Have you ever read this book? Perhaps you’ve never heard of it, but if you’re into books the way I’m into books, then maybe you own a copy as I do — the photo is one that I just took of the cover of my copy.
It’s a very short read, and its contents are explained right there on the cover. Yesterday morning, though, I was listening to one of my favorite book podcasts, “The Bookcase,” and Charlie Gibson mentioned that he loved this book. I smiled and nodded my appreciation of his taste in books.
Then, he also happened to mention that there was a wonderful film version of it starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft, and Judi Dench. My mouth dropped open. Whaaaaaatttttt? I did NOT know about the movie version.
So, I immediately searched for it and saw that there was a free version available to stream on Tubi. Woohoo! I have Tubi, so what did I do yesterday while having lunch? You bet your biscuits that I watched that movie.
It is soooooooo good, in a very gentle, sweet and bittersweet, literary-loving way. Like the book it was made from, it’s not a long movie either, and the acting is spot on. Watch it if you can and especially if you love books and people who love books.
Another great old movie with an important literary aspect is “Ball of Fire” starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. It’s from 1941, but Stanwyck’s character, a Burlesque dancer/singer named Sugarpuss O’Shea (what a name!), has all the sass of a more modern age. From the movie poster below, you can’t tell how staid and uptight Cooper’s character, a language professor called Bertram Potts, is, but watch the movie and find out. It’s available on YouTube — that’s where I watched it, at least.
One of my favorite older movies is “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” I just adore that movie, and I own it on DVD, but I believe it’s available for free to watch on the Roku Channel if you have that.
Did you know, though, that it’s based on a book by the same name? Did you further know that the book was written by the same author who brought us James Bond? That author is Ian Fleming.
Here is a photo of the copy I own.
And here’s an illustration from inside it.
Personally, I think that older movies have something that modern ones do not — heart. Too many movies nowadays rely too heavily on special effects and not enough on acting and the special charm that comes from a story that is well told, whether in book form, on the screen, or around a campfire.
I’m still sticking to my reread of “Moby Dick,” the novel that I’ve despised for years. As someone who loves books, though, I don’t really want to despise any book, so I wanted to give it a second chance, and so far, about 26% into it, I’m actually enjoying it this time around. I’m sure my age and my more enhanced appreciation of literature are part of the reasons that I’m actually liking it this time. There’s still a long ways to go, though, but I think I’ll add a movie version of it to my reading experience, and I think the best one to begin with (as there are many versions) is the 1956 version starring Gregory Peck, which I can also view for free on Tubi.
If I make it through this version, then maybe I’ll give one of the others a try. If you have a favorite to recommend, let me know.
Also, feel free to leave a comment concerning any other great older movie that is either based on a book or has literary elements to it. If it is available for streaming, all the better. Naturally, I’ve seen many others that I haven’t mentioned here, but I’d love to get your recommendations.
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Until next time.
Tammy Marshall
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