Thursday Thirteen #38

It seems almost an invariable rule that when  book is made into a movie, the book is always the better of the two. Likewise, spin offs are seldom better than the originals.  I can think of some spin offs that were so bad that they were doomed from the start.  However, the rule is not inflexible and there are exceptions so I give you...

 Thirteen instances where the follow-up was better than the original

Jaws.   Who hasn’t seen this, either in the cinema, TV, video or DVD?  An iconic film of the 1970s.  A good many of us will have read the book, which was a huge bestseller when it came out in 1975.   This is a case where the film was better than the book.  The novel had a number of plot strands that the filmmakers wisely dumped in favour of the man versus shark theme, which was what the story was really about.

M*A*S*H. This was another iconic film on the 1970s, starring Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould and directed by Robert Altman.   It was based on a novel by Richard Hooker, who actually had been an army doctor during the Korean war.  The book (several books in fact, because he wrote a whole series of novels) was good enough, but the film, for all its faults, was better.

M*A*S*H again.   The movie, as we all know, spawned a TV sitcom that lasted eleven years (almost four times as long as the actual Korean war – though of course it was really about Vietnam).  It was hugely successful worldwide, and is still running in syndication pretty much every day all over North America.  Where the movie was cruel, and even nasty, the TV show had a humanity, and characters we actually liked, that made even the grim moments feel warm.  Yes, it did tend to get mawkish and even preachy, especially as it neared the end of its run, but it was so much better than the film that had inspired it.

The Ring.   This was one scary movie! I included it in another TT not so long ago.  People actually screamed in the cinema when I saw it!  It was based on a 1998 Japanese film called Ringu which was effective enough in its own way, but not nearly as good as Hollywood’s later version.

Frasier.  I expect arguments here, but one advantage of having a blog is that one can foist one’s own opinions on other people!  I liked Cheers. In fact I liked it a lot, but I think Frasier was a far better show.  More sophisticated, wittier, subtler and more inventive. 

First Blood.  This was the first film in which Sylvester Stallone played the character of John Rambo.  In the sequels he became a robotic Commie-killer, but in this first one he plays a sympathetic character -- a returning Vietnam vet, victimised by the police of a small town.  As such things go, it is an exciting film.  It is far better than the novel by David Morrell, upon which it is based.

Star Trek.  By which I mean the Star Trek movies.  There were some good ones, especially The Wrath of Khan, and The Journey Home, but the weakest was probably the first one, which came out in 1979.   The TV series had been out of production for ten years, but had remained very popular, with a huge fan base (trekkies!).  When the film came out, it was as though the studio didn’t quite know what to do with it.  They had the characters, but weren’t sure how they would behave on the big screen.  The story in this first film was stodgy, and in places downright dull.  But at least it did give rise to many better ones.

Agatha Christie.  I’m putting her name here as a sort of shorthand, because in my view, her novels are hardly ever as good as the films based on them, and there isn’t space to list them all.  I won’t say her books are unreadable, because obviously they aren’t, but I read them with little pleasure. On the other hand, I am enthralled by, for example, Death On The Nile, Evil Under The Sun, Murder On The Orient Express. You know: the movies we have all seen and loved.

All In The Family.  Another product of the 1970s.  A superb sitcom that broke away from the endless round of cutesie, unreal, buffoonery that was most TV comedies – the spawn of Petticoat Junction.  This actually dealt with real people living in the real world, with real beliefs, prejudices and conflicts.  And it was very funny with it.  It was in fact based on a British sitcom called Till Death Us Do part, which had roughly the same four main characters, was fair hairier and much closer to the knuckle.  But it was far less artistic, and not as funny as the American spin-off, which was a better program all round.

In The Heat Of The Night.  I have TT-ed about this book before. It wasn’t a bad novel by any means, but it wasn’t as good as the brilliant, atmospheric film that was based on it.  One of the most important films of the late 1960s.  A TV series followed in the 1980s and 1990s  but the personae of the two main characters had been so smoothed out that there was little similarity with the original story.

