Australian Cinema > types > books

Books and Films

Australasian films and TV based on novels, plays, etc.—and some non-Australasian films based on work by Australian writers—and the other way around

1915 (Di Drew, Chris Thomson, 1982) TV mini-series, novel by Roger McDonald

3 Acts of Murder (Rowan Woods, 2009) Three Acts of Murder; telemovie, Arthur Upfield story, set in WA

Adventures of Barry McKenzie, The (Bruce Beresford, 1972) from comic strip written by Barry Humphries

Age of Consent (Michael Powell, 1969) novel by Norman Lindsay

Angel at my Table, An (Jane Campion, 1990) NZ; based on autobiographies of Janet Frame: To the Island, Angel at my Table, Envoy from Mirror City) made as a three-part mini-series, but also screened as a feature

Australian Rules (Paul Goldman, 2002) from Phillip Gwynne's novel, Deadly, Unna?

Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (Bruce Beresford, 1974) wr. Barry Humphries

Battlers, The (George Ogilvie, 1994) mini-series; wr. Peter Yeldham, novel by Kylie Tennant

Bliss (Ray Lawrence, 1985) novel by Peter Carey

Blue Fin (Carl Schultz, 1978) novel by Colin Thiele

Boney (various directors, 1972-3) TV series 1972-1973, various writers (incl. Arthur Upfield), based on books by Arthur Upfield

Boys, The (Rowan Woods, 1997) screenplay Stephen Sewell from Gordon Graham's play

Boys in the Island, The (Geoff Bennett, 1987) novel by Christopher Koch

Brothers (Terry Bourke, 1982) aka Hounds of War, novel Reflex by Roger Ward (uncredited)

Breaker Morant (Bruce Beresford, 1980) wr. Bruce Beresford, Jonathon Hardy, David Stevens from a play by Kenneth Ross

Brilliant Lies (Richard Franklin, 1996) play by David Williamson

Brumby Innes (1973) (TV) novel by Katharine Susannah Prichard

Brush Off, The (Sam Neill, 2004) 'Murray Whelan' novel by Shane Maloney

Bush Christmas (Ralph Smart, 1947) novel by Ralph Smart, Mary Cathcart Borer

Bush Christmas (Henri Safran, 1983) novel by Ralph Smart, Mary Cathcart Borer

Bushranger, The (Federico Chentrens, 1976) (TV) novel by Kenneth Cook

Caddie (Donald Crombie, 1976) autobiography by 'Caddie' Marsh

Candy (Neil Armfield, 2006) novel by Luke Davies

Captain Starlight, or Gentleman Of The Road (Alfred Rolfe, 1911) novel Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood

Cassidy (Carl Schultz, 1989) (TV) novel by Joanna Murray-Smith

Careful He Might Hear You (Carl Schultz, 1983) novel by Sumner Locke Elliott

Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, The (Fred Schepisi, 1978) novel by Thomas Keneally

Chopper (Andrew Dominick, 2000) screenplay by Andrew Dominick based on books by Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read

Cloudstreet (Matthew Saville, 2011) TV series, novel by Tim Winton

Club, The (Bruce Beresford, 1980) play (and screenplay) by David Williamson

Coca Cola Kid, The (Dusan Makaveyev, 1985) wr. Frank Moorhouse, based on two of his short stories

Conversations at Curlow Creek (proposed) script written by Bruce Beresford, novel by David Malouf

Compo (Nigel Buesst, 1989) from the play Claim no. Z84 by Abe Pogos

Cosi (Mark Joffe, 1996) screenplay by Louis Nowra from his play

Country Life, A (Michael Blakemore, 1994) adaptation of Chekhov's play Uncle Vanya

Crooked Road, The (Don Chaffey, 1965) NOT Australian but included as based on novel by Morris West, The Big Story

Cousin from Fiji, The (Alan Burke, 1972) (TV) novel by Norman Lindsay

Curate in Bohemia, A (Alan Burke, 1972) (TV) novel by Norman Lindsay

Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (George Whaley, 1995) wr. George Whaley, stories by Steele Rudd

Dad and Dave Come To Town (Ken G. Hall, 1938) aka The Rudd Family Goes to Town, stories by Steele Rudd

Dad Rudd, M.P. (Ken G. Hall, 1940) stories by Steele Rudd

Daughter, The (Simon Stone, 2015) wr. Simon Stone based on Henrik Ibsen's play The Wild Duck

