Happy Birthday to Two of My Favorite Adaptation Stars

 
Today happens to be the birthday of two of my favorite stars of book-to-film adaptations: Elliott Gould, who played Philip Marlowe in Robert Altman's 1973 adaptation of Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye, and the luminous Carla Cugino, Nan St. George in the 1995 miniseries based on Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, The Buccaneers. Happy Birthday, Elliott and Carla!

The Crimson Petal and the White

Just witnessed "50 shades" of Romola Garai (well, at least 49) watching some YouTube clips from the TV adaptation of Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. (I'll let you look them up -- to even add the link is beyond my, ahem, delicate sensibilities). Took me a second to remember that it was Encore who'd be airing the four-part miniseries next month (and not PBS). It airs on Monday, September 10, but alas, I don't have Encore and will have to figure out another option for watching it. It also features Gillian Anderson and the infallable Richard E. Grant. Would love to hear what ye Brits who have already seen it thought!

An Ambitious Adaptation

I don't know what makes James Franco more crazy: taking a role on "General Hospital," selling invisible art or trying to adapt William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying. In any case, he MUST be smoking something, and I love him for it.

Bad Salad Weighs In

The clever ladies over at Bad Salad have weighed in on their top five favorite Shakespeare film adaptations of all time. We wholeheartedly agree with their choices (and only wish there were more to choose from!) Keep up the good work, girls!

Who WAS the Bard?: The Debate Continues

Was it the low-born Bill Shakespeare or the aristocrat, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford? A few of those who stomp the boards are speaking out, and judging by the amount of comments following this article, it clearly continues to be a topic that gets people really riled up! (Last year's Anonymous which tackles the topic did not leave me convinced...or very entertained, frankly.)