Ten Best Sellers that Became Movies

chillibreeze writer — Arvinder Shergill

Come Friday and it is ‘new movie’ release time. Across the country, from large metros to small city cinemas, movie buffs eagerly await the latest silver screen offerings. Film critics pronounce their star ratings but the final verdict is delivered by the cinema going masses who have always loved a story well told. No wonder then a good script is manna from the heavens, avidly sought for by any film maker. Bestsellers provide grist for the movie mill, often making a hit at the box office. Meanwhile the endless debate goes on whether movies based on books are as good as the books themselves.

The following 10 bestsellers were made into successful movies that created cinematic history. They cover different genres like epic saga, horror, action, suspense, romance, comedy and social drama. Both books and movies, each with their own special magic, will ever keep us entertained and spellbound.

Doctor Zhivago: An epic saga directed by David Lean (1965) based on Nobel Prize winning author, Boris Pasternak’s book of the same name. This touching love story revolves around a Russian doctor during the turbulent Bolshevik Revolution who, although married, falls for a ruthless politician’s wife. Lara and Yuri’s doomed love unfolds through a series of tragic events that constantly separate the two. In true Russian tradition a multitude of characters are crafted from all sections of society and are brilliantly portrayed by the cast. Even though the movie ran for over three hours, the spectacular cinematography, excellent performances along with the soul-filling music (Lara’s Theme) made it truly unforgettable.

Rosemary’s Baby: This dark novel by Ira Levin was transformed into a brilliantly chilling movie script by Roman Polanski (1968). The story is about a young couple who unwittingly get involved with neighbours who are members of a satanic cult. As the macabre tale unfurls, the tension mounts. In a particularly bonechilling scene Rosemary is impregnated by a demonic being. Thereafter the reader is left with a feeling of impending doom which culminates in the birth of Satan’s spawn and the horrified mother, torn in two, finally accepting the child. The movie got positive reviews and despite there being no violence or gore, the very real sense of horror and suspense made it into a cult film in its genre.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby: Completely off the beaten track is this biographical book about the triumph of the human spirit despite all odds. Originally in French, it became a number one bestseller in Europe when it was published in 1997, just three days before the writer’s death. It is the memoirs of Bauby, a journalist, who after an accident was completely paralyzed, able only to move his left eye and blink. Using his eye blinks, he was able to communicate and write this moving and insightful book. It draws upon his memories, imagination, everyday events and expresses his poignant reflections on his situation without self pity. An award winning film of the same name, directed by Julian Schnabel was acclaimed worldwide.

The Bourne Trilogy is a series of spy films based on the popular novels by Robert Ludlum. The three books, Bourne Identity (1980), Bourne Supremacy (1986) and Bourne Ultimatum (1990) follow the fast paced action of Jason Bourne, a former CIA operative suffering from amnesia. The pace keeps up non-stop through all three books and the incredible storyline captivates the reader. It is no surprise then that these were made into films which fascinated audiences the world over. Matt Damon’s brilliant portrayal of the lead character held one enthralled. The reasons for the runaway success of this trilogy are many – the cohesive story line binding the three films, the effective development of each character, not just the hero and the realism of action sequences. The Bourne series justly deserves both, the critical and commercial success it got.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey was adapted and made into an unforgettable film directed by Miloš Forman (1975) which swept the Oscars collecting five major Academy Awards. Set in the world of an authentic mental hospital, this gripping novel is a disturbing look into the flaws of the system and society as a whole. McMurphy, a sane convict lands at a mental hospital to avoid forced labor and turns everything upside down. He takes on authoritarian, cold Nurse Ratched and the ensuing power struggle between the two animates the whole book culminating in McMurphy’s tragic demise. The book is moving, filled with humor and proves that the human spirit can be crushed but never extinguished.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (2003): This novel spanning two generations grapples with the emotional struggles of assimilation in a foreign country and the search for identity. The story revolves around the life of a young American Indian, Gogol, his experiences growing up, his parents’ journey from traditional Calcutta, their transformation and eventual acceptance of America as home. Mira Nair in her touching film, The Namesake (2007), vividly portrays a story only too familiar to many Indians abroad.

Absolute Power, the gripping bestseller by David Baldacci (1996) was his first novel. It immediately caught the fancy of the film industry and within a year was made into a movie by Clint Eastwood who also starred in it. Not only is it a thriller where the hero, a burglar, stumbles on a murder and its subsequent cover up by the Secret Service and the American President, but also an insightful look at the love between the aged hero and his estranged daughter. Filled with mystery, action, suspense and humor, the book and movie are both thouroughly enjoyable.

The Guide was written by RK Narayan, India's well known and prolific author. The story follows the evolution of the conman Raju’s persona dealing with love, betrayal, sacrifice and subsequent redemption. The film version directed by Vijay Anand was a huge success but the author was not happy with it. He even wrote a review against the movie as the softened movie script deviated from the book to appeal to the common man. A daring film for its time (1965) the tale of the hero’s rise from sinner to saint is one that creates a strong impact. The great performances by the cast, the fabulous locales and SD Burman’s melodious music combined to make the film a resounding success.

Q & A/Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup: This book recounts the story of a poor uneducated waiter in Mumbai, who as the winner of a TV quiz show, is arrested on suspicion of cheating. Through a series of flashbacks based on his answers to each question the author with a light touch highlights the challenges and life of India’s poor. The movie Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle was loosely adapted from this novel and became a big box office hit.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: This engrossing and wonderful book by CS Lewis (1950), “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” tells the tale of four children who, while playing hide and seek, find a wardrobe which leads to a magical land called Narnia ruled by the evil White Witch. An amazingly believable fantasy adventure follows wherein the children and Aslan, the majestic lion king, free the country. Andrew Adamson’s vastly entertaining film (2005) was faithful to the book. The grandeur of the movie’s visuals and engaging characters can be enjoyed as much by adults as by children.

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in August, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Arvinder Shergill has an MA in Psychology, a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a B Ed from University of Toronto. After teaching for several years, she worked in an International Organization. Now she is back to her first love – writing. She has written several children’s books which have been well received. She has also published some articles in magazines and newspapers.

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