74. Literary Adaptations: The Go-Between, The Eiger Sanction, Atonement

This evening, it all starts on the page and in the bookshop. we pay tribute to those stories that started without thought of a silver screen in mind. When all the Authors had were words and the images those words conjour in your mind. until that is some clever clogs came along and decided to show us all the image that they had in their head when they read the words.That’s right, tonight we’re talking films that started life as books. Welcome to They Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To.This evening’s journey begins on the written page as we pay tribute to the timeless stories that lived in our imaginations long before they ever graced the silver screen. Join your host Tosin Ajayi and co-hosts Shaun Harris and Sharon Bollen as they broadcast from the Alverstone Ward of St. Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. In this episode, the team dives deep into the art of literary adaptations and the cinematic magic of pre-1980s Hollywood.The Big News: The team kicks things off with a lively discussion about The Great British Bake Off's controversial move to Channel 4 and what makes the show a cinematic masterpiece in its own right.The Bonafide Classic: We explore the 1971 masterpiece The Go-Between, starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates. Sharon leads a fascinating breakdown of the film’s themes of class, innocence, and betrayal, comparing the adaptation to L.P. Hartley’s original novel.Hospital Patient Choice: Tosin sits down with Mick French, a patient in Alverstone Ward, to discuss his first cinematic memories of black-and-white sci-fi serials and his love for the classics of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.The Hidden Gem: Shaun Harris introduces us to the 1975 thriller The Eiger Sanction. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, we discuss the film’s stunning location shoots in Monument Valley and the high-stakes tension of the Swiss Alps.The Exception to the Rule: Sharon Bollen highlights the 2007 film Atonement as a modern masterpiece that echoes the themes of The Go-Between, focusing on how a child's misinterpretation can change the course of lives forever.Please note that all music tracks discussed in this episode—including scores by Scott Walker, John Williams, and Charlie Chaplin—have been edited out due to licensing issues.Host: Tosin AjayiCo-Hosts: Shaun Harris & Sharon BollenLocation: St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight