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Check out these Updates from Armchair Commentary for August 20, 2009.

Top 15 Movies Made from Classic Books August 20, 2009 Before I get into this list of best classic books-to-movies, a full disclosure: in my other life, I'm an adjunct English professor who specializes in nineteenth-century British literature. Consequently, I have amassed quite a collection of cinematic adaptations of Regency- and Victorian-era tomes. Given that 2009 opened with a thrilling Masterpiece Classic line-up including a highly vaunted new production of Little Dorrit, and given that the year is slated to close with Guy Ritchie's highly anticipated new Sherlock Holmes (not to mention looking ahead to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland in 2010), I thought I’d take stock of those nineteenth-century stories that have been brought to film over the past century or so. I consulted my valued colleagues on the VICTORIA listserv and compiled this list of great movies based on nineteenth-century stories. Of course there are some glaring absences on this list, like The Man Who Would Be King, Sherlock Holmes (played by either Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett), and even Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Also, the term "best" is vague; it could mean "most faithful," "most fun," or even "most creative." To me, the "best" adaptations are those that make me want to read—or re-read—the original story. But enough of these disclaimers—let's get to the list.  Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowledged that Colin Firth's famous gaze causes much swooning. Jane Austen purists prefer this six-part mini-series for its depth and detail, while viewers with a shorter attention span will enjoy the more modernized version of P&P. Sense and Sensibility: I am convinced that Ang Lee and Emma Thompson can do almost anything. And Kate Winslet’s glorious talent more than makes up for that awkward wig. Persuasion: Another triumph for Jane Austen fans. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: A compelling adaptation of a novel by the lesser known Brontë sister, Anne, about a woman trying to escape a rotten marriage to an alcoholic abuser. Jane Eyre: Dear Reader, even I might marry Orson Welles' Mr. Rochester. While not the most "faithful" adaptation, this version of the classic novel by Charlotte Brontë remains one of my all-time favorite movies. A Christmas Carol: This 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 Christmas story features Alistair Sims in the role of Scrooge. A must-have for every DVD library. Bleak House: Gillian Anderson plays Lady Dedlock in Charles Dickens’ scathing critique of England’s legal system of inheritance. This series is worth every minute (of the 510 total!). Oliver Twist: David Lean’s 1948 adaptation of Dickens' novel is generally regarded as a masterpiece. Little Dorrit: This BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel garnered 11 Emmy nominations in 2009. Our Mutual Friend: Adapted from Charles Dickens' last completed novel—the very novel that Desmond Hume carries around with him in that popular TV series Lost. Middlemarch: Sadly, screenwriter Andrew Davies is not as well known in the U.S. as he is in England, but he's responsible for many of the finest cinematic adaptations of classic English literature, including this series based on the favorite novel by George Eliot. Cranford: Mrs. Gaskell's charming little novel made into a movie featuring Dame Judi Dench: fabulous. Tess of the D’Urbervilles: I hesitate between this adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1891 "fallen woman" tale and the one by Polanski. It's worth noting that the fetching Gemma Arterton is now allegedly slated to play Cathy in the new Wuthering Heights (Natalie Portman pulled out of the project). Opinions, anyone? Nosferatu: This 1922 silent-film rendition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula was actually an unauthorized adaptation—the director could not get a copyright agreement from the Stoker estate. Although some details are altered, this film remains a favorite of Dracula fans. Vanity Fair: Some may prefer Mira Nair's gorgeous vision of Thackeray’s novel, but English professors tend to like this one best. See the more nineteenth-century novels made into feature films and TV series. Now I'm curious: what literary film adaptations would make your top ten?  --Kellie

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