the original and the latest version of the st…
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Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask, & Andrea Martin
5 maart 2023 · 1 uur 21 min
Book Vs. Movie: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
The 1999 Off-Broadway Musical Vs. the 2001 Movie“Musicals in March” Lees meerThe Margos kick off “Musicals in March 2023” with one of the best rock musicals based on a gender-bending lead c character--Hedwig and the Angry Inch created by multi-hyphenates John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask.
Created in the late 1990s Off-Broadway, is the tale of misfit Hedwig Robinson who began life as Hansel Schmidt in Germany and became a famous-ish rocker in middle America.
On her way to stardom, she interacts with the audience, talking about her life and how she wound up with an “Angry Inch.”
The musical was a massive hit in 1998, starting with various music as its center and gradually becoming an original soundtrack--Hedwig was THE cool show to see on Jane Street in the late 90s.
Mitchell wrote and directed the film adaptation in 2001, and Hedwig remains a popular show with none other than Neil Patrick Harris filling her shoes on Broadway.
Between the original and the adaptation, which did we prefer? Have a listen to find out!
In this ep the Margos discuss:The backstory of Hedwig and her creators
Musicals on Broadway in the late 1990s
Director John Cameron Mitchell
The cast: John Cameron Micthell (Hedwig,) Miriam Shor (Yitzhak,) Stephen Trask (Skszp,) Andrea Martin (Phillis Stein,) Michael Pitt (Tommy Speck) and Alberta Watson as Hedwig Schmidt.
Clips used:
Hedwig introduces “Wicked Little Town.”
Hedwig and the Angry Inch 2001 trailer
“Wig in a Box’
Neil Patrick Harris in 2014
Tommy and Hedwig drive in NYC
Music: Tear Me Down by Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Book Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
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Margo D. @BrooklynMa… -
Black Klansman (2018) Spike Lee, John David Washington, Adam Driver & Ron Stallworth
26 februari 2023 · 1 uur 13 min
Book Vs. Movie:
BlacKkKlansman
The True Story Ron Stallworth Lees meerThe Margos visit the world of nonfiction with the too-nutty-to-not-be-true story of retired police officer Ron Stallworth who in the late 1970s infiltrated the Kuy Klux Klan in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On his journey, he met racists throughout the region who were not precisely clever but had designs of terrorizing nonwhites and Jewish people. After his assignment, he transferred to work at the Utah Department of Safety--never speaking about the job until after retirement.
His 2014 book Black Klansman: A Memoir explains how and why he joined the Colorado “Organization” and how it felt to be the only person of color on the police force. We also learn how the KKK planned to bomb gay bars and cross-burnings throughout Colorado Springs. During his recruitment process, Stallworth spoke with the Grand Wizard, David Duke, and even took a photo with the noted racist creep.
Director & screenwriter Spike Lee and producer Jordan Peele adapted the memoir into a 2018 film starring John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace that won wide praise was a box office hit and earned Lee an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. This is a case of taking real life and creating an audacious and funny story.
Between the memoir and the adaptation, which did we prefer? Have a listen to find out!In this ep the Margos discuss:
The real story of Ron Stallworth and his police undercover activities
David Duke and the KKK in the 70s & 80s
Director Spike Lee and his work
The cast: John David Washington (Ron Stallworth,) Adam Driver (Flip Zimmerman,) Laura Harrier (Patrice Dumas,) Corey Hawkins (Kwame Ture,) Topher Grace (David Duke,) Jasper Paakkonen (Felix Kendrickson,) Ryan Eggold (Walter Breachway,) Ashlie Atkinson (Connie Kendrickson,) and Corey Hawkins as Kwame Ture.
Clips used:
The KKK calls Ron
BlacKkKlansman trailer
Stokely Carmichael/Kwame Ture (played by Corey Hawkins)
David Duke finally “meets” Ron…
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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, & August Wilson
20 februari 2023 · 1 uur 7 min
Book Vs. Movie:
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The August Wilson Play Vs. the 2021 Movie Lees meerPittsburgh native August Wilson (1945-2005) is one of the most successful playwrights of the 20th Century; with a collection of works that came to be known as The Pittsburgh Cycle, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice in his career and was inducted into American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006. His 1984 work Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the subject of today’s episode.
