Books into film and television

Half broken things (TV-2007)

Based on the 2003 novel Half broken things by Morag Joss

Hamish Macbeth

The series is based on the characters from the Hamish Macbeth novels by M.C. Beaton but the episodes are originals written for television

Hancock and Joan (TV-2008)

from the 1988 book Lady don't fall backwards by Joan Le Mesurier and the 2000 book, Hancock’s last stand by Edward Joffe.

The handmaid’s tale (1990)

From the 1985 novel The handmaid’s tale by Margaret Atwood

The Hanging garden

From the 1998 novel The Hanging garden by Ian Rankin

Hanging up

From the 1995 novel Hanging up by Nora Ephron

Hannibal Rising (was Young Hannibal)

How did serial killing flesh eating Hannibal Lecter get that way? The 2006 Thomas Harris novel Behind the mask isn’t looking at the question to prevent anxious parents from rearing psychopaths. The screenplay for the film has been written by Harris and it follows young Hannibal from his childhood in Lithuania to his teenage years in France and his arrival in America. French actor Gaspard Ulliel (the lead in A very long engagement) plays Hannibal and Chinese actress Gong Li plays the woman who rescues him when he escapes from an orphanage. Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is the other lead.
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The Happiest days of your life

From the 1948 play The Happiest days of your life by John Dighton

Hardball

From the 1993 book Hardball by Daniel Coyle

Harm done

From the 1999 novel Harm done by Ruth Rendell

Harmful intent

From the novel Harmful intent by Robin Cook

Harpur and Iles

Originates from a series of crime novels by Bill James

Harriet the spy

From the 1964 novel Harriet the spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets

From the 1998 novel Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are back for the fifth film of the "Harry Potter" series, based on the 2003 novel with a cast that includes Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; George Harris as Kingsley Shacklebolt; Helen McCrory as Bellatrix Lestrange; Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks; Kathryn Hunter as Mrs. Figg; and Evanna Lynch, a 14 year-old newcomer, who won the role of Luna Lovegood by beating out 15,000 potential Lunas at an open casting call. Helena Bonham Carter plays Bellatrix Lestrange, Ralph Fiennes is Voldemort, and Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Fiona Shaw, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Richard Griffiths, Maggie Smith and Jason Isaacs are reprising their roles from the last episode.
Read the Book ~ About the Film

Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone

From the 1997 novel Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban

Same cast as before with Michael Gambon replacing the late Richard Harris as Professor Dumbledore and other new faces in the cast including Julie Christie, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson and Dawn French. Read the Book ~ About the Film

Hart’s war

From the 1999 novel Hart’s war by John Katzenbach

Hating Alison Ashley

Robin Klein’s 1984 children’s novel is something of an Australian classic. The film is a vehicle for former soap star, new face of Pepsi and current pop singer Delta Goodrem in her first big screen role. Goodrem and Diana Glen, from the series The secret life of us, play the two teenage girls who become best friends while going through the trials of adolescence. Read the Book ~ About the Film

Haunted

From the 1988 novel Haunted by James Herbert

The Haunting

From the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Helen Walker

From the novel The Turn of the screw by Henry James

The Hawk

From the novel The Hawk by Peter Ransley

The hawk is dying

Harry Crews is a cult novelist who writes the kind of noir thrillers of which cults are made. His 1973 novel is about a disgruntled disaffected man who dreams of capturing and training hawks. He and his nephew succeed in capturing one but the nephew dies in a freak accident and a dream then becomes a dangerous obsession. Paul Giamatta (from Sideways) is in the lead with Michael Pitt as the nephew and Sarah Polley.
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Haven

From the 1983 book Haven by Ruth Gruber

Having our say (1999)

From the 1993 book Having our say by Sarah Delany

He died with a felafel in his hand

From the 1994 book He died with a felafel in his hand by John Birmingham

He kills coppers (TV-2008)

Based on the 2001 novel He kills coppers by Jake Arnott.

