Australian Cinema > types > books
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
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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