House Of Cards.  I mentioned this in an earlier TT too.   Ian Richardson as the ambitious, calculating Francis Urquhart, who follows in the tradition of Richard III and Macbeth to realise his ambitions.  One of the best British TV dramas of the 1990s.  It was based on the novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, who was for many years a political insider at Westminster, which was pretty good, but nowhere near as good as the TV drama, which, incidentally, changed the ending of the story and thus opened the door for two sequels which were almost as good.

Deliverance. Before it was a film, this was a novel by James Dickey.   The story should run as easily as sand through an hourglass but in fact it was, I found, pretty heavy going at times.  The movie, however, was gripping from the start. A story of survival with a few shocking moments and some pretty good banjo playing thrown in.

Jazz. I love real jazz. Before jazz, though, there was ragtime, which was in fact the first art form of any kind that originated in the USA.  It flourished in the period roughly 1890 to 1917 and these day it seems quaint an old fashioned. At the time, though, it was regarded as absolutely scandalous, and there were strong movements to suppress it.  Mainly, of course, because it originated with and was enjoyed by poor black people, and was taken up by the progressive element, and younger generation, of white people, much to the spluttering indignation of their elders.  Many ragtime numbers are catchy, entertaining and delightful.
In 1917, though, it was suddenly and completely overshadowed by its younger brother, jazz, which burst upon an astonished world when the first records by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band were released, and sold over a million copies --  this in the middle of a devastating world war.
 
In spite of vehement opposition from many quarters, and people who refused to see it as music at all, jazz flourished, and was enthusiastically taken up across the English speaking world, and elsewhere, especially in Holland, France and, after the war, in Germany.  It has never gone away, and has split into many sub-genres, but the one I enjoy is the raw, original, down-in-the-dirt jazz of the early days.  I am very fond of ragtime, but I think the jazz that came after it was an improvement.

.

Comments

[Moondancer Drake]

Heat of the Night was a great movie and I even loved the TV series. I grew up in a southern family and I loved the things the show dealt with. Important stuff.

Happy TT

http://moondancerdrake.livejournal.com

[Chelle Y.]

I saw "Jaws" when I was seven years old, and to this day, I am afraid of the ocean! :)

Yeah, my dad did not think of the scars it would give both his daughters for life! Haha! (My sister was three)!

[Tink]

I agree with you on a lot of those, except Agatha Christie. She's one of my favourite authors; I love both the books and the movies!
In my TT I'm looking back at my 2007 New Year’s resoutions…

[ellen b]

As usual a very informative TT from you! My SIL's father directed the underwater shark filming of Jaws in Australia...spooky!

[Malcolm]

I agree with you about "Frasier"... it is better than "Cheers". As great as "Cheers" is... I would rank "Frasier" a notch higher.

[amypalko]

I actually think I was maybe permanently scarred by the Jaws movie. Once, whilst swimming in the North Sea, all I could hear in my head was 'du dum du dum du dum' causing me to hyperventilate. Well, it was either that or the cold... Your writing on Jazz is just great, btw! It's clearly a great love of yours.

[Joely]

We have a hilarious picture of my family (3 of us kids) watching Jaws at home. All of us are sitting on the back of the couch huddled together in horror! Great list, and happy TT!

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

Angel was a great spin-off, although better than Buffy? That's one hard call to make.

Sadly, that's the only one I can think of. My head's a bit too full of the vacation! (and I'm jealous of me, too; I've wanted to do this for a VERY long time.)

Happy TT, my friend.

[maryt]

Nicholas, I can agree with some but not with others. I don't think jazz is better than ragtime, for example. I thought Deliverance,both the book and the movie, were heavy going. Can't read or see either one again.

[Sarai]

I agree with the Frazier comment way better then Cheers! Also love In the Heat of the Night! You should check out my TT it has 13 shows I can't live without. Great post and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

[The Gal Herself]

I'm so glad you brought this topic up. As one who loves both movies and books, it completely fascinates me. I would add The Godfather movies to your list. I recently reread the book and was shocked by how trashy and overwrought the prose is. Yet somehow, the movies are magic! (Thanks for visiting my TT)

[Sue]

That Banjo playing in Deliverance is chilling! And now stuck in my head!!!!!