The Heart of the matter

From the 1948 novel The Heart of the matter by Graham Greene

Heart of me (2001)

From the 1936 novel The echoing grave by Rosamond Lehmann

Heartbeat

The series is an original for TV but the characters originate in the Constable novels of Nicholas Rhea

The Heartbreak kid

From a play The Heartbreak kid by Richard Barrett

Hearts in Atlantis

From the 1999 novella Hearts in Atlantis in the book of the same name by Stephen King

Heartstones

From the novel Heartstones by Ruth Rendell

Heaven and Earth

From the 1993 book Child of war, woman of peace and the 1989 book When heaven and earth changed places by Le Ly Hayslip

Heaven and Hell

From the novel Heaven and Hell by John Jakes

Heaven can wait

From the play Heaven can wait by Harry Segall

Heaven is a playground

Based on the 1976 book Heaven is a playground by Rick Telander

Heaven knows Mr Allison

From the 1952 novel Heaven knows Mr Allison by Charles Shaw

Heavy weather

From the novel Heavy weather by P. G. Wodehouse

Hedwig and the angry inch (2001)

From the 1998 stage play Hedwig and the angry inch by John Cameron Mitchell

Heidi

Based on the novel Heidi by Johannes Spyri

Heights (2005)

From the play Heights, first produced 2000, by Amy Fox

Helen West: Deep sleep

From the 1991 novel Deep sleep by Frances Fyfield

Hellboy (2004)

Based on the series of Hellboy graphic novels by Mike Mignola

Hello Dolly

From the musical play Hello Dolly by Jerry Herman

The help

Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel was the surprise bestseller of that year. It is set in the early 1960s South where a young white woman becomes interested in the lives of the black servants who work in most middle-class homes. Tate Taylor is directing Bryce Dallas Howard, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Alison Janney, Mike Vogel, Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson.
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Her own rules

From the novel Her own rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford

He’s just not that into you

Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo’s 2004 bestseller is a self-help book that was based on a popular episode of the hit series Sex and the city. It’s aimed at the urban woman who has despaired of finding Mr Right. The female co-author says that the book has been so successful that women who’ve read the book have grabbed their cell phone afterwards and deleted half the numbers! The book serves as the basis for a romantic comedy with an ensemble cast that includes Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kris Kristofferson and Kevin Connolly.
Read the Book ~ About the Film

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

Originals for TV. The character originates in the novel Missing persons by David Cook

Hideaway

From the 1992 novel Hideaway by Dean Koontz

Hideous kinky

From the 1992 novel Hideous kinky by Esther Freud

High crimes

From the 1998 novel High crimes by Joseph Finder

High fidelity

From the novel High fidelity by Nick Hornby

High Noon

Based on the short story The Tin star by John M. Cunningham. In the collection No, but I saw the movie

High sierra

From the 1940 novel High sierra by W. R. Burnett

The hill (1965)

From the 1965 novel The hill by Ray Rigby

Himalaya (2004)

Tie-in book (2004) by Michael Palin

The Hindenburg

From the 1972 book The Hindenburg by Michael M. Mooney

History of Britain

Tie-in book by Simon Schama

The History of British Art

Tie-in book by Andrew Graham-Dixon

The history of Mr Polly (TV-2007)

Based on the 1910 novel The History of Mr Polly by H.G. Wells.

A history of violence (2005)

From the 1997 graphic novel A history of violence by Vince Locke and John Wagner

The hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy

The classic fantasy comedy novel by Douglas Adams first appeared in 1979 and was adapted by the author from his highly successful radio series. The novel, and its sequels, follows the adventures of a constantly bewildered Englishman named Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect who has been posing as an unemployed actor for some years. The novel became a television series which has attained cult status over the years. The dedicated fanbase is there and there’s potential for the film to get a much wider audience. Martin Freeman plays Arthur Dent with Mos Def as Ford Prefect. Sam Rockwell plays Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed two headed president of the galaxy, Bill Nighy is planet designer Slartibartfast and John Malkovich is Humma Kavula, a religious cult leader created for the film created specially for the film by Adams who wrote the screenplay some time ago.
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Hitler: the rise of evil

