Book Vs Movie
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s Classic Story Vs the 1992 Adaptation
The last week in September is “Banned Books Week” and the Margos want to celebrate by talking about one of the most controversial of John Steinbeck’s work-- 1937’s Of Mice and Men. Censors have attacked the story for its use of vulgarities (including racist language) and it is listed by the American Library Association’s list of “Most Controversial Books of the 20th Century.”
Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas Valley area of California where he based many of his novels & short stories. Some of his best work includes Cannery Row, East of Eden & The Grapes of Wrath. He was known as a ‘giant among American letters” and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.
Of Mice and Men is a story about migrant farmworkers during the Great Depression George Milton & Lennie Small. George is intelligent and thoughtful while Lennie is very large and has some type of mental disability. Different from most migrants, they stick together on their journey with George being the caretaker of his friend who has a habit of crushing small animals by accident and violent outbursts.
The men travel to Soledad, CA to work at the farm of Curley and his father. Curly is a short brutish man who hates Lennie on sight. Candy is an older worker who wants to join them in their scheme to one day own their own farm & land. The story has a tragic yet predictable ending that has haunted readers for over 80 years.
The 1992 adaptation was written by Horton Foote (who changes a few things from the original material) and is directed by & stars Gary Sinise. John Malkovich plays Lennie with Sherilyn Fenn playing the part of Curly’s lonely wife who is never given a name. The film made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
So which did we prefer between the book and the movie? Have a listen and find out.
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The messy/intriguing life of John Steinbeck
- The history of migrant farmers in the 1930s
- Changes in this adaptation
- The “Looney Tunes” version of Lennie
- The cast including Gary Sinise (George,) John Malkovich (Lennie,) Sherilyn Fenn (Curly’s wife,) Ray Walston (Candy,) Casey Siezmaszko (Curly,) John Terry (Slim,) Joe Morton (Crooks,) Alexis Arquette (Whitt,) and Noble Winningham (The Boss.)
Clips Featured:
- Of Mice and Men trailer
- “George & Lennie at the beginning of the movie”
- “Curly’s wife & Lennie in the barn”
- “Lennie at the end”
- Music: by Mark Isham
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Margos Discuss Stephen Chbosky’s Book & Film
The Margos continue their back-to-school September episodes with a redo of one of the most asked-for books by our listeners--The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
Pittsburgh native Chbosky based the story in his hometown in the early 1990s as we follow the story of freshman Charlie who is dealing with a recent psychiatric hospital stay after his best friend’s death by suicide. He is facing highschool with incredible angst and writes in his journal a mythical friend to relay his feelings.
Charlie also lost his favorite aunt in a car accident (she was on her way to buy him a present) so he has quite a few demons to face while navigating school cliques. The novel deals with mental illness, rape, sexuality, drugs, and alcohol which made it on to “banned” lists at schools across the country.
The journey for Charlie includes making new friends, falling in love, making huge mistakes, and dealing with tremendous pain. It’s a beautiful piece of work and the movie is almost up to the task of meeting our expectations.
The film was a big hit and stars Logan Lerman as Charlie and a young Ezra Miller as his charismatic best friend Patrick Stewart. (Really. That’s the name they give him!)
There are a few changes between the book & the film and one BIG logic hole that we are still grappling with so check out this episode to hear our thoughts!
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The bio of writer/director Chbosky
- Movies that take place in the 90s (How accurate are they?)
- Margo D’s Ezra Miller story!
- The cast including Logan Lerman (Charlie,) Emma Watson (Sam,) Ezra Miller (Patrick,) Mae Witman (Mary Elizabeth,) Paul Rudd (Mr. Anderson,) Nina Dobrev (Candace,) Kate Walsh (Charlie’s Mom,) Dylan McDermot (Charlie’s father,) Joan Cusack (Dr. Burton,) and Melanie Lynskey (Aunt Helen)
Clips Featured:
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower trailer
- “Cheers to Charlie”
- “The tunnel song”
- Charlie fights to football players
- Music: Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
Emma/Clueless
The Jane Austen Beloved Novel Vs the 1995 Classic Alicia Silverstone Film
We are continuing our September “Back-to-School” films talking about Jane Austen and possibly her lightest novel--Emma and pair it with the incomparable Amy Heckerling-directed film Clueless. Both are revered for their humor & having a wonderful female lead.