Dead-End Drive In (Brian Trenchard-Smith, 1986) based on Peter Carey story, "Crabs", uncredited

Dead Men Running (Eric Taylor, 1971) TV series, novel by D'Arcy Niland

Death in Brunswick (John Ruane, 1991) novel by Boyd Oxlade

December Boys (Rod Hardy, 2007) novel by Michael Noonan

Delinquents, The (Chris Thomson, 1989) novel by Criena Rohan

Departure (Brian Kavanagh, 1986) from Michael Gurr's play A Pair of Claws

Devil's Playground, The (Fred Schepisi, 1976) novel by Thomas Keneally

Devil in the Flesh (Scott Murray, 1989) aka Beyond Innocence (US), wr. Scott Murray, based on novel Le diable au corps, by Raymond Radiguet

Devil's Advocate, The (Guy Green, 1977) NOT Australian, novel by Australian Morris West

Dimboola (John Duigan, 1979) play by Jack Hibberd

Dirt Music (Phillip Noyce, 2010; pre-production 2004) film rights of Tim Winton's novel bought by Phillip Noyce in 2002; film to be shot in WA set in fictional seaside town of White Point; Layla Tucak, "Noyce to put Music on film", The Australian, 11 May 2002: 3

Don's Party (Bruce Beresford, 1976) play (and screenplay) by David Williamson

Dust in the Sun (Lee Robinson, 1958) novel Justin Bayard by Jon Cleary

Dust or Polish (Julian Pringle, 1972) (TV) novel by Norman Lindsay

Edens Lost (Neil Armfield, 1988) (TV) novel by Sumner Locke Elliott

Emerald City (Michael Jenkins, 1989) aka David Williamson's Emerald City; from the play

Eucalyptus (Jocelyn Moorhouse, production lapsed) pre-production 2004, novel by Murray Bail; Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, possibly also Jack Thompson, Hugo Weaving, Roy Billing; man wants to grow every species of Australian eucalypt

Everlasting Secret Family, The (Michael Thornhill, 1988) story by Frank Moorhouse

Evil Angels (Fred Schepisi, 1988) aka A Cry in the Dark, from the book by John Bryson

Face to Face (Michael Rymer, 2010) wr. David Williamson from his play; Vince Colosimo, Ingrid Thornton, Matthew Newton

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (Bill Kroyer, 1992) from Diana Young's FernGully

Fire in the Stone, The (Gary Conway, 1983) novel by Colin Thiele

For Love Alone (Stephen Wallace, 1986) novel by Christina Stead

For the Term of his Natural Life (Charles MacMahon, 1908) novel by Marcus Clarke

For the Term of his Natural Life (Norman Dawn, 1927) novel by Marcus Clarke

For the Term of his Natural Life (Rob Stewart, 1982) mini-series, novel by Marcus Clarke

Fortress (Arch Nicholson, 1986) wr. Everett De Roche, novel Gabrielle Lord

Fringe Dwellers, The (Bruce Beresford, 1986) novel by Nene Gare

Getting of Wisdom, The (Bruce Beresford, 1977) novel by Henry Handel Richardson

Ginger Meggs (Jonathan Dawson, 1982) prod. John Sexton, wr. Michael Latimer, from comic strip by J. C. Bancks, dp John Seale, music John Stuart, Kim Thraves, design Larry Eastwood, ed. Phillip Howe; Terry Camilleri, Paul Daniel, Harold Hopkins, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Coral Kelly, Garry McDonald, Gwen Plumb; filmed Bowral; Eastman colour, 35mm, 95 min.

Ginger Mick (Raymond Longford, 1920) poem by C. J. Dennis

Gossip from the Forest (Brian Gibson, 1979) (TV) novel by Thomas Keneally

Great Expectations: The Untold Story (Tim Burstall, 1986) based on the novel by Charles Dickens

Great Macarthy, The (David Baker, 1975) novel, A Salute to the Great McCarthy, by Barry Oakley

Green Helmet, The (Michael Forlong, 1961) novel by Jon Cleary

Halfway to Nowhere (David Cahill, 1972) (TV) novel by Norman Lindsay

Hating Alison Ashley (Geoff Bennett, 2005) novel Robin Klein

He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (Richard Lowenstein, 2001) novel by John Birmingham

