Book Vs Movie Podcast
by Margo Porras
Book Vs. Movie is the podcast that ponders the question: "Which was better...the book or the movie?" We spoil away the details, uncover the plot points, discuss casting choices and shower with praise (or pummel with snark) as we see fit. Hosts are Margo P. (She's Nacho Mama's Blog) and Margo D. (Creator of Brooklyn Fit Chick.com) and we are not afraid to tell it like it is!
Episodes
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Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026 Apple TV Series vs 2024 Novel)
Book Vs. Movie: Margo’s Got Money Troubles (2024 novel vs 2026 Apple TV series)Today, we are joined by special guest co-host and listener favorite, Kristen Meinzer, culture critic, lifestyle journalist, and royal watcher at kristenmeinzer.com. We’re taking a look at Margo’s Got Money Troubles…
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Book Vs. Movie: Coyote Ugly (2000 film vs 1997 GQ Story)
Book Vs. Movie: Coyote Ugly (2000 film vs 1997 GQ Story)Today, we are joined by special guest co-host, Sonia Mansfield of the “What a Creep” podcast! Neither of us has ever read anything by Elizabeth “Eat-Pray-Love” Gilbert until now. Her 1997 story for GQ Magazine, “The Muse of the Coyote Ugly...
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Because of Winn-Dixie (2000 novel vs 2005 Film)
Today, we are joined by special guest co-host, my nephew Fred! Fred got to pick the book and movie this time, so we will be diving into the award-winning children’s classic, Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo. In this episode, we discuss: Kate DiCamillo’s unconventional entry into the...
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Book Vs. Movie: Letters to Uranus (2000 Film, 2022 Book, Series for Development)
Book Vs. Movie: Letters to Uranus (2000 Film, 2022 Book, Series for Development)Today, we are joined by special guest co-host Lenny Pinna of Ecclesia Arts. This is the second of a two-part conversation with Lenny about Cleveland stage legend Tedd Burr, and the unusual relationship Tedd had with...
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KINGS ROW (1942) Henry Bellamann, Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan. Book VS Movie
Book Vs. Movie: Kings Row (1940 novel vs 1942 Film)Today, we are joined by special guest co-host Lenny Pinna of Ecclesia Arts. This is the first of a two-part conversation with Lenny about Kings Row, and the unusual relationship its author had at the end of his life with a young fan struggling…
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Song vs Movie! TWO DOORS DOWN (1977 Dolly Parton song vs 2019 Netflix Film)
Book Vs. Movie: Two Doors Down (1977 song vs 2019 Netflix Film)Today, we are joined by special guest co-host and listener favorite, Kristen Meinzer, culture critic, lifestyle journalist, and royal watcher at kristenmeinzer.com. We discuss the Dolly Parton classic song, and its adaptation into a...
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Book Versus Movie: Bringing Up Baby (1937 short story vs 1938 film)
Book Vs. Movie: “Bringing Up Baby” The 1938 Howard Hawks Film Vs the 1937 Short Story by Hagar Wilde. Today, we are joined by special guest co-host, Kerala Hubbard of The On Purpose Home. We discuss the differences and key similarities between the 1937 short story, "Bringing Up Baby," by Hagar...
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Book Vs. Movie: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (1979 song vs 2000 cartoon)
Book Vs. Movie: Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (1979 song vs 2000 cartoon)Today, we closing out a frankly garbage year with special guest co-host, Sonia Mansfield of the What a Creep podcast. We discuss the earworm of our youth, which became a Millenial/Gen Z holiday cartoon staple: Grandma…
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Book Vs. Movie: The Mean One (2022) vs How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
Book Vs. Movie: The Mean One (2022) vs How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and Steven LaMorte’s “The Mean One”Today, we are joined by special guest co-host, Kelly Espitia of Bookish Explorations with Kelly. We discuss the Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic,...
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Special Edition: Graphic Biography of Caravaggio (Ken Mora) vs. Biopic (Jarman)
Book Vs. Movie: Caravaggio in Print and on FilmKen Mora’s “Caravaggio: A Light Before Darkness” and Derek Jarman’s “Caravaggio”Today, we are joined by special guest co-host, author Ken Mora. We discuss the colorful, moving life of artist Michelangelo Caravaggio as portrayed in Mora’s graphic...