Happy TT and All the best in 2008!

[Natalie]

I didn't even realize a lot of those were spin offs. What an interesting list. I really liked Cheers and Frasier. It's hard for me to say which is better. :)

My Thursday Thirteen is up too! :)

[pussreboots]

I have read the book Jaws but I haven't seen the film. Happy TT. Thanks for stopping by.

[On a Limb with Claudia]

Gosh, Nicholas, I do love ragtime. I used to go to a Jazz festival with my Dad in LA - one entire day was dixieland and ragtime. Sigh. Fun list!

[Lori]

Id have to agree with the Ring, however, I liked the original too. First blood was also a good one. Happy TT. I hope you had a Merry Christmas. Thanks for stopping by:)

[Lisa]

Frazier was indeed better than Cheers. And Mash too.

[AtomiK Kitten]

You gotta love a little "squeal like a piggy".

[No Nonsense girl]

Happy TT Nicholas!!!! I'm glad you left your link in your name so everyone can follow your blog!!!!

Great post!!!

[susiej]

You're right -- there are a lot of surprisingly good follow-ups. Toy Story II is a perfect example to add to your list. My Mother and I love House of Cards. The drama of Deliverance is hard to beat.

[Rae]

Sadly enough I have to say I have never seen Jaws lol I am not a movie fan in the least it takes alot for me to sit down & watch a movie maybe somee day i'll try & watch it

[Joyful Days]

This is always a good conversation starter! You know I never saw or read "Jaws." I loved MASH and Frasier.

[Shoshana]

You're right, but there are exceptions. I think Joseph's finders movie with Ashley Judd (can't remember the title now) was better movie than a book, though I enjoyed the book well.

LotR was a better movie than a book...can't say about Narnia because I haven't read the book.

[Candy]

I loved The Ring and I agree with you on Jaws. Great TT, as usual. Have a wonderful New Year!

[Gattina]

I can't give my opinion because I didn't read these books, besides Agatha Christie and there I don't agree at all with you ! The books are far better then the movies already the characters are not corresponding if I look at Hercule Poirot !

[Pamela Kramer]

Very cool list as usual. Carol O'Connor reminded me of my grandpa! LOL - Oh and The Ring was so scary. I was one of those people screaming. Happy TT.

[Robin]

M*A*S*H was definitely a case where the series was far better than the novel or movie which spawned it.

I hadn't realized that All In The Family had been based on a British sitcom. Live and learn...

[zenmomma]

Good picks! I would add One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I loved the book but thought the movie was even better!

[cajunvegan]

The Shawshank Redemption
The Wizard of Oz

And, I agree with your 13 on so many different levels.

My TT is dedicated to my fellow TTeners, bloggers, family, and friends.

Live, laugh, love, and learn in 2008!

[Deanna Dahlsad]

Whenever I think of Jaws I think of Helen Gurley Brown... She was married to the author, you know ;)

[Pop Tart]

All In The Family was one of my favorites; but Jazz probably wins on this list.

[Angelle]

Oh...I liked the original RINGU. Very Asian in many ways...the strangeness and all. And I liked the well-obake.

My TT is up. :)

[toni]

I liked the original Ringu better than the Hollywood version! :D Ah well. I agree with you though on Frasier! It was so much more hilarious. :) And I loved its humor so much better.

Happy TT!

[jehara]

the ring was so creepy!! i loved that movie for the actual fear it incited. most 'scary' movies aren't scary at all.

[Maria]

Great list! Two of my favorite spin-offs are "The Simpsons" (spun off from the Tracy Ullman show) and "Laverne and Shirley" (spun off from Happy Days).

This was a fabulous idea. Thanks for stopping by my list!

~Maria
www.jubileeonearth.com

[toni]

>>>a few shocking moments and some pretty good banjo playing thrown in.<<<
ROFLOL! Happy TT.
Blessings,
~Toni~

[Emily]

I loved The Ring... had no idea it was even based off another film at all.