Head On (Ana Kokkinos, 1998) novel, Loaded, by Christos Tsiolkas

High Road to China (Brian G. Hutton, 1983) novel by Jon Cleary

Holding the Man (Neil Armfield, 2015) wr. Neil Armfield from Tommy Murphy's play from Timothy Conigrave's book

Hotel Sorrento (Richard Franklin, 1995) play by Hannie Rayson

In the Winter Dark (James Bogle, 1998) novel by Tim Winton

Intimate Strangers (Michael Carson, 1981) (TV) novel by Katharine Susannah Prichard

Joe (Beaumont Smith, 1924) stories by Henry Lawson

Jonah (Eric Taylor, 1982) (TV mini-series) novel by Louis Stone

Kangaroo (Lewis Milestone, 1952) novel by DH Lawrence

Lantana (Ray Lawrence, 2001) screenplay by Andrew Bovell from his play

Last Cab to Darwin (Jeremy Sims, 2015) wr. Reg Cribb, Jeremy Sims from play Last Cab to Darwin by Cribb

Last Crop, The (Sue Clayton, 1990) (TV) story by Elizabeth Jolley

Life Of Rufus Dawes, The (Alfred Rolfe, 1911) novel by Marcus Clarke

Lockie Leonard (2007) TV series, books by Tim Winton

Looking for Alibrandi (Kate Woods, 2000) novel (and screenplay) Melina Marchetta

Lucinda Brayford (John Gauci, 1980) mini-series, novel by Martin Boyd

Macbeth (Geoffrey Wright, 2006) play by William Shakespeare

Mad Cows (Sara Sugarman, 1999) NOT Australian, novel by Kathy Lette

Magic Pudding, The (Karl Zwicky, 2000) story by Norman Lindsay

Man From Snowy River, The (Beaumont Smith, 1920)

Man from Snowy River, The (George Miller, 1982) poem by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson

Mango Tree, The (Kevin Dobson, 1977) wr. prod. Michael Pate from novel by Ronald McKie

Mao's Last Dancer (Bruce Beresford, 2009) memoir by Li Cunxin

Monkey Grip (Ken Cameron, 1982) novel by Helen Garner

Monkey's Mask, The (Samantha Lang, 2000) novel by Dorothy Porter

My Brother Jack (Gil Brealey, 1965) TV series, novel by George Johnston, script by Charmian Clift

My Brother Jack (Ken Cameron, 2001) (TV) novel by George Johnston, script by John Alsop

My Brilliant Career (Gillian Armstrong, 1979) novel by Miles Franklin (Stella Marian Sarah Miles Franklin)

Naked Country, The (Tim Burstall, 1984) aka Morris West's The Naked Country, novel by Morris West

Naked Under Capricorn (Rob Stewart, 1989) (TV) novel by Olaf Ruhens

Ned Kelly (Gregor Jordan, 2003) novel by Robert Drewe, Our Sunshine

Night the Prowler, The (Jim Sharman, 1979) novella by Patrick White

Nim's Island (Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin, 2008) novel by Wendy Orr

Nobody Runs Forever (Ralph Thomas, 1968) novel, The High Commissioner, by Jon Cleary

Odd Angry Shot, The (Andrew Dominick, 1979) novel William L. Nagle

On Our Selection (Raymond Longford, 1920) stories by Steele Rudd

On Our Selection (Ken G. Hall, 1932) aka Down on the Farm, stories by Steele Rudd

On the Beach (Russel Mulcahy, 2000) TV, novel by Nevil Shute

On the Beach (Stanley Kramer, 1959) novel by Nevil Shute

Oscar and Lucinda (Gillian Armstrong, 1997) novel by Peter Carey

Outbreak of Love (Oscar Whitbread, 1981) (TV) novel by Martin Boyd

Perfectionist, The (Chris Thomson, 1987) play by David Williamson

Picnic at Hanging Rock (Peter Weir, 1975) novel by Joan Lindsay

Pioneers, The (Franklyn Barrett, 1916) novel by Katharine Susannah Prichard

Pioneers, The (Raymond Longford, 1926) novel by Katharine Susannah Prichard

Playing Beatie Bow (Donald Crombie, 1986) novel by Ruth Park

Power Without Glory (John Gauci, Michael Ludbrook, 1976) TV mini-series, novel by Frank Hardy