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Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Book Versus Movie Podcast
Book Vs. Movie: “How’s Moving Castle” The 1986 Diana Wynne Jones Book Vs the 2004 Studio Ghibli FilmToday we are joined by special guest co-host, Kerala Hubbard of The On Purpose Home. We discuss the many, many differences and important similarities between the 1986 novel, Howl’s Moving Castle…
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Lemony Snicket
Book Vs. Movie: “A Series of Unfortunate Events” The 1999 Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) Book Vs the 2004 Jim Carrey FilmToday we are joined by special guest co-host, Andrea Engstrom of Lil Habit. We dip our toes into the Edward Gorey-esque world of the Baudelaire orphans to continue our...
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“He’s Just Not That Into You” The 2004 Liz Tuccillo & Greg Behrendt Book Vs the 2009 Jennifer Aniston Film
Book Vs. Movie: “He’s Just Not That Into You” The 2004 Liz Tuccillo & Greg Behrendt Book Vs the 2009 Jennifer Aniston FilmPicture it: the Sex and the City writer’s room. Writers Liz Tuccillo & Greg Behrendt overhear a female coworker asking for relationship advice (at work, but that’s another…
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Saturday Night Fever (A Complete History): John Travolta, Nik Cohn, John Badham, & Robert Stigwood
Book Vs. Movie: “Saturday Night Fever” Margo D’s Book About the Classic Film! This episode is special because we're releasing it on the same day Margo P is having her birthday and Margo D is celebrating the upcoming release of Fever: The Complete History of Saturday Night Fever! The book is a...
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Goldfinger (1964) Ian Fleming, Sean Connery, Gert Frobe & Honor Blackman
Book Vs. Movie: “Goldfinger” The 1959 Ian Fleming Novel Vs the 1964 Sean Connery Film Ian Fleming’s Goldfinger (1959) and its 1964 film adaptation featuring Sean Connery present one of James Bond’s most iconic villains, but in very different styles. The novel is a gritty Cold War spy thriller,...
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I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) Replay Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Geller, & Freddie Prinze
Book Vs. Movie: I Know What You Did Last Summer (Replay!) The 1973 Lois Duncan YA Novel Vs the 1997 Movie "I Know What You Did Last Summer" revolves around a group of friends —Julie, Helen, Ray, and Barry —who accidentally hit a stranger with their car on a dark, lonely road. In a panic, they…
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The Girl Can't Help It (1956) Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, & Little Richard!
Book Vs. Movie: “The Girl Can’t Help It” The Garson Kanin Play Vs. the Jayne Mansfield Movie The 1956 Technicolor film The Girl Can’t Help It is often remembered for Jayne Mansfield’s curves and Little Richard’s title song, but it originated from Garson Kanin's short story Do Re Mi. This…
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Alice's Restaurant (1969) Arlo Guthrie, Arthur Penn, Pat Quinn, & James Broderick
Book Vs. Movie: “Alice’s Restaurant” Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 18-minute Song Vs the 1969 Movie Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” is an 18-minute satirical folk monologue and song that became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture. Officially titled “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” it was released in...
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"Pride and Prejudice" & 2022's "Fire Island" Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho & Jane Austen
Book Vs. Movie: For Pride Month 1813’s “Pride and Prejudice” Vs. 2022's "Fire Island" June is Pride Month worldwide, and the Margos are excited to celebrate with some of the best LGBTQIA-centric books and movies. One highlight is the 2022 film *Fire Island*, directed by Andrew Ahn and written by...
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"Breakfast with Scot" (2007) Michael Downing, Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, & Noah Bernett
Book Vs. Movie: Breakfast with Scot The 1999 Novel Vs the 2007 Movie Michael Downing’s 1999 novel Breakfast with Scot and the 2007 film adaptation of the same name both follow the story of a gay couple who unexpectedly become the guardians of a precocious and flamboyant eleven-year-old boy named...
