Anger at Anonymous..

Yesterday saw William Shakespeare's name being removed from sign all around Warwickshire, the county of Startford-upon-Avon. One might think this a work done by vandals, or perhaps even vehement Marlowe fans, but it was in fact an act carried out by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as a campaign against new film 'Anonymous'. Premiering yesterday, and starring Rafe Spall, Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave, the film is just the newest medium by which people are seeking to put forward the argument that the man we know as Shakespeare was merely a 'barely literate frontman for the Earl of Oxford'.

Thus, in a backlash against this attempt to 'rewrite English culture and history', the Trust has put in place a campaign by which 9 road signs and 10 pub signs are being taped over, as well as a sheet being placed over a memorial in Stratford-upon-Avon itself. The trust said, 'Today's activity barely scratches the surface, but we hope it will remind people of the enormous legacy we owe to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon'. The film 'Anonymous' is in cinemas from October 28th.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows...

The image of slighted Duke Prospero conjuring a storm on the shores of the island, is one of Shakespeare's most memorable. Yet what if it was not Prospero, but Prospera? Dame Helen Mirren is set to turn the tables by starring as a female version of the protagonist in a new film adaptation of 'The Tempest'.

The idea for the change was instigated by Mirren herself. She says, 'All the relationships shift because she is female. There's the maternal relationship with her daughter - rather than a patriarchal one. She is a lot more vulnerable herself because she understands Miranda's emotional life and need for romance...I am actually convinced that were he [Shakespeare] writing in the modern day, he would have made Prospero into a woman'. Also starring Russell Brand and Alfred Molina, the film was shot on a Hawaiian island, and is set to be released in December.

The Young Casanova...

'The young Casanova'. A frequent enough term - but what first caused such an expression to enter the English vernacular? The story is traced back to Venetian adventurer and author Giacomo Casanova, who died in 1798 at the age of 73. His life, as will be known to anyone who has seen one of the many screen biopics, is too rich and varied to be done justice in a few short words, but suffice to say that, tainted by scandals and accusations, Casanova wended his way across Europe, fraternising with royalty, and names such as Voltaire, Göthe and Mozart.

Casanova's ethos was simple, 'cultivating whatever gave pleasure to my senses was always the chief business of my life'. During his later years, Casanova wrote 'Histoire de ma vie', 'The Story of My Life', and it because of this that we are fully able to relish in the most licentious details. Adapted for stage screen and music in recent years, here is a film first released in 2005, starring Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller among others.

Dear Juliet...

Once again, Hollywood strikes with yet another Shakespearean spin-off. However, this latest entry appears to lack the drama of Luhrmann's 'Romeo + Juliet', or the passion and finesse of 'Shakespeare in Love'. 'Letters to Juliet', although similarly based on one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, instead traces the story of an American girl on holiday in Italy, who discovers that thousands of would-be lovers write to 'Juliet, Verona' every year for romantic advice - some even stuffed into the brickwork of the building suppposed to be the location of her and Romeo’s tryst.

Typically answered by the 'secretaries of Juliet', the young American, acted by Amanda Seyfried, finds one such letter, and sets of to find the lovers referenced in it. The film will be released on May 21st, but many are already sceptical about its storyline - after all, says Rowan Pelling, 'it seems to me that writing to Juliet for romantic advice is rather like making Hannibal Lecter your health guru'.

The new Darcy?...

One of Britain's best loved books is once again to be made into a film. Jane Austen's classic, 'Pride and Prejudice', is set to be adapted by Papercut Productions, with filming starting next month in Colorado. The film has a lot to live up to. Both the 1995 BBC series, starring the unmissable Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and to a lesser extent, the 2005 film version with Matthew MacFadyen in the same role, have achieved somewhat iconic status - something that the new film will surely be aiming for. However, the early signs look promising, as the Elizabeth Bennet of 2005, Keira Knightley is said to have read and loved the script. The film will star relatively unknown actors, with Maia Petee as Elizabeth, and Caleb Grusing, hoping to be the next dashing Mr. Darcy.

