Movies - TV
15 Fantastic Movies That Are Based on Banned Books
By JOE GARZA
1984
"Nineteen Eighty-Four," a book about an oppressive government that controls its citizens' thoughts and behaviors, was banned in the Soviet Union until 1988. While there have been numerous adaptations of this George Orwell classic, writer-director Michael Radford's 1984 version starring John Hurt and Richard Burton is the best.
Animal Farm
Orwell's "Animal Farm" follows a cadre of farm animals trying to break free and establish a community where they can all flourish, and it was banned in several regions, including the Bay County school district in Panama City, Florida. An animated film adaptation was released in 1954, which stayed faithful to the book, except for the upbeat ending.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" is an incisive look at the absurdity of war, and it was banned in the Mat-Su Borough School District in Alaska largely because of its violent content. While Mike Nichol’s 1970 adaptation effectively maintains the balance of wit and agony, a fair bit of material had to be omitted to fit into a feature-length film.
The Color Purple
Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" follows a young Black woman as she describes the brutality of her life through letters to God, and was banned by the Jackson County School Board in West Virginia. Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the book, featuring remarkable performances by Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey is excellent.
Elmer Gantry
"Elmer Gantry" by Sinclair Lewis, which takes a satirical view of evangelical Christianity in 1920s America, was banned in Boston immediately after its publication. Burt Lancaster delivers an outstanding performance as the titular character in the film adaptation, while Shirley Jones also shines in her role as an illegal sex worker seeking revenge.