Gertrude Pridgett (Ma Rainey’s birth name) was dubbed the “Mother of the Blues” for her outrageous stage presence and ability to hold audiences in her trance. The Blues being one of America’s native art forms, the combination of the gospel with jazz music enticed the world with the earliest recordings featuring African American culture and is revered to this day. Rainey learned the ropes of show business through her husband “Pa Rainey” and was a mentor to a young Bessie Smith.
Wilson’s 1984 play is a fictional account of Rainey attending a recording of her work at a Chicago studio in 1927. By this time in her career, her known toughness and business acumen were legendary, and when she takes center stage in the story--it's hard to take your eyes off her. The studio musicians (Levee, Toledo, Cutler, and Slow Drag) watch her handle recording executives getting rich from her talent. The older group members want to warn young Levee of the harsh realities of the early 20th-century world.
The 2021 film is the final film for Chadwick Boseman, who plays Levee Green, and the Netflix production is dedicated to his memory. Viola Davis plays the role of Ma Rainey with a fierceness that emanates throughout the movie.
Between the original play and the adaptation, which did we prefer?
In this ep the Margos discuss:August Wilson’s career
The significance of “The Pittsburgh Cycle.”
Denzel Washington taking the work of August Wilson to HBO
The cast: Viola Davis (Ma Rainey,) Maxayn Lewis (Ma Rainey singing voice,) Chadwick Bosema…
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Duel (1971) Steven Spielberg, Dennis Weaver, & Richard Matheson
5 februari 2023 · 1 uur 18 min
Book Vs. Movie: Duel
The Richard Matheson Short Story Vs. the Steven Spielberg TV Movie Lees meerIn 1971, a 24-year-old budding director named Steven Spielberg was given a story by his assistant. This fiction story appeared in a recent issue of Playboy magazine, written by one of his favorite Twilight Zone writers, Richard Matheson. The story Duel was about a man driving through the California desert being chased by an evil trucker with a big rig with murder on its mind.
Matheson based it on an incident on November 22, 1963, when he was tailgated by a truck on his way home from a gold game. For years he tried to sell the story to TV but was turned down everywhere he pitched. To prepare for the short story, he drove from Los Angeles to Ventura, California, and recorded everything he saw.
Our protagonist is never named in the story, and we have no idea why the driver is chasing him.
Spielberg was looking to direct TV movies that were giant rating machines then and managed to get the gig with a $450,000 budget and only ten days to make it all work. In the end, he made a masterpiece that became a sensation in the early 1970s, including a 90-minute version released in Europe soon after.
Dennis Weaver gives an intense performance, and the stunt work by Dale Van Sickel and Carey Loftin help make this film a “must-watch” for all fans of Spielberg and/or movie thrillers
In this ep the Margos discuss:The backstory of Speilberg’s early television career
The outdoor shooting and stunt driving involved
The influence Duel had on movie making
The cast: Dennis Weaver (David Mann,) Jacqueline Scott (Mrs. Mann,) Eddie Firestone (cafe owner,) Lou Frizzel (bus driver,) Eugene Dynarski (man in cafe,) Lucille Benson as the “Lady at Snakerama.”
Clips used:
Dennis Weaver (talks to himself at the cafe)
Duel original TV spot
Dennis Weaver confronts a trucker
Dennis Weaver at the phonebooth scene
Steven Spielberg (behind-the-scenes interview)
The truck crash scene and sounds
Music b…
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12 Angry Men (1957) Henry Fonda, Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam, Reginald Rose, & Sidney Lumet
30 januari 2023 · 1 uur 11 min
Book Vs. Movie: 12 Angry Men Lees meer
The 1954 Teleplay Vs. the 1957 Classic Film
The Margos close out a month of theatre vs. films with 12 Angry Men, which began as a teleplay in 1954 and was adapted to film by Sidney Lumet, with Henry Fonda serving as the lead actor and producer of the 1957 movie. The story centers on a young man who is accused of stabbing his father to death, and a group of 12 jurors must decide if he is guilty of premeditated murder, which carries a death sentence.