From the 1998 book Hitler, 1889-1936: hubris by Ian Kershaw

Hobson’s choice

From the play Hobson’s choice by Harold Brighouse, first produced in 1916

The Holcroft covenant

From the 1978 novel The Holcroft covenant by Robert Ludlum

The Hole

From the 1993 novel After the hole by Guy Burt

Holes

From the 1998 novel Holes by Louis Sachar

The Holy thief

From the novel The Holy thief by Ellis Peters

Hombre

From the 1961 novel Hombre by Elmore Leonard

Home at Seven

From the play Home at Seven by R.C. Sherriff

A home at the end of the world

This is an early (1990) novel by Michael Cunningham who later went on to write the Pulitzer Prize winning novel The hours. It’s set in 1980s New York where a young heterosexual moves in with his gay best friend whose female roommate he then falls for. The film features Colin Farrell, Robin Wright Penn and Sissy Spacek.
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Home for the holidays

From a short story Home for the holidays by Chris Radant

Homeward bound: The Incredible journey

From the 1960 novel The Incredible journey by Sheila Burnford

Hook

Based loosely on the play Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Hornblower

The episodes Hornblower: The Even chance, Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant, Hornblower: The Duchess and the devil and Hornblower: The Frogs and the lobsters are taken from the 1950 novel Mr Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester.
The episodes Hornblower: Mutiny and Hornblower: Retribution are adapted from the 1952 novel Lieutenant Hornblower by Forester.
The episodes Hornblower: Duty and Hornblower: Loyalty are adapted from the 1962 novel Hornblower and the Hotspur by Forester.

The Horse’s mouth

From the novel The Horse’s mouth by Joyce Cary

The Horseman on the roof

From the novel The Horseman on the roof by Jean Giono

Horton hears a who

Dr Seuss comes to the screen again in yet another big animated feature. The book first came out in 1954 and the tale of Horton the Elephant has been one of the most enduring children’s classics. Plenty of big names are voicing the characters here, including Jim Carrey, Carol Burnett, Seth Rogen, Steve Carell, Jaime Pressly, Isla Fisher and Will Arnett.
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Hostage

Stressed out former LAPD SWAT negotiator has to pull himself together when an ex-con, his brother and a random psychopath take an affluent family, who turn out to have some deadly secrets, hostage. This plotline, an adaptation of the 2001 novel by crime writer Robert Crais, sounds as if it is custom made for the likes of Bruce Willis. Not surprising then that Willis plays the lead in an adaptation by Crais himself. Serena Scott Thomas (sister of…) and Jonathan Tucker also star.
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The Hostage tower

Based on an Alistair MacLean novel The Hostage tower

Hostile waters

From the book Hostile waters by Peter Huchthausen

The Hot spot

Based on the 1953 novel Hell hath no fury by Charles Williams

Hotel Babylon (TV - 2006)

From the 2004 book Hotel Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Hotel for dogs

Lois Duncan’s 1971 children’s novel is about a couple of feisty orphans who set out to hide dozens of stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. After all this time it is coming to the screen from Dreamworks with Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin and Troy Gentile among the children with an adult cast headed by Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle.
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Hotel Sorrento

From the 1990 play Hotel Sorrento by Hannie Rayson

The Hottest State

Ethan Hawke’s 1996 novel had very mixed reviews but the weight of his name may have given it an easier path to the screen than most first novels. It’s the story of a young actor in New York and his relationship with a struggling singer/songwriter. It’s a relationship that is pretty much doomed from the start. Hawke is directing the film and has done the adaptation as well. The two major characters are played by Mark Webber and Catalina Sandino Moreno, the young South American actress who came to fame in Maria full of grace. Others in the cast include Laura Linney, Michelle Williams, Frank Whaley and Sonia Braga and the music soundtrack will include songs by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones.
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The Hours

