60 Books That Will Be Adapted Into TV and Movies in 2022

'84, Charing Cross Road'

When I was trying to acquire all the Pulitzer Prize winners of fiction, I spent a lot of time in used bookstores hunting for copies of older, out-of-print books. It was an enjoyable enterprise, and I managed to track down quite a few of the books I wanted, but a couple of them eluded me, so I had to resort to buying them online from used bookstores in other parts of the country.

In 1949, Helene Hanff, a writer living in New York City, began her own search for certain out-of-print books that a British literary critic named Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch had recommended in a book of his that she'd read. She was unable to find the books she wanted in New York City, especially for a reasonable price, so Hanff did what people did back then long before there existed anything like online shopping — she wrote letters.

Her letters were addressed to a specific antiquarian bookstore whose ad she saw in the Saturday Review of Literature. That bookstore, Marks & Co. Booksellers, was located at 84, Charing Cross Road in London, and since she was searching for out-of-print British books, it made sense for her to send a letter to Marks & Co. Requesting its help. Not only did the bookseller, Frank Doel, find some of the books she wanted, he, in turn, included a letter to Hanff with the books. Thus began 20 years of correspondence between Hanff and Doel.

"84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff is a collection of that correspondence. The slim book pops up repeatedly on lists of books that any book lover should read. I bought and read it years ago and was simply delighted by it.

Just imagine — Hanff and Doel began their correspondence in late 1949. They typed and mailed letters that had to traverse the Atlantic Ocean. Doel sent her numerous books that also had to traverse the ocean. Hanff sent Doel and other employees of the bookstore food and other necessities during the time of heavy rationing in England, and they formed a strong friendship even though they never met in person. Their love of books bound them over the years and the distance.

I probably wouldn't have picked this little book for my column, though, if I hadn't discovered that there is a film version of it. I learned this about a month ago while listening to one of my weekly book podcasts, "The Bookcase," with Charlie and Kate Gibson. Charlie mentioned how much he loved this book, and I nodded in agreement, but then he said that he also loved the movie based on it.

There's a movie?! My mouth flopped open in astonishment. When he said that Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft and Judi Dench were the stars, my jaw nearly hit the floor. I immediately did an online search and discovered that I could stream it on Tubi, so I did — that very day.

If you love books, bibliophiles, bookstores and quality acting, watch this 1987 movie. Read the book, too. The movie fills in the gaps that the letters leave in the book. The book has fewer than 100 pages, so after I watched the wonderful movie, I reread the book in one short sitting.

Now, if only I could find a venerable, kindly bookseller with whom I could build a friendship based upon 20 years of correspondence, my literary-loving heart would be oh, so content.

Clark Art Screens '84 Charing Cross Road'

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Thursday, March 28, the Clark Art Institute hosts a free screening of the 1987 film "84 Charing Cross Road" as part of the Williamstown Public Library 150th Anniversary Film Series. 

The Clark shows the film at 6 pm in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

According to a press release:

A New York City bibliophile writes to the manager of London bookshop Marks & Co. In search of titles she has been unable to turn up locally. He responds politely, and over the course of two decades a long-distance friendship evolves. David Jones' film version beautifully illustrates the powerful bond of reading.

In celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Williamstown Library, this film series explores the transformative power of reading. The final film screening in the Williamstown Public Library 150th Anniversary Film Series is Adaptation on April 4 at 6 pm.

Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524. 

Tags: Clark Art,   

Clark Art Screens 'Fahrenheit 451'

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Thursday, March 21, the Clark Art Institute hosts a free screening of the 1966 film "Fahrenheit 451" as part of the Williamstown Public Library 150th Anniversary Film Series. 

The Clark shows the film at 6 pm in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

According to a press release:

Adapted from the Ray Bradbury novel and directed by Francois Truffaut, "Fahrenheit 451" imagines a future society that has banned all reading material. Firemen work to keep the fires at the temperature that paper burns. However, after one of them meets a book-loving girl, he begins to rethink his work and his whole world.

In celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Williamstown Library, this film series explores the transformative power of reading. The next film screening in the Williamstown Public Library 150th Anniversary Film Series is 84 Charing Cross Road on March 28 at 6 pm.

Free. Accessible seats available.

Tags: Clark Art,   

---