Writer Reginald Rose came up with the idea while serving jury duty in New York City and found the process “solemn” and “impressive.” The first airing on Studio One was September 20, 1954, with stars Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone, George Veskovec, Joseph Sweeney, and Norman Fell. Rose won an Emmy Award for his screenplay.
Henry Fonda produced the wok in 1957 with Sidney Lumet, and the low-budget affair failed to make a profit. Until he died in 1982, Fonda never received any money for his work or performance. But he rightly considered it one of his best.
The film stars some of the best character actors of the time and earned multiple Academy Award nominations (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay) but competed in the same year as The Bridge on the River Kwai, which swept all of the major awards in 1957. In this episode, the Margos discuss the significant differences between the teleplay and the movie and try to decide which we like better.
In this ep the Margos discuss:The backstory of the original TV production
The strict demands of filming on one set
The case being tried and how it is picked apart
The cast: Martin Balsam (Juror 1,) John Fielder (Juror 2,) Lee J Cobb (Juror 3,) E.G. Marshall (Juror 4,) Jack Klugman (Juror 5,) Edward Binne (Juror 6,) Jack Warden (Juror 7,) Henry Fonda (Juror 8,) Joseph Sweeney (Juror 9,) Ed Begley (Juror 10,) George Voskovek, (Juror 11,) and Robert Webber as Juror 12.
Clips used:
The first count
12 Angry Men 1957 trailer
The k…
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Casablanca (1942) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, & Dooley Wilson (Play Vs Movie)
22 januari 2023 · 1 uur 34 min
Book Vs. Movie: Casablanca
The 1940 Play Vs. the 1942 Classic Film Lees meerThis January, we are saluting plays that were turned into films, and this episode covers one of the most beloved and celebrated films of all time--Casablanca. Yes, it was a play first by playwrights Murray Burnett and Joan Allison, who was offered $20,000 in 1940 (over $300,000 in today’s costs) for their story about a cafe in Africa helping refugees seek asylum in America during WW2.
The timing between the movie’s release in 1942, as the war effort in Northern Africa, was gaining and America was no longer playing neutral in the international crisis with Germany and Japan, was not a coincidence. The film was rushed into production to promote America’s armed forces and the people fleeing Europe from the Nazis.
Everybody Comes to Rick’s has the basics of the film’s plot, with two former lovers meeting again at Rick’s cafe. Rick and Lois met in Paris before the Germans invaded France and became illicit lovers. Two years later, Rick has a “gin joint” in Casablanca (Rick’s Cafe) and assists people looking to exile into America. His friend is a piano player who goes by the name “Rabbit,” and he gets visits from former Parisian residents like Luis Rinaldo. Lois is married to a man named Victor Lazlo, and they are fleeing from the Nazis.
They have a song, As Time Goes By, and reminisce about their affair in Paris. In the end, Rick helps Lois and her husband leave Casablanca while he takes off for parts unknown with Italian buddy Luis Rinaldo.
Burnett and Alison could not find a Broadway producer for the play, so they sold the rights and went on with their lives, not realizing the movie would go on to be a Hollywood classic, winning several awards and with a screenplay people quote 80 years later. Worse, their contributions would not be recognized. Eventually, they were able to put on their play in 1991.
The film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as his love interest--Ilsa Lund. Th… -
Biloxi Blues (1988) Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Neil Simon, and Mike Nichols
16 januari 2023 · 1 uur 1 min
Book Vs. Movie: Biloxi Blues
The 1984 Neil Simon Play Vs. the 1988 Mike Nichols Film Lees meerThe Margos continue their month of plays in January (we have “Musicals in March”) with Neil Simon’s middle offer of the “Eugene Chronicles” with 1984’s Biloxi Blues. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Simon about Eugene Morris Jerome of Brooklyn, NY, and his time as an enlisted soldier in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Starring Matthew Broderick (who played the role of Eugene in every chapter), the play was an instant hit earning Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Featured Player to Barry Miller (Arnold Epstein.) Broderick was awarded his first Tony Award as Eugene Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs in 1983. Miller also won the Theatre World Award and the Drama Desk Award in 1985 for Biloxi Blues, which may be why he was NOT invited to the movie. Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert would later pan the film for not hiring Miller.