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The Mirror Crack'd (1980) Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson
Book Vs. Movie: The Mirror Crack’d The 1962 Agatha Christie Novel Vs the 1980 Movie When Agatha Christie published The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side in 1962, it was a haunting tale of guilt, glamour, and murder set in the seemingly quiet village of St. Mary Mead. Nearly two decades later,...
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"See How They Run" (2002) Agatha Christie, "The Mousetrap", Sam Rockwell & Saoirse Ronan
Book Vs. Movie: See How They Run The 1947 Agatha Christie Play (Three Blind Mice) Vs the 2022 Sam Rockwell Film Agatha Christie’s radio play Three Blind Mice was introduced in 1947 and was the basis for 1952’s The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in theater history. See How They Run (2022) is…
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Harper Valley PTA (1978) Barbara Eden, Ronny Cox, Nanette Fabray, Tom T. Hall & Jeannie C. Riley
Book Vs Movie: “Harper Valley PTA" The 1968 Song Vs the 1978 Movie (really!) (It's one of our favorite episodes from the past!) The song was written by Tom T. Hall and performed by country singer Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. The story about a “widowed bride” who is slut-shamed by her daughter’s…
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Death on the Nile (2022) Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman, and Agatha Christie
Book Vs. Movie: Death on the Nile The 1937 Agatha Christie Novel Vs the 2022 Kenneth Branagh film. Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile has long been a fan favorite, combining romance, betrayal, and murder aboard a glamorous steamer cruising the Nile River. In 2022, director Kenneth Branagh…
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Agatha Christie's "Evil Under the Sun" (1981) Maggie Smith, Peter Ustinov, Diana Rigg & Roddy McDowall
Book Vs. Movie: Evil Under the Sun The Agatha Christie Novel Vs the 1982 Film Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun (1941) is a masterclass in misdirection and suspense. The 1982 film adaptation, directed by Guy Hamilton and featuring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, transforms the story into a...
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Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann, Ray Milland, Eddie Albert, & Alexander H. Key
Book Vs. Movie: Escape to Witch Mountain The 1968 Children’s Sci-Fi Novel Vs the 1975 Disney Classic If you grew up watching Disney movies or browsing old-school sci-fi paperbacks, chances are Escape to Witch Mountain is somewhere in your memory. But did you know the 1975 Disney movie is very...
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10 Things I Hate About You (1999) William Shakespeare, Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, & Letters to Cleo!
Book Vs. Movie: 10 Things I Hate About You The Taming of the Shrew & the 1999 Heath Ledger Film 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, reimagining the story in a high school setting. In both works, the plot revolves around two...
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The Asphalt Jungle (1950) WR Burnett, John Huston, Sterling Hayden, James Whitmore, & Marilyn Monroe
Book Vs. Movie: The Asphalt Jungle The W.R. Burnett Novel & the 1950 John Huston Film W.R. Burnett’s 1949 novel The Asphalt Jungle is a compelling crime story that explores the minds, motivations, and downfalls of professional criminals. Set in a Midwestern city, it offers a multi-perspective...
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Mamma Mia (2008) ABBA, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, & Julie Walters
Book Vs. Movie: Mamma Mia ABBA Gold Vs. Mamma Mia “Musicals in March!” Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical that features the songs of ABBA, the Swedish pop group composed of Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The musical was created by British playwright…
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Billy Elliot (2000) Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, & the 2014 Musical Elton John & Lee Hall
Book Vs. Movie: Billy Elliot The 2000 Film Vs the 2014 Musical Live “Musicals in March!” The Margos continue “Musicals in March” with the film & stage show of Billy Elliot. Both tell the inspiring story of a working-class boy in 1980s northern England who discovers a passion for ballet during the...
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Gypsy (1962) Gypsy Rose Lee, June Havoc, Ethel Merman, Natalie Wood, & Rosalind Russell
Book Vs. Movie: Gypsy The 1957 Memoir Vs. the 1962 Movie “Musicals in March!” The Margos celebrate another “Musicals in March” episode with Gypsy. Gypsy Rose Lee’s 1957 memoir tells her real-life story of growing up in vaudeville and burlesque under the domineering influence of her mother, Rose...