Great list as ALWAYS! :)

[storyteller]

A thoughtful T-13. Although I haven't watched much TV for years, I must confess I did enjoy MASH, All the the Family, and Star Trek. I'll never forget Sidney Portier striking Rod Steiger across the face reflexively. What a moment! Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,

[cjmr]

Totally agree with you about M*A*S*H! The series was better than the movie which was better than the book.

I also agree that the first Star Trek movie was the worst. It had the same amount of plot as a single ST episode, but stretched over a full movie length. I've never seen the whole thing straight through, because I inevitably fall asleep at some point. (I think I've seen the whole thing, just not consecutively.)

[Maribeth]

There is a picture of my family and I at the Boston Aquarium when I was about four years old. Everyone was standing in front of the Shark tank but all you could see is the top of my head. I thought Jaws would break through the glass.
:)Maribeth

[Missy]

Another great TT, Nicholas. The books and movies theme seems to be a hot topic these days. I wrote a post about it a few weeks ago in response to another blog's question. It's tough to compare the two mediums; each have limitations scope that the other makes up for.

Loved the part of Jazz. When a person is passionate about something it shows in their writing. Great job!

[Nancy Bond]

All In The Family still is one of my all time favorite shows! I loved Archie Bunker -- we all have a little bit of Archie in us, if we'd admit it. :) Great list.

[Samantha_K]

Great list this week!
I agree on the Jaws front for sure, and Frasier too, although I do love me some Cheers.

As for In the Heat of the Night...I'm a really big fan of the tv show. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure. Virgil is just so great, though.

Happy Thursday, N!

[Xakara]

I agree with Fraiser, Jaws, and Deliverance.

All in the Family is one I agree with as well, but I wanted to address it separately because I believe that Maude and The Jeffersons needed to be acknowledged as they are all from a common well.

Star Trek is another I agree with, but not only the movies improved on it, but the subsequent series did great things for the Trek Universe. I still believe they didn't go far enough and I hope another series eventually braves television and dares to break ground, but what we did have did well and went above and beyond it's parent series.

We've already talked about Jazz. It's one of the few things to both exceed its roots and yet inspire incredible musical forms thereafter, while still managing to stay relevant and draw in modern musicians.

But as music is the one of those things I can go on and on about, I better stop myself now and post this.:)

~X

[Vixen]

Ah Nicholas, what a great list. I absolutely agree on every single one, except House Of Cards. Only because I have never seen it.

Happy New Years!

[Dane Bramage]

TREK-KERS!! Trekkies is insulting. Okay that is as PC as you will ever see me get. But you were right about the the first film (ST:TMP in trekker parlance) I was just so happy to see it after 10 years I didn't care. Until the second one came out which was infinitely better.

I agree with Frazier. I also agree with In the Heat of the Night with regards to the film vs. the series. I too have blogged on this.

My Thursday Thirteen #62 13 People Who Left Us in 2007 edition. Stop by if you get a chance.

[damozel]

Love the jazz videos. A magnificently written and conceived post, as per usual!

[Slip of a Girl]

Ah, a reverse on the other list! How do you come up with these good themes? I'm so impressed I am jealous!

[Janet]

Such an interesting and in-depth T13! Thanks for visiting :-)

[PJ]

I definitely prefer Frasier to Cheers too. Great TT.

[Sarah]

I agree, the RING 2 was more scary than the first.

Great post...lots of work!
Thanks for visiting!

[Rach (Heart of Rachel)]

Interesting list of films. I agree, some movie sequels are better than the original. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

[Matthew James Didier]

The weird thing about MASH is how Richard Hooker is a right-wing, pro-war guy who was horrified with the treatment of his work... Hmmm...

[Harris Channing]

You know when Jaws came out I was a kid. It gave me nightmares until I realized...hey, I don't have to go in the water!

Good list, as always.

~Harris.