On this day...

Anthony Minghella, British director and playwright, died in 2008 at the age of 54. Born on the Isle of Wight to ice cream factory owners, Minghella produced his first work at the age of 21. Many of his most famous directorial works, naturally, have a literary bent.

Critically acclaimed, 'The English Patient', winner of 9 Oscars and 6 BAFTAs, is based on novel Michael Ondaatje and his second best known work, 'Cold Mountain' which stars Jude Law, is similarly based on a novel by Charles Frazier. Most recently, in a drama produced just prior to his untimely death, it was Alexander McCall Smith, author of 'The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency', that provided his inspiration. Perhaps, when looking back over his career, it is no surprise that it is those productions based on true literary foundations, that have made the best films.

Sandra Bullock takes the Oscars by storm...

Last night saw the great and good of the film industry walking down the red carpet to a tumultous reception. The 82nd Academy Awards dominated the news, but there was perhaps little surprise in the winners of the Oscars. One of the less surprising awards came in form of Sandra Bullock picking up Best Actress, only a day after having received, in person, a Golden Raspberry. She was honoured for her role in 'The Blind Side', one of the many film scripts at the ceremony to have its roots in a novel. 'The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game', was written in 2006 by author Michael Lewis, a non-fiction author currently writing for 'Vanity Fair'. Although the book features two parallel storylines, the film primarily concentrates on one, following a footballer from impoverished upbringings through to his current high status. Accepting her award, Bullock asked the audience, 'Did I really earn this, or did I just wear you all down?'

Bones falling apart?....

Last week saw the release of 'The Lovely Bones' in UK cinemas. The film is an adaptation of Alice Seabold's 2002 novel of the same name, in which a murdered girl narrates from heaven. Starring such names as Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz, it is directed by New Zealander Peter Jackson, of 'The Lord of the Rings' fame.

Despite an original budget of $15 million, the film has received mixed reviews, many of which are indeed negative. 'An expensive-looking mess that fails to capture the mood, and the poetry, of its source material', is not an unusual comment amongst critics, yet the film has graced several award nominations lists. 'Screen Actors Guild Awards',  'Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards' 'The Golden Globes' and even the latest 'Academy Awards' have recognised the film, however, it must be said that this is mainly for actor Stanley Tucci. It is too early to determine the film's success, but it might not be long before the questions start coming.

Books in BAFTA...

It's the film award season again, and the preview to the Oscars, comes in the shape of the BAFTAs. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, will this evening present awards to the best actors, actresses, designers, composers and writers to honour the latest cinematic year. Many of this year's nominees, as with so many successful film franchises, find their roots in the literary world.

• 'An Education' - based on 2009 memoir by Lynn Barber

Nominated for: Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress, Supporting Actor, Costume, Hair & Make-Up

• 'Up in the Air' - based on 2001 novel by Walter Kirn

Nominated for: Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actor, Supporting Actress (twice), Editing

• 'Precious' - based on 1996 novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Nominated for: Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress, Supporting Actress

Numerous others join the list, and as the stars arrive, everyone waits in anticipation to see whether they are justly rewarded.

On this day...

Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier was born in 1927. Altough without obvious immediate literary connections, Poitier's exploitations in the film world had an undeniable impact on literature, ensuring both greater sales and interest. Growing up on remote Cat Island, Poitier's parents made a living by selling tomatoes and other farm produce. At the age of 17, and with the hope of theatrical success, Poitier moved to New York and indeed won a place at the American Negro Theatre, yet was criticised for his perceived lack of ability to sing or dance.

Nevertheless, Poitier's subsequent acting career, is something to be admired. The star of such films as 'The Defiant Ones', 'To Sir, with Love' and 'In the Heat of the Night', all of which are novels, Poitier hit the heights when he became the first black person to win an Academy Award. This he achieved in 1963, for 'Lilies of the Field', a film based on the eponymous book by William Edmund Barrett. Poitier's consequential fame and international reknown, led him to being named the Bahamian ambassador to Japan, and, on August 12th last year, him being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

Love Story comes to an end...