From the 1998 novel The Hours by Michael Cunningham

House of cards

From the 1967 novel House of cards by Stanley Ellin

The House of mirth

From the 1905 novel The House of mirth by Edith Wharton

House of sand and fog

This 1999 novel by Andre Dubus was one of the last, and the most impressive books Oprah chose for her book club. It’s an unusual and sombre story of an exiled Iranian colonel who buys a house at public auction and the alcoholic woman who had been living in the house and wants to contest his ownership. It is a directing debut for T.V. commercials maker Vadim Perelman. Read the Book ~ About the Film

The House of the seven hawks

From the 1952 novel The House of the seven flies by Victor Canning

The housekeeper (2004)

From the 2001 novel, not translated into English, Une femme de menage, by Christian Oster

How About You

Maeve Binchy’s short story, The hard core, takes place in a retirement home over the Christmas period. Most of the residents have gone off to spend the holiday with their families but four residents the most difficult ones are left behind and a young woman who would appear to be no match for these geriatric monsters is in charge. She manages to turn the tables on them and, naturally, learns as much from them as they do from her. This makes ideal material for older actors to play in a grumpy old folk comedy-drama and the hard core are played by Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Fricker, Joss Ackland and Joan O’Hara, sister of singer Mary O’Hara and mother of novelist Sebastian Barry. Hayley Atwell plays the caregiver. The original short story appears in the 1995 collection, This year it will be different.
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How Green was my valley

From the 1939 novel How Green was my valley by Richard Llewellyn

How to cook

Tie-in books How to cook by Delia Smith

How to lose a guy in 10 days

Based loosely on a 1998 self-help book How to lose a guy in 10 days by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long

How to make an American quilt

From the 1991 novel How to make an American quilt by Whitney Otto

How to make a martini

From the 1988 novel Come i delfini by Marina Mizzau

How to lose friends and alienate people

Toby Young’s 2001 autobiography is his account of the five years he spent as an expatriate journalist in New York in the late 1990s. He had a job with Vanity Fair magazine and he was hoping to take Manhattan by storm but his “negative charisma” meant that it was Manhattan taking him instead. Robert B. Weide, who directed the cult TV series Curb your enthusiasm is behind the camera and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the dead) plays Young. Others in the cast include Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Bridges (playing Graydon Carter, the famous editor of Vanity Fair), Gillian Anderson and Danny Huston.
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How To Train Your Dragon

Cressida Cowell’s 2003 children’s book, featuring Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a Viking dragon-whisperer, and his personal dragon, Toothless. Ideal material for an animated feature and the IMAX 3-D production uses the voices of Jay Baruchel, Amber Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Craig Ferguson.
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Howard Goodall’s big bangs

Tie-in book originally published 2000

Howard’s End

From the novel Howard’s End by E. M. Forster

The Howling

From the 1984 novel The Howling by Gary Brandner

Howl’s Moving Castle

Animated version of the 1986 novel by Diana Wynne Jones directed by Hayao Miyazaki who also directed the remarkable Spirited Away.
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Hugo Cabret

Brian Selznick’s 2007 YA novel The invention of Hugo Cabret is about a orphan boy who lives in the walls of a busy Paris station where he looks after the clocks. He becomes involved in an adventure when he tries to repair a mechanical man. The movie is a strange choice for Martin Scorsese in that it isn’t concerned at all with Italian-American criminals. It has been made in Britain and France with Asa Butterfield as the title character, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley, Jude Law, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Lee, Ray Winstone, Frances De La Tour and Richard Griffiths.
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The Human animal

Tie-in book by Desmond Morris

The Human body

Tie-in book by Anthony Smith

The Human face

Tie-in book by John Cleese

The human stain

Philip Roth’s 2000 novel is set in 1998 at the time Bill Clinton was dealing with the revelations of Monica Lewinsky and others. In the novel a university professor has his life and career shattered by accusations of racism and the film is hyping itself on the big surprise in the plot. Read the Book ~ About the Film

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

From the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

The Hunt for Red October

From the novel The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

The Hunter

From the 1976 book The Hunter by Christopher Keane

The Hurricane

From the 1991 book Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaitow and Terry Swinton and the 1974 book The Sixteenth round by Rubin Carter

The Hustler

From the 1959 novel The Hustler by Walter Tevis