From Cliff Williams: Five movies that were better than the books?
Freedman’s Answer: Here are the five that pop into my head first — Forrest Gump, Mary Poppins, Princess Bride, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask, and Jaws.
Forrest Gump
Movie: Forrest Gump (1994), directed by Robert Zemeckis
Book: Forrest Gump (1986), written by Winston Groom
It’s been maybe 25 years since I’ve seen the movie, and I’ve never read the book. But I loved the movie when I was a kid, although if I saw it now I imagine I’d find some of it cringeworthy.
Searching … yep.
But my wife isn’t a fan of the book, and she’s an expert when it comes to American literature and making me smarter, so I grade this as “Movie > Book.”
Mary Poppins
Movie: Mary Poppins (1964), directed by Robert Stevenson
Books: Mary Poppins series (1934-88), written by P.L. Travers
As a wise man once said, books are better than movies, but when was the last time someone read Mary Poppins? I didn’t even know Mary Poppins was a book — much less a series — until Saving Mr. Banks.
For all time, Julie Andrews will be Mary Poppins.
If not for the movie, there would effectively be no Mary Poppins character to talk about in the 21st century.
Princess Bride
Movie: Princess Bride (1987), directed by Rob Reiner
Book: Princess Bride (1973), written by William Goldman
Not one person I’ve ever met has said to me, “You know what book I absolutely love? Princess Bride.” But I’ve never heard anyone talk badly about the movie.
Is it overrated? Yeah, probably.
But it does have some great scenes.
Also, if at any point in human history a grandfather has ever tried to read this book to a sick grandchild, there’s a 99.1% chance he didn’t make it 10 pages before saying, “Ugh, fuck it, let’s play Nintendo.”
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask
Movie: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask (1972), directed by Woody Allen
Book: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask (1969), written by David Reuben
Although the book was a No. 1 bestseller, it’s a faux-clinical nonfictional pseudo-sex manual from the late 1960s. Not exactly a page-turning thriller.
But the movie is brilliant, even if few people have seen it. The “What Happens During Ejaculation?” segment is brilliant.
In college, I took a literature course on the theory of humor. It was incredibly popular: Over 100 students were in the class. And during a lecture, the professor showed this segment as an example of Allen’s early years.
I’m telling you, I’ve never heard a room of college students laugh as hard as they did in that lecture hall when Burt Reynolds said, “All systems on the alert. We’re gonna try to ball her right there in the car.”
Woody Allen as a sperm who says, “At least he’s Jewish”? Get the fuck out.
This might be the best adaptation of a non-narrative book in cinematic history.
Jaws
Movie: Jaws (1975), directed by Steven Spielberg
Book: Jaws (1974), written by Peter Benchley
The novel was a New York Times bestseller, but no one under the age of 50 has ever read it. As for the movie, it’s a classic with maybe the most famous soundtrack ever.
And that opening scene …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I4PtFJlXpg
It’s Anthony Jeselnik’s fantasy.