Released in 1815 (the last novel she published before Austen’s death at 41), Emma tells the story of a spoiled, willful woman (Emma Woodhouse) who enjoys helping make romantic entanglements happen. She is the daughter of widower Mr. Woodhouse and gives Emma a comfortable life. She has no wish to marry but when her governess, Miss Taylor marries Mr. West, she decides her true gift is matchmaking.
Emma meddles in people’s lives and is constantly being questioned by Mr. Knightey, an older gentleman who lives next door. Harriet Smith is a friend who is shy and awkward compared to Emma. She becomes a project for the meddlesome protagonist who matches people and attempts to create several relationships with varying levels of success.
Austen never married and enjoyed living in Bath, England where she places several of her stories. This particular novel has been adapted many times over the years but one of the most accessible and funny versions was created by Heckerling who already mined the field of high school with her film Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982.
Alicia Silverstone was known for Aerosmith videos when she starred in Clueless and quickly became an “overnight” star. Her Cher (Emma) is kind and a bit ditzy who attends high school in Southern California and is best friends with Dionne (Stacey Dash). The film is filled with so many quotable lines and literally has not one wasted scene to become an instant classic.
There are many changes between the book & the film. Which did the Margos like more?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The short life of the incredible Jane Austen
- The central characters and how they differ in the 1995 adaptation
- Teen movies in the 80s and how women directors led the pack
- The cast including Alicia Silverstone (Emma/Cher,) Stacey Dash (Dionne,) Brittany Murphy (Harriet Smith/Tai,) Paul Rudd (Josh/Mr. Knightley,) Donald Faison (Murray,) Elisa Donovan (Amber/Mrs. Elton,) Breckin Meyer (Travis/Robert Martin,) Jeremy Sisto (Elton,) Dan Hedaya (Mel Horowitz/Mr. Woodhouse,) Wallace Shawn (Mr. Hall/Mr. Weston,) Twink Caplan (Miss Geist/Mrs. Weston.) and Justin Walker (Christian/Frank Churchill.)
Clips Featured:
- Clueless trailer
- Josh realizes he loves Cher
- Driving on the freeway
- Ride Home
- Music: “Rollin with my Homies” by Coolio
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
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Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Muriel Spark Novel Vs the 1969 Maggie Smith Film
The Margos are celebrating September with a series of “Back to School” episodes starting with 1961 classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. Brodie is a popular teacher at a girls' school in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1931. Each year she picks a group of students to be an elite part of the “Brodie set”--under her tutelage learning mostly about the arts & beauty (and not science!)
Brodie is single and considers herself at her “prime” with two gentlemen vying for her affection. Mr. Lloyd who is a painter, father of six, and a bit of a letch. Mr. Lowther is a kind person but a bit wishy-washy. The competition for her attention and affection marks their relationships and is a game the girls enjoy watching.
Turns out Brodie is a Fascist which is her ultimate undoing. The complicated story about education and mentorship is an indictment on giving one person too much power over a young mind.
The 1969 movie was not a huge hit at the time but when Dame Maggie Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1970, it went back into the theaters and became a classic.
There are many changes between the book & the film. Which did the Margos like more?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The interesting life story of Muriel Spark
- The central characters and how they differ in the adaptation
- The moral quandary of liking Maggie Smith and despising Brodie
- The cast including Maggie Smith (Brodie,) Robert Stephens (Teddy Llloyd,) Pamela Franklin (Sandy,) Gordon Jackson (Gordon Lowther,) Celia Johnson (Miss Mackay,) Diane Grayson (Jenny,) Jane Carr (Mary McGregor,) and Shirley Steedman (Monica.)
Clips Featured:
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie trailer
- Miss Brodie confronts Miss Mackay
- Sandy confront Miss Brodie
- Miss Brodie shows her vacation slides
- Music: “Jean” by Rod McKuen
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
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Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/