We’ve had some sharp words for remakes around here at Frock Flicks, especially literary remakes of perfectly lovely historical costume movies and TV shows. We get it, Hollywood and all the other media producers out there are risk-averse and prefer reusing a known story instead of branching out into something new. That’s why we’re neck-deep in Marvel movies and live-action Disney films right now. But the tendency goes way back, as this 2008 version of Brideshead Revisited proves. Like the 11-part TV miniseries from 1981, this is based on Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 novel. But being a two-hour movie, it obviously cuts out a lot of stuff from the novel that the series had space for. If that were the only problem with this film, then cool, let’s enjoy it for another pretty costume drama! Because the 1920s and 1930s frocks designed by Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh are lovely. However, I couldn’t help but compare the two versions in more ways than one.
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We’ve had some sharp words for remakes around here at Frock Flicks, especially literary remakes of perfectly lovely historical costume movies and TV shows.
I don’t know why. Some new adaptations are just as good or even better than the previous adaptations. And some aren’t.
Click thru the “remakes” & “risk-averse” links above for why!
I looked over your articles for the Ivory/Merchant/Forster film trio, Dracula and The Age of Innocence. You do a great job discussing the historical accuracies and inaccuracies and whatnot. Could you please do an article on the 1989 Great Expectations tv series with Anthony Calf and Kim Thomson? I think you would have a field day analyzing the costumes on that film as well. It’s one of the greatest adaptions because of its flawless cast, production values, beautiful music and attention to screenwriting. Check out my YouTube blog and Fanfiction page as well to see some of my work if you’re interested.
Unfortunately, none of us are big Dickens fans, plus I don’t even see a costume designer listed for that adaption, which doesn’t bode well (maybe everything was rented?). Here’s how we take recs for reviews: https://frockflicks.com/want-recommend-movie-us-review/
I enjoyed the movie and the TV show versions of Brideshead Revisited. One of these days I will get around to reading the book. Then, I think I’ll truly be able to evaluate the merits and demerits of two film adaptations. I remember both being gorgeous and well cast, with the caveat that the actors were too old to pull off the “younger years” portion of the story–but I feel like 99% of movies and TV shows cast waayyyy too old. (To date, the only Evelyn Waugh novel I’ve read is Vile Bodies, which I think I read after watching the film adaption, Bright Young Things.) Usually, this blog adds items to my To Watch list, this post has added an item to my To Read list. Thanks! ;)
I didn’t read the book until after watching both the miniseries & the movie bec. I wanted to see how each one deviated — as expected the longer TV show was more faithful to the book.
A darker adaptation of Pride and Prejudice? Gritty Remake alert! This is not a drill!😒
Why? One asks.