5 Authors Who Couldn't Stand Their Books' Movie Adaptation
It is almost impossible to make an adaptation that satisfies the author of the original source.
The debate over which is better – a movie or a book–- has been going on ever since the first film adaptation in history.
But the clashes between ordinary moviegoers and admirers of the printed word seem like petty squabbles when professionals in their field enter the fray – the creators of the original source themselves.
Clive Cussler, Sahara
The Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler has become a cult classic. But movies about Dirk Pitt have not been as successful – most notably 2005's Sahara, starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz.
In fact, it was a complete failure: the movie, with a budget of $145 million, grossed only $68 million at the box office.
Cussler stated that this was because the producer did not give him full control over the script and even sued the movie creators.
J. D. Salinger, My Foolish Heart
There's a reason no one has ever seen a full-length version of The Catcher in the Rye or Franny and Zooey. In the late 1940s, Salinger agreed to have his story Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut made into a movie.
As a result, he was so offended that his work was being turned into a saccharine love story that he vowed never to let his work be corrupted again.
Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Apparently, everyone loved this adaptation but the original book's author, Ken Kesey himself. The lawsuits began during production when the producers and director rejected the author's script.
Then Kesey sued the movie creators, wondering why the director had decided to change the ending, as well as shift the focus and not tell the story from Chief Bromden's point of view.
Kesey despised the filmmakers to the end of his days and really tried to avoid watching the tape, even though it won a huge number of different awards.
Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
In 1964, Roald Dahl gave the world an incredible story about a boy's adventures in Mr. Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
Five years later, the author himself took over the adaptation of the screenplay, but even the author's participation in the project did not save the movie from criticism.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory deservedly became a hit, but Roald Dahl's hatred knew no bounds.
His claims are well known: for the author, the story was supposed to be focused on the boy Charlie, but the 1971 movie focused on the figure of Willy Wonka instead.
Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's
Breakfast at Tiffany's became a true object of public love. However, Truman Capote was disappointed with the movie and called it the most unsuccessful film adaptation ever made.
Moreover, the author of Breakfast at Tiffany's could not stand Audrey Hepburn as Holly and wanted to see Marilyn Monroe in the main role.