Movie Remakes That Are Better Than the Originals

Published on June 17, 2006 By Ionolast In Movies & TV & Books

The first one that comes to my mind is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. A remake of Bedtime Story; 1964 starring David Niven, Marlon Brando and Shirley Jones. (Yes, Shirley Jones from the "Partridge Family.") No, she wasn't the Jackal. Marlon Brando was. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has a twist. That's the main reason I think it's better. The twist was unexpected and brilliant.

Next: Judy Garland and James Mason's A Star is Born 1954. From Cinemania '96: Powerful, semi-musical remake of the 1937 classic, with Garland and Mason at their peaks as doomed Hollywood star couple, she on the way up, he down. Incisive script by Moss Hart; great Harold Arlen-Ira Gershwin songs include spellbinding "The Man That Got Away."

As for the 1976 Streisand/Kristofferson version, I think it's the worst of the three. I love Streisand's voice, but I can't stand Kristofferson. I don't think he can act or sing worth a damn. (That's one reason I haven't been able to get into the Blade films. And a male Slayer? As if.) From Cinemania '96: By-now familiar story is given an unconvincing treatment, with change of setting to the world of rock music. Only comes to life during Streisand's vibrant numbers, which transcend script and surrounding drama. But I hate her hairstyle.

Your additions and thoughts?

Comments (Page 2)

Moderateman

on Jun 18, 2006

9 by uDigItTheMost
Sun, June 18, 2006 02:04 AM

Others that people might not agree with is Scarface, Shaft, Cape Fear, The Fly and The Magnificent Seven (a remake of The Seven Samurai

Oh MY God, to compare the mag.7 to the seven samurai, is blashphemy!

Ionolast

on Jun 18, 2006

No. The Wizard of Oz that we know and love was a remake of a previous silent screen version.

Wow. 13 minutes. lol. Thanks, GM.

Ionolast

on Jun 18, 2006

You would think the movie studios would get a clue and maybe try to come up with something original.

I think the original ideas have pretty much been used.

Locamama

on Jun 18, 2006

I think the original ideas have pretty much been used.

nah, there are hundreds of books out every year. yes, some are a rehash of a tired formula but there are many that are witty and original.

bakerstreet

on Jun 19, 2006

It's driving me nuts. Me and my wife were talking about one the other day and I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

Offhand, I'd say Always was a good movie, and to me a far better movie than A Guy Named Joe.

I'm a huge Kurasawa fan, but I'd have to say I liked A Fist Full of Dollars better than Yojimbo. Otherwise I think the original samurai flicks are better than their wester ripoffs.

I'm tempted to say that Coppola's Dracula is better than the old Bela Lugosi one, but honestly they are so different that you can't really consider it a remake, just based upon the same material. On the other hand Branagh's Frankenstein rocks, and is tons better than the original or any previous incarnation.

As a Shakespeare fan, I'm gonna go out on a limb and commit a cardinal sin by saying I liked Zeffirelli's (Mel Gibson's) Hamlet a lot better than Olivier's or Branagh's.

It's driving me nanners trying to figure out what the one we were talking about the other day was. I'll check back in if I can remember.

bakerstreet

on Jun 19, 2006

Oh, another one that might spark debate is Lynch's Dune vs. the Scifi Channel remake. I like the miniseries version much better, myself, with the exception of missing Patric Stewart and Max von Sydow.

Does anyone understand why they are making scene-by-scene remakes of movies now, as with The Omen and Psycho? It seems weird to me, unless you just want to see the exact same movie with other people in it.

bakerstreet

on Jun 19, 2006

Ah, sorry to spam, but I finally remembered. I liked the 1991 Cape Fear with DeNiro a lot better than the old 1962 one with Robert Michum.

Locamama

on Jun 19, 2006

Ah, sorry to spam, but I finally remembered. I liked the 1991 Cape Fear with DeNiro a lot better than the old 1962 one with Robert Michum.

yeah but gregory peck was so much better than nick nolte at showing how a good man can sink to the criminals level

Ionolast

on Jun 19, 2006

Baker, the only ones I've seen that you mentioned are Dracula and Cape Fear. I agree with you about Dracula. I don't remember either Cape Fear real well, but I think they're about the same.

You reminded me of another one: 1999's A Midsummernight's Dream. Great cast, great music. Mickey Rooney annoyed me in the 1935 version.

Dr Guy

on Jun 19, 2006

I agree with you about Dracula.

That is one I had not thought about, but there have been so many remakes (the Latest Bram Stokers). But I would agree that both that one and the many Frankenstein movies do have better remakes than the original (Actually, I never got into the whole Nosferatu craze, so most of the remakes are better in my opinion).

Ionolast

on Jun 19, 2006

But I would agree that both that one and the many Frankenstein movies do have better remakes than the original

I can't agree. The originals had a style and atmosphere that could only come from black and white and little to no music. Actually, Thomas Edison made the first Frankenstein film.Link
Bride of Frankenstein was excellent.

I never got into the whole Nosferatu craze

Because it's silent?

After more thought, I don't agree with Baker about Dracula. Of course Coppola's version is a remake.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!