The critics loved the comedy and performances, as well as Simon’s outward discussion of the treatment of Jewish people at the time.
Mike Nichols directed the 1988 film that was a huge hit as part of a wave of 1980s films set in the military. (See Stripes, Private Benjamin, and Good Morning, Viet Nam.)
In this episode, the Margos discuss the significant differences between the book and the movie and try to decide which we like better.
In this ep the Margos discuss:The work of Neil Simon & the “Eugene Trilogy.”
The controversy of not casting Barry Miller
The significant differences between the play and the movie
The 1985 Broadway play: Matthew Broderick (Eugene Jerome,) William Sadler (Sgt. Toomey,) Barry Miller (Arnold Epstein,) Penelope Ann Miller (Daisy,) Randall Edwards (Rowena,) Matt Mulhern (Wykowski,) Alan Ruck (Carney,) Geoffrey Sharp (Hennesey) and Brian Tarantina as Selridge.
The 1988 film: Matthew Broderick (Eugene Jerome,) Christopher Walken (Sgt. Toomey,) Markus Flanagan (Selridge,) Matt Mulhern (Wykowski,) Corey Parker (Epstein,) Casey Si…
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Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf (1966) Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Edward Albee & Mike Nichols
10 januari 2023 · 1 uur 14 min
Book Vs. Movie: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf The Edward Albee 1962 Play Vs. the 1966 Mike Nichols Film Lees meer
The three-hour anger fest that is Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf is one of the most celebrated and controversial of the 1960s. Edward Albee’s 1961 play is about middle-aged couple George & Martha, who have been drinking and battling for years, and one unfortunate evening they have with new friends Nick & Honey. It caused a stir at the time for its “racy” language, the three-hour runtime, and its intense performances by Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, Ben Piazza, and Melinda Dillon.
The play was a sensation and broke box office records. So much, so that afternoon performances were added to meet the demand. It won the Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle in 1963. The same year, it was up for a Pultizer Prize for Drama but lost due to its “profanity and sexual themes.” (There was no prize given that year.)
Mike Nichols directed the 1966 film with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who ate up each scene with their unique partnership of love, hate, and movie-star charisma. (Their real-life love story is another whirlwind of multiple marriages, addiction, and pain.) George Segal and Sandy Dennis play Nick and Honey, and the entire cast and most of the production received Academy Award nominations. (Taylor and Dennis won)
Jack Valenti of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) said this was his first controversial film under his reign. Words like “screw” and “hump” were considered scandalous and had to be deleted from the script.
The story of George and Martha is one of the significant cultural landmarks of the 20th Century, with several productions over the past 60 years and several parodies, from The Carol Burnett Show to The Simpsons.
In this episode, the Margos discuss the original play and the 1966 adaptation and try to decide which we like better.
In this ep the Margos discuss:The work of Edward Albee
The legend behind the title of the play
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The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, & Shelley Winters (Replay 2019 ep)
29 december 2022 · 1 uur
Book Vs. Movie: "The Poseidon Adventure" (1971)
The differences between the super gross book and the entertaining movie (We are not going to hide our bias here!) Lees meerAt Book Vs. Movie, whenever people say, "Duh--the book is always better than the movie!" the Margos would say, "yeah--have you ever read Jaws?" Well, now we have another book-to-movie adaptation that features a horrible, racist, sexist, homophobic, and misogynistic novel that became a fun hit film.
Sportswriter Paul Gallico helped many stories become excellent films, including Pride of the Yankees, The Snow Goose, and the musical stage Carnival! He wrote over 40 books, numerous short stories, and dozens of T.V. and movie scripts. He began his career working for the New York Daily News sports desk and later became a prolific travel writer spending 10,000 miles on the road in the U.S. for Reader's Digest.
In 1969, he published The Poseiden Adventure to little fanfare. The tale of a wayward ship sunk while traveling to Africa features some of the most loathsome characters we have ever had the displeasure of reading. (The audiobook featuring narration by actor Dylan Baker makes it slightly more palatable.)
Trigger warning: This story features a character being raped who then comforts her attacker and wishes she was pregnant by him. (Seriously!)
The movie by producer Irwin Allen and director Ronald Neame became an instant classic which began a slate of many disaster films in the 1970s. It would become the highest-grossing film of 1973, grossing over $125 million worldwide. It won an Academy Award for best special effects and best original song "The Morning After."