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Wicked (2024) Gregory Maguire, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, & Michelle Yeoh
Book Vs. Movie: Wicked The 2004 Musical Vs. the 2024 Movie "Musicals in March" The "Wicked" movie is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West; the book (for the play) was written by Winnie Holzman, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The...
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The Piano Lesson (2024) August Wilson, Denzel Washington, Malcolm Washington, & John David Washington
Book Vs. Movie: The Piano Lesson The 1987 August Wilson Play Vs. the 2024 Netflix AdaptationAugust Wilson's *The Piano Lesson*, first staged in 1987 and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1990, centers on siblings Berniece and Boy Willie as they clash over a family heirloom—the intricately...
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The Hate U Give (2018) Angie Thomas, Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Sabrina Carpenter, & Anthony Mackie
Book Vs. Movie: The Hate U Give The 2017 Book by Angie Thomas & the 2018 Film The Hate U Give, written by Angie Thomas and adapted into a 2018 film directed by George Tillman Jr., presents a powerful narrative about race, identity, and activism. While the book and the movie follow the same core...
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The Warriors (1979) with special guest Baseball Fury Rob Ryder
Book Vs. Movie: The Warriors Special Interview With Screenwriter & Author Rob Ryder Plus, a Replay of our 2020 ep! The Margos revisit a special episode dedicated to the cult classic film *The Warriors*, based on Sol Yurick's book. Directed by Walter Hill and released in 1979, the movie was a hit...
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"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1985) Cyndi Lauper, Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt & Robert Hazard!
Book Vs. Movie: Girls Just Want to Have Fun The Cyndi Lauper Hit Vs. the Sarah Jessica Parker Movie The 1985 film *Girls Just Want to Have Fun* is a beloved teen dance comedy inspired by Cyndi Lauper’s iconic song. The story follows Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker), a dance-loving teen who…
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"Meet John Doe" (1941) Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Frank Capra & Richard Connell
Book Vs. Movie: Meet John Doe The 1922 Short Story Vs. the 1941 Film Frank Capra’s 1941 film *Meet John Doe* is often described as “based on a story by Richard Connell and Robert Presnell.” Unlike Connell’s famous short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” the source material for *Meet John Doe* was...
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The Odd Couple (1968) Neil Simon, Walter Matthau, and Jack Lemon
Book Vs. Movie: The Odd Couple The 1965 Play Vs. the 1968 Film The Margos are feeling very neighborly in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple, which began as a stage play, premiering on Broadway in 1965, and it quickly became one of Simon’s most famous works. The 1968 film adaptation, directed by Gene…
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84 Charing Cross Road (1987) Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, & Helene Hanff
Book Vs. Movie: 84 Charing Cross Road The 1970 Book Vs. the 1987 Film "84, Charing Cross Road" began as a slim epistolary book by American author Helene Hanff, first published in 1970. The book documents a warm, real-life correspondence between Hanff, an avid reader in New York City, and the...
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Scrooged (1988) Charles Dickens, Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, & the Solid Gold Dancers!
Book Vs. Movie: Scrooged The Charles Dickens Classic Vs. the 1988 Film After ten years of producing special holiday episodes in December, the Margos discovered that there are numerous versions of Charles Dickens's *A Christmas Carol*. Everyone from the Fonz to Susan Lucci to Sir Patrick Stewart…
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The Lion in Winter (1968) Katharine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Anthony Hopkins & Timothy Dalton
Book Vs. Movie: The Lion in Winter The 1966 Play Vs. the 1968 Film Few stories transcend mediums as powerfully as James Goldman’s *The Lion in Winter*. Whether presented on stage or on screen, this tale of royal power struggles and familial manipulation in 12th-century England captivates…
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Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977) Jim Henson, Paul Williams, Frank Oz, & Russell Hoban
Book Vs. Movie: Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas 1971 Children’s Book Vs. the 1977 TV Special Last year, the Margos adapted O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi," so it felt appropriate to revisit the themes of selflessness and family during the holