Adapted Screenplays

I decided to go back and find some choice scripts that were adapted from some of my favorite novels. Screenplays that, in my opinion, did the books justice.

This first one is a fan favorite for two reasons. One, it's adapted from the famous Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Two, it's a complete departure from the novel, bringing about it the air of a noir detective story instead of a psychological rollercoaster. Blade Runner is one of the most brilliant sci-fi films ever made, directed by sci-fi master (at least in the past), Ridley Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, both of whom went on to very ecclectic careers in Hollywood. Androids is by far my favorite Philip Dick book, and I would love to see a straight adaption to film of this novel, and some of his other novels as well.

Check out the Official Blade Runner Magazine, and visit Syd Mead's site for some production drawings on Blade Runner.

The second one is from a Dick short story called We Can Remember It For You Wholesale that turned into the blockbuster film Total Recall, directed by another sci-fi legend, Paul Verhoven. This one, written by Ronald Shusett (Alien, Freejack, Total Recall II), Dan O'Bannon (Dark Star, Alien, Heavy Metal, Blue Thunder, The Return of the Living Dead, Lifeforce, Invaders From Mars, Screamers and the upcoming Flicker) and Gary Goldman (Big Trouble in Little China, Navy SEALS, Total Recall II), was another departure from the original story, becoming a much more stylized action film then the short story was, originally. It's become a trademark of Dick's stories to be brilliant and then be turned into mind-numbing violence. But Recall is still a great movie and script.

Next, a film that has yet to see the light of a production studio, set or f/x's studio, I Am Legend, from the novel of the same name by the brilliant Richard Matheson. Matheson has been around since the late 50's, starting his career with The Incredible Shrinking Man, many episodes of The Twilight Zone, House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum, The Raven, The Omega Man (taken from the story of Legend), Twilight Zone: The Movie, What Dreams May Come (from his novel) and Stir of Echoes (also his novel). Adapted by Mark Protosevich who was responsible for The Cell and the upcoming film Imposter (from a Philip Dick story)... this is a script that fans of science fiction and horror are just dying to have it made.

William Gibson is the cyberspace man. His first novel Neuromancer was the big winner in 1984, winning the Philip K. Dick, Hugo and Nebula awards for best sci-fi novel of that year. This is another fans wet dream... but the popular concensus is that the story is too involved for a proper film... and would be best suited as a cable series, or the like. Gibson adapted this one himself... having written a number of X-Files episodes and the screenplay for the terrible adaption of Johnny Mnemonic (from a short story of his). I guess he doesn't trust others with his work... and being William Gibson, I don't blame him.

Starship Troopers is one of those films people either hated or loved. I loved it, and promtly after finding out the film was being made, I went out and purchased a copy of the novel, by sci-fi great Robert Heinlein. Written in the 50's, it's obvious why he's one of the greats, the novel way ahead of its time... and who better to take on such a daunting task then Paul Verhoven. Adapted by Edward Neumeier (one of the geniuses behind the Robocop script), I think one of the great things about this film (aside from some cheesy dialog) is that it takes a slice-of-life aspect to a multi-world war... and even after the film is finished... there's no real resolve, except for the few main characters that are living. Things go on... like they do in life, and I think it's one of the great traits of this script.

Fight Club is taken from the novel by Chuck Palanhiuk, who is one of the great writers of the last ten years. Adapted by Jim Uhls, who did a masterful job, this film has become an icon for book-to-film success stories. Even though the dialog, most of the scenes and the characters were so well defined in the novel... Uhls took parts of the story and warped them into scenes that would not have been as well translated had they been taken directly from the novel. If you haven't read the novel, pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

Jackie Brown was taken from the novel Rum Punch, by Elmore Leonard, who is no stranger to book-to-film success. Leonard has been writing novels and screenplays for 45 years, starting with westerns and moving into the crime/mystery arena faster than anyone ever has. His novels have turned into some of the greatest western/action/crime/mystery films around: Valdez is Coming, Hombre, The Big Bounce, Mr. Majestyk, Stick, 52 Pick-Up, Glitz, Cat Chaser, Get Shorty, Touch, Pronto, Gold Coast, Out of Sight and the upcoming Be Cool. This one was adapted by the director Quentin Tarantino who, after adapting the script, told producer (Jersey Films) Danny DeVito to buy up all of the remaining options on all of Leonards books. It was a smart, smart move.

L.A. Confidential was written by my favorite mystery writer of all time, James Ellroy. Part III of his L.A. Quartet (The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, White Jazz), this movie returned Hollywood to the 50's crime drama with style, violence and some of the greatest acting around. Adapted by Brian Helgeland (976-EVIL, Assassins, Conspiracy Theory, The Postman, Payback (which he also directed) and the upcoming A Knight's Tale (which he's directing, too) and Curtis Hanson who directed Confidential (and the recently released Wonder Boys (but did not write that one)). This film (along with Fight Club) is a lesson to all of those interested in adapting scripts from novels, who want to keep the script pure and true to the novel.

All of the scripts are in PDF format - Enjoy them. They are not for sale, they are for educational purposes ONLY.

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John Painz

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