Erich Segal, died on Sunday at the age of 72. The author, who had suffered from Parkinson's disease for many years, had a heart attack at his London home. Segal will be best known for his work 'Love Story', which he wrote while a Classics professor at Yale University. Becoming a New York Times bestseller, the novel was the topselling work of fiction for 1970 in the United States, and has been translated in 33 languages. Complete with tag line, 'Love means never having to say you're sorry', the book was turned into a Oscar winning film of the same name, starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. Segal also wrote the screenplay for The Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine'. In a eulogy delivered at his funeral, his daughter said; 'That he fought to breathe, fought to live, every second of the last 30 years of illness with such mind-blowing obduracy, is a testament to the core of who he was, a blind obsessionality that saw him pursue his teaching, his writing, his running and my mother, with just the same tenacity'.

On the road again...

New film 'The Road' was released yesterday in the UK. Based on the highly successful Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, the film is set around a post-apocalyptic wasteland, filmed in Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Oregon. Boasting an impressive cast, including Viggo Mortensen, of Lord of the Rings fame, Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron, the film has already won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, and has been nominated for a further seven. Click here to watch the trailer

Hugh Grant's choice between books and women...

Hugh Grant has stated his wish to become an author; something the 'Love Actually' star said he was putting off until he could afford it. "I have always promised myself: 'When you have made some nice films and earned some money, you are going to finally write your novel'". Yet even after years of huge financial success, the book has been started and left unfinished, as more and more Hollywood offers appear. 'I don't know if it is laziness or some kind of fear of failure. (I think) shouldn't I rather make a film, earn money and work with beautiful women?'

On this day...

The world's first commercial film screening took place in 1895. The Grand Cafe in Paris played host to ten 50 second movies, each created by brothers Auguste and Louis Lumiere. Since then, the film industry has grown exponentially and can often be credited with contributing to or reigniting interest in literary works. Of the top ten highest grossing films worldwide, five belong to arguably the two most influential literary series of all time. The Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films, earning 5.41 billion and 2.92 billion respectively, have opened up the world of books for many who did not enjoy reading previously; the releases coinciding with a huge upturn in sales for both sets of books. However, it is debatable as to whether adaptations of literary works are positive, many criticising that they can either overshadow the original work, or actually change it beyond recognition.

Sherlock Holmes discovers the big screen...

The new Guy Ritchie film 'Sherlock Holmes' was released yesterday. Based on the Arthur Conan Doyle detective novels, the film sees Robert Downey Jr. as the lead role, and Jude Law as sidekick Dr. Watson. Received positively by critics, the movie has already picked up award nominations, including a Golden Globe for Downey Jr's portrayal of Sherlock. The film grossed $65.4 million in its opening weekend.

On this day...

Celebrated film director Steven Spielberg was born in 1946. Named by 'Life' as the most influential person of his generation, Spielberg has transformed numerous literary works into major box office movies; often proving pivotal in reigniting interest in the original text. Two of his most famous, and successful, projects, 'Jurassic Park' and 'Jaws', were both based on novels of the same name by Michael Crichton and Peter Benchley respectively. The latter in its own right was a bestseller for forty four weeks, and both novels drew commercial success from the release of the film. Other literary adaptations by Spielberg have included, J.G. Ballard's 'Empire of the Sun' and Thomas Keneally's 'Schindler's Ark' (Schindler's List).

Living undead to make new movie...

It has been reported that Natalie Portman is to star in a film adaptation of novel, 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies'. Seth Grahame-Smith's book, released earlier this year, went to number three on the New York Times best-seller list and publishers are set to release a second title; 'Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters' in early 2010. In a twist on the Austen classic, Grahame-Smith's novel sees the narrative take place as the dead rise from the grave, with all five Bennett sisters trained in the martial arts to combat the zombies. According to Variety, Portman is set to play protagonist Elizabeth Bennet.