quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
I don't know enough about Fitzgerald to comment on him. But what a coincidence that the previous GREAT GATSBY was directed by Jack Clayton, who also directed SWTWC!

That's why Bradbury wanted Clayton so badly--he did a beautiful Gatsby which was practically a copy of the book. He could have done the same with SW--instead he chose to stab Ray in the back and nearly succeed in completely ruining the film.

quote:

Originally posted by dandelion:
How about Rob Reiner, who produced the masterpiece Stand By Me? As an adaptation it loses very little from the Stephen King novella on which it is based, and as a film there is not a weak link in it.

A first-rater. He could and should do a Bradbury.

quote:

Originally posted by dandelion:
...That's why Bradbury wanted Clayton so badly....He could have done the same with SW--instead he chose to stab Ray in the back and nearly succeed in completely ruining the film.

That was Ray's account, certainly. The only book-length study of Clayton (JACK CLAYTON by Neil Sinyard) details Clayton's genius for fantasy in his previous films, and suggests that his vision for SWTWC could have led to a stronger film than the one we finally got. But Clayton's fatal flaw was to re-write Bradbury without discussing it with him.

Ray was usually perfectly happy with other people adapting his stories for the screen, but didn't like people changing his scripts.

quote:

Originally posted by Autienne:
It might also be why his work is so difficult to translate into film.

Mr B's work exists primarily in the mind, and it take a special filmmaker to distilled it properly. A few have come close. J. D. Feigelson comes to mind. Also, Stuart Gordon and Norman Lloyd.

quote:

Originally posted by dandelion:
How about Rob Reiner, who produced the masterpiece Stand By Me? As an adaptation it loses very little from the Stephen King novella on which it is based, and as a film there is not a weak link in it.

It was the best King adaptation (and film) up until Shawshank. Remarkably authentic in feel. I read the novella, and it was spot-on.