Praise (John Curran, 1998) wr. Andrew McGahan based on his novel

Puberty Blues (Bruce Beresford, 1981) novel by Kathy Lette, Gabrielle Carey

Rabbit-Proof Fence (Phillip Noyce, 2001) wr. Christine Olsen, based on book by Doris Pilkington Garimara

Razorback (Russell Mulcahy, 1984) novel by Peter Brennan

Red Dog (Kriv Stenders, 2011) wr. Daniel Taplitz, Louis de Bernieres (novel); Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor

Redheap (Brian Bell, 1972) TV series, novel by eelNorman Lindsay

Removalists, The (Tom Jeffrey, 1975) prod. Margaret Fink, wr. David Williamson from his play; Jacki Weaver, John Hargreaves, Peter Cummins, Martin Harris, Chris Haywood, Kate Fitzpatrick; domestic drama

Rhapsody (Charles Vidor, 1954) NOT Australian; included as novel, Maurice Guest, is by Henry Handel Richardson

Ride on Stranger (Carl Schultz, 1979) TV series, novel by Kylie Tennant

Riders, The (Ray Lawrence, announced) novel by Tim Winton

Robbery under Arms (Charles McMahon, 1907) novel by Rolf Boldrewood

Robbery Under Arms (Kenneth Brampton, 1920) novel by Rolf Boldrewood

Robbery under Arms (Jack Lee, 1957) novel by Rolf Boldrewood

Robbery under Arms (Donald Crombie & Ken Hannam, 1985) novel by Rolf Boldrewood

Romulus My Father (Richard Roxburgh, 2007) Raimond Gaita's memoir

Ruben Guthrie (Brendan Cowell, 2015) wr. Brendan Cowell from his play

Salamander (Peter Zinner, 1981) NOT Australian but included as based on novel by Morris West

Schindler's List (Steven Spielberg, 1993) NOT Australian; included as based on novel by Thomas Keneally

Scobie Malone (Terry Ohlsson, 1975) novel Helga's Web by Jon Cleary

Sentimental Bloke, The (Raymond Longford, 1919) poem by C. J. Dennis

Sentimental Bloke, The (F. W. Thring, 1932) poem by C. J. Dennis

Sentimental Bloke, The (Alan Burke, 1976) (TV) poem by C. J. Dennis

Set, The (Frank Brittain, 1970) novel by Roger Ward; Sean Myers, Rod Mullinar; two young men have an affair; one attempts suicide; overseas sale banned by the censor

Shark Net, The (Graeme Burfoot, 2003) TV mini-series, book by Robert Drewe

Shiralee, The (Leslie Norman, 1957) novel by D'Arcy Niland

Shiralee, The (George Ogilvie, 1988) TV mini-series, novel by D'Arcy Niland

Shoes of the Fisherman, The (Michael Anderson, 1968) NOT Australian, based on novel by Australian Morris West

Smiley (Anthony Kimmins, 1956) novel by Moore Raymond

Smiley Gets a Gun (Anthony Kimmins, 1958) novel by Moore Raymond

Snake Gully with Dad and Dave (Hugh Taylor, 1972) TV series, stories by Steele Rudd

Sound of One Hand Clapping, The (Richard Flanagan, 1998) wr. Richard Flanagan from his own novel

Spearfield's Daughter (Gilbert M. Shilton, 1986) TV mini-series, novel and teleplay by Jon Cleary

Stiff (John Clarke, 2004) 'Murray Whelan' novel by Shane Maloney

Stork (Tim Burstall, 1971) wr. David Williamson from play The Coming of Stork

Storm Boy (Henri Safran, 1976) wr. Sonia Borg, from novel by Colin Thiele

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (Leslie Norman, 1959) American film based on the Australian play by Ray Lawler

Sun on the Stubble, The (Robert Marchand, 1996) TV mini-series, stories by Colin Thiele

Sundowners, The (Fred Zinnemann, 1960) novel Jon Cleary

Tai-Pan (Daryl Duke, 1986) novel by James Clavell - NOT Australasian, but Bryan Brown is in it

That Eye the Sky (John Ruane, 1994) novel by Tim Winton

They're a Weird Mob (Michael Powell, 1966) novel by John O'Grady, as 'Nino Culotta'

Three Dollars (Robert Connolly, 2004) novel by Elliot Perlman

Tim (Michael Pate, 1979) novel by Colleen McCullough

Timeless Land, The (Michael Carson, Rob Stewart, 1980) TV mini-series, script by Peter Yeldham, based on novel by Eleanor Dark? not credited?

