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Words: Peter Craven Producer: Bianca Farmakis
The greatest film adaptations of all time
The old adage — to read the book before you watch the movie — has been challenged significantly over the decades, as TV and film adaptations truly take our favourite works to new heights. 
Literary classics have been transformed for generations and spy thrillers have reached new heights. Though many a flop has been created, there remain some masterpieces that could only stand to benefit by reaching a new medium.
Books and films will forever be saddled together, so here are the best adaptations in cinematic history.
Arguably the greatest of all novels directed by Grigori Kozintsev. Nikolai Cherkasov (the legendary actor who played Ivan the Terrible) stars as the Don.
Don Quixote
While all screen adaptations of the Graham Greene story work, nothing quite equals Orson Welles as Harry Lime.
The Third Man
Laclos’ deadly 18th-century novel is brought brilliantly alive in Stephen Frears’ version with John Malkovich and Glenn Close at their most wicked.
Dangerous Liaisons
The finest version of Jane Austen ever made with a script by Emma Thompson. She and Kate Winslett are superb as the leading sisters.
Sense and Sensibility
Directed by John Schlesinger, this flawless transposition of the Hardy novel is perfectly cast, with all the power of the book.
Far From the Madding Crowd
Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster give a dazzling realisation of Thomas Harris’ genius psycho and the woman who gets inside his mind.
The Silence of the Lambs
Annie Proulx’s fine story is the basis but Ang Lee’s film with Heath Ledger giving a performance for the ages is superior to it.
Brokeback Mountain
The best Harry Potter book happens to be the best movie directed by the great Alfonso Cuaron. A standout among the series.
The Prisoner of Azkaban
																															

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