Tonight NBC presented a live broadcast of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer which got me to thinking about originals vs. remakes. Granted the 1959 version was a film and tonight’s broadcast is a live show, but it’s a remake of sorts. I believe The Sound of Music movie starring Julie Andrews will always be a classic. Tonight’s live version was enjoyable, and certainly impressive given it was presented live, but it was too different to really compare it to the movie.
If you consider Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Dial M for Murder (1954) starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and it’s remake A Perfect Murder (1998) starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, I think they are both excellent. The remake honors the plot of the original but the skilled cast, current setting and a plot changes make each film unique and engaging in their own right.
Another movie originally by Alfred Hitchcock was Rear Window. This 1942 classic starred James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr. The remake was Disturbia made in 2007 starring Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer and Carrie-Anne Moss. Again I think these are both very good movies, each different enough to stand alone and yet Disturbia still honors its roots in Rear Window.
At this time of year you can’t help but notice all the versions of A Christmas Carol that have been made, from a Disney’s cartoon Mickey’s Christmas Carol to Scrooge, the delightful 1970 musical version starring Albert Finney, to Scrooged the 1988 comedic version starring Bill Murray. As for me? I love them all – Charles Dicken’s tale is wonderful in all forms. My personal favorite is the live version presented annually at the Chicago Goodman Theater.
In doing research for this post I was surprised to see how many films I have watched were actually remade. Knowing this now I plan to go back and watch some of the originals. Here is a link to a list of films that have been remade.
What do you think – are there some movies that shouldn’t be remade because the original was so good? What movie do you like both the original and the remake? Is there one you think the remake is better than the ordinal? Please share your comments.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013
Today I quote Nelson Mendela in honor of his life, which sadly ended today.
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