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October 2002, Week 4

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Subject:
From:
Lang Thompson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 26 Oct 2002 00:10:58 -0400
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>Can anyone think of a remake that was more successful (artistically
>or financially) that its original?


I think plenty have been financially more successful ranging from remakes
where the original is practically unknown (Meet the Parents) or was
withheld from wider distribution (Gaslight, Gigi) to simply being a higher
profile release (Red Dragon) or the having benefit of inflation (The
Haunting).  And then there are things like the new Insomnia (grossing $67
million by the end of Sept) which certainly beats the original's BO but
that's hardly a level playing field.

Red Dragon brings up the issue of when films are actually remakes as
opposed to a new version of a source novel.  For instance, The Maltese
Falcon is often referred to as a remake better than the original (or two
earlier films in that case) but it clearly owes little if anything to the
earlier films and shouldn't be considered a remake.

Remakes that are more sucessful artistically?  My suggestions would be The
Man Who Knew Too Much (56), Reservoir Dogs (if that counts), The Fly
(Cronenberg), Imitation of Life (Sirk), China-Gate (Bollywood remake of
Seven Samurai but then I've never liked Kurosawa), Invasion of the Body
Snatchers (not better but as good), & there must be others.

LT

-----------------------------
"It's people like us who took a mass medium and
made it what it is today--a subculture."

Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons


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