Town like Alice, A (Jack Lee, 1956) novel by Nevil Shute

Traps (Pauline Chan, 1994) wr. Robert Carter, Pauline Chan, novel Dreamhouse by Kate Greville

Travelling North (Carl Schultz, 1987) screenplay David Williamson from his play

Twelfth Night (Neil Armfield, 1986) from William Shakespeare's play

Turtle Beach (Stephen Wallace, 1992) novel by Blanche d'Alpuget

Under Capricorn (Alfred Hitchcock, 1949) an American film, and the TV series of the same name (Rod Hardy, 1983) were both based on the novel by Helen de Guerry Simpson

Wake in Fright (Ted Kotcheff, 1971) novel by Kenneth Cook

Walkabout (Nicolas Roeg, 1971) novel by James Vance Marshall

Water Under the Bridge (Igor Auzins, 1980) (TV) novel by Sumner Locke Elliott

We of the Never Never (Igor Auzins, 1982) novel by Mrs Aeneas Gunn

Well, The (Samantha Lang, 1997) novel by Elizabeth Jolley

While The Billy Boils (Beaumont Smith, 1921) stories by Henry Lawson

Whipping Boy (Di Drew, 1996) novel Gabrielle Lord

Wild Duck, The (Henri Safran, 1983) from Henrik Ibsen's play

Year of Living Dangerously, The (Peter Weir, 1982) novel by Christopher Koch

You Can't See Round Corners (David Cahill, 1967) (TV series) (also film David Cahill, 1969) novel by Jon Cleary

References and Links

Adaptation (Spike Jonze, 2002)

Andrew, Dudley 1992 [1984], 'Adaptation', from Concepts in Film Theory, Oxford University Press; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 420-428.

Bazin, André 1992 [1967], 'Theater and cinema', What is Cinema? vol. 1 & 2, tr. Hugh Gray, University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 375-386.

Beresford, Bruce 2007, 'Careful, they might not hear you', Aust Lit Rev, 4 July: 25.

Braudy, Leo 1992 [1976], 'Acting: stage vs screen', from The World in a Frame, Doubleday, New York; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 387-394.

Chatman, Seymour 1992  [1980], 'What novels can do that films can't (and vice versa)', Critical Inquiry, 8; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 403-419.

Eisenstein, Sergei 1992 [1949], 'Dickens, Griffith, and the film today', from Film Form, tr. Jay Leyda, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 395-402.

Elliott, Kamilla 2003, Rethinking the Novel-Film Debate, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

McFarlane, Brian 1996, Novel to Film: An Introduction to the Theory of Adaptation, Clarendon, Oxford.

Mast, Gerald, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy 1992, 'Film, theater and literature', Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 351-354.

Münsterberg, Hugo. The Film: A Psychological Study. New York: Dover, 1969.

Münsterberg, Hugo, 'The means of the photoplay', from The Film: A Psychological Study; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 355-361.

Naremore, James 2000, Film Adaptation, Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick.

Panofsky, Erwin 1992 [1934], 'Style and medium in the motion pictures', Bulletin of the Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 233-248.

Sontag, Susan 1992 [1966], 'Film and theatre', from Styles of Radical Will, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, New York; repr. Gerald Mast, Marshall Cohen, & Leo Braudy eds, Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford: 362-374.

Stam, Robert 2005, Literature Through Film: Realism, Magic, and the Art of Adaptation, Blackwell, Oxford & Malden MA.

Stam, Robert & Alessandra Raengo 2005, A Companion to Literature and Film, Blackwell, Oxford & Malden MA.

Stam, Robert & Alessandra Raengo eds 2005, Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation, Blackwell, Oxford & Malden MA.

Stam, Robert 2002, 'Introduction: the theory and practice of adaptation', in Robert Stam & Alessandra Raengo eds 2005, Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation, Blackwell, Oxford & Malden MA.

Tibbetts, John C. & James M. Welsh 1999, Novels into Film: The Encyclopedia of Movies Adapted from Books, Checkmark Books, New York.


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