Our lead actor is Gene Hackman as Reverand Frank Scott who is a renegade preacher who turns into a hero for the passengers of the S.S. Poseidon (partly filmed on the RMS Queen Mary.) at the time, he was a hot property after the success of The French Connection, and his performance is very passionate. Co-star Shelley Winters won the Golden Globe …
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The Homecoming(1971) Patricia Neal & Richard Thomas (Replay of DEC 2020 episode)
21 december 2022 · 59 min
Book Vs Movie: “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story” (1971)
The Basis of the Waltons TV Series Started as a TV Movie! Lees meerThe Margos decided to get into the Depression-era holiday spirit with a look at “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story,” which was written by author & creator of The Waltons TV series--Earl Hamner, Jr. Hamner has a fascinating career as a writer with several scripts of “The Twilight Zone” including the famous The Bewitchin’ Pool, (the very last episode of the original American series.) He also created the 80s TV nighttime soap Falcon Crest!) In between, he wrote the 1961 novel Spencer’s Mountain, which became a movie starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara as Clay and Olivia Spencer. They play a couple living in the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming, and their eldest son “Clay-Boy” is set to become the first in his family to go to college. Ten years later, he wrote “The Homecoming,” which told a similar story with a twist--the Walton family was based in the Blue Ridge mountains during the depression. The TV movie was on December 19, 1971, in the U.S. and was such a big hit--it was immediately turned into a TV series. Hamner narrated every episode, which ran for almost ten years, and started the phrase “goodnight John-Boy!” In this episode, the Margos talk about the author, his original novella, and the 1971 TV movie, and try to decide which we like better. Have a listen! In this ep the Margos discuss:
The interesting life of Earl Hamner, Jr.
The casting of Patricia Neal as Olivia Walton and why she was not hired for the series
The major differences between the movie and the novella
The cast: Patricia Neal (Olivia Walton,) Richard Thomas (John-Boy Walton,) Edgar Bergen (Grandpa Walton,) Dorothy Stickney (Grandma Walton, ) Cleavon Little (Hawthorne Dooley,) Andrew Duggan (Big John Walton,) and Judy Norton (Mary Ellen Walton.)
Clips used:
The Homecoming trailer
An early ad for The Homecoming
Olivia Walton is suspicious of John-Boy
Earl Hamner, Jr op…
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The Little Mermaid (1989) "Disney in December" Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes & Pat Carroll
19 december 2022 · 54 min
Book Vs. Movie: The Little Mermaid
The Hans Christian Anderson Story Vs. the 1989 Disney Classic Lees meerThe Margos continue “Disney in December” with the all-time classic 1989 animated feature The Little Mermaid, which began as a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson in 1837. The film was responsible for bringing Disney studios back into animation leaders after decades of so-so films and losing top artists to rival companies.
The original story is about a mermaid who lives in an underwater kingdom with her sisters, her father (a Mer-King), and her grandmother, who instructs her that when she is 15 years old, she can swim to the surface to see the world above. Her sisters (who are all older than her) can visit the land for only one day per year. The mermaid (who is never given a name) longs to visit more often and is obsessed with a statue of a human man on the ocean floor.
When she finally rises, the Mermaid can see a man (a prince!) on shore, and she falls in love. As luck would have it, his ship wreaks, and she can save him from drowning. As she waits for him to wake up on the shore, a young woman from a nearby temple comes over. She is given credit for saving him, and the Little Mermaid becomes despondent.
This is when we learn that mermaids can live up to 300 years undersea, and then they turn into sea foam--without a soul to go to heaven. The Little Mermaid visits a sea which tells her she will give her human legs if she trades with her beautiful voice. Mermaid makes this deal and goes to land. Unfortunately, her new legs feel like daggers as she walks, and the prince likes her well enough, but he loves the woman from the temple whom he thinks saved him from the shipwreck.
The Little Mermaid is told by her sisters (who gave up their long hair to the sea witch to get the formula to bring her back underwater) if she visits the prince and his new bride on their honeymoon on a ship, she can stab him in the heart and she will become a mermaid again.
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