[Smiler]

I beg to differ on Agatha Christie, I read many of her novels as a teen and thoroughly enjoyed them. Found most of the movies boring in fact. And lest you say "oh yes but you were a teenager" let me stop you right there and tell you I read Anna Karenina at 12, so did have some inklings about good literature. Finally! Something we can disagree on! :-)

I really enjoyed both clips you've provided. I imagine you've done this before but I'd love it if you did a post presenting some of you all time faves (with links or clips when available). I love Jazz and have a small collection. Mostly Miles Davis and a bit of Coltrane. Was Fats Waller considered as Jazz? I liked him a lot as a kid, but it's not the kind of music I can listen to while writing.

[Alasandra]

Thanks for visiting my TT.

You had a great list. We are huge Star Trek fans here, but I think the Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager and Enterprise are much better then the original series.

[Maddi]

Great TT! Loved a lot of those follow ups. Frasier being the main one.

Thanks for visiting my TT!

[Nana]

Great list Nicholas! A couple of movies on here I'm going to have to rent in the next few weeks!

Thanks for stopping by & Happy TT!

[Maryanne]

Great List. I completely agree you on "First Blood." I learned something new from your list. My husband is a huge Archie Bunker fan and I had no idea it was based on a British sitcom. I'll have to see if he knows that. I was very young when it was on tv and didn't understand it. Now I get the humor. Hope you have a fantastic New Year!
Toodles, Maryanne

[Danielle]

I agree with you on Frasier, but I think I like Petticoat Junction more than All in the Family - and I didn't realize that was where it came from!

My favorite is A Different World from Cosby Show.

Have a happy new year!

[SJ Reidhead]

That's quite a list. I am always impressed the way you spend so much time and detail on your list. When I was in college I ended up sitting next to the daughter of one of the physicians who had a major role in the original MASH. She said her father had a fit when the book came out and did not want her reading it.

SJ Reidhead
The Pink Flamingo

[Nicole Austin]

Jaws is one of the reasons I don't swim in the ocean. LOL!

Great list. I agree with you on most of those.

[Diana]

Jaws was scary!! And I totally agree with you on Frasier! Of course as a counselor I loved the psychology humor!

[Chris]

I totally love Star Trek, but this list is showing your age ya know, heeheehee. And Jazz is good, yupe. even tho I am a classical musician, our piano teacher is Jazz!

[Mr Lady]

Every movie on your list that I have seen gets my agreement. Wholeheartedly. What a great TT!

[Sandy (Momisodes)]

Wow! Aren't you poopular :) I have to agree with you on many of these....especially on Frasier, All in the Family, and Jazz.

[Di]

I loved MASH which I saw mostly in syndication. I am pretty sure I watched the original last episode at a fraternity house in college. I just read Alan Alda's new book, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself. And he seems to be the real thing. Congenial, reflective, not insanely self-absorbed as many celebrities.

I have to say that the movie A Beautiful Mind was far more enjoyable and artistically done than the book.

Next week I think you should try to come up with songs where the remakes were better than the originals!

[Jill]

So for those one, I'll have to read the books first?? Strange!
I usualy get so disappointed when a book that I read goes into a movie, because it takes a real good screenplay to match it!!

[Darla]

I'm not sure I could come up with 13 for this category, though I do agree with you on the ones I've seen/read.

[Cecile]

Great list! The movie Jaws was definitely better than the book!

[Cecile]

Great list! The movie Jaws was definitely better than the book!

[Linda R. Moore]

The book "JAWS" introduced me to the word 'crud' for the first time. I also wondered why I had to read about a man urinating (or in fact anyone urinating).

I have three TTs this week:

Review of 2007:
http://www.ravensroads.com/index.php/2007-in-review/

Motorcycling review of 2007:
http://www.ravensrides.com/tt13-2007-in-review

13 RV adventures in 2007:
http://www.ravensrv.com/2007-adventures/

[marilyn]

I commented on this post once, but my ISP decided not to let me do the confirmation number thing... I probably said something brilliant, but I think the important thing is to support your stance on Frasier.

[Shoshana]

I've seen most of these movies, but I haven't read the book. Didn't know there's a book. :P

I haven't seen Jaws in it's intirety, but I've heard the theme song ad nauseum.