Four books that mysteriously haven’t been made into movies yet

Many cinematic treasures started life as books. Directors wanting to relate the amazing things they imagined when reading a book to the big screen is not a new idea, but one that constantly creates new and fascinating art. Here are four books that somehow have escaped the big screen treatment, but really should be made into movies: 

Glen David Gold – Carter Beats the Devil

Famous Magician Carter becomes the subject of a criminal investigation after performing an elaborate trick involving the president of the United States. Only hours later the President drops dead. What follows is a brilliantly researched piece of historical fiction that deals with one man’s search for true meaning in his life, the advent of a new technology and cut-throat artists willing to do anything it takes to get ahead. Gold’s novel moves at a lightning pace and would be perfect for the big screen. Robert Downey Jr would be a great Carter, an aloof genius, incredibly skilled but still on the hunt for something else in life. While the mystery dynamic of the novel would be well suited to films ability to easily portray flashbacks. There is no doubt Carter Beats the Devil would be a huge hit if it ever appeared in cinemas.

Theodore Dresier – Sister Carrie

Dreiser’s novel, which has become a modern classic, would be a perfect fit for cinema. It’s the story of a young woman who leaves her small town in search of a better life in Chicago at the turn of the 20^th century. Carrie Meeber was a unique heroine for the time as she frequently violated the contemporary moral code. Beyond this, Sister Carrie is the thoughtful story of a young woman trying to thrive in a new world. It’s fascinating to watch her grow from timid young woman to someone quite willing and able to manipulate others for her own personal gain. Jennifer Lawrence would make an excellent casting decision, the mix of innocence in the first Hunger Games film with the confidence and bravado of her American Hustle role would suit this just fine.

Cormac McCarthy – The Crossing

The arid, dusty environment McCarthy describes in this novel, dealing with the death of the traditional cowboy dream, would be perfect for as a different kind of Western. The Crossing is the second part of the acclaimed Border Trilogy, dealing the border of Mexico and America and the hunger for adventure. Of course, being a McCarthy novel, things quickly turn sinister and The Crossing ensures that any romantic ideas of the world we have are best kept as fantasy. It’s a novel the Coen brothers would do great things with, having already worked with McCarthy’s source material. Something like the visual style they used to bring No Country for Old Men’s deserts and secluded vision of 1960s America to life would work equally well here. All that’s needed is to cut out the lengthy periods of the book when the main characters are either smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee or both.

Adolfo Bioy Casares – The Invention of Morel

Casares’ sci-fi classic is the story of a fugitive ending up on a desert island. Things get strange when tourists appear, and complicated when he falls in love with one of them. Both his desire to remain hidden and a strange unknown force prevent him and the object of his desire from falling in love. The Invention of Morel has a great twist in the ending and would fit the aesthetic of something like Shutter Island. It could be done on a really small scale too, only needing one very strong lead character. One can see Joaquin Phoenix as the protagonist, whose character from Her features the right amount of innocence and curiosity for this role.

 

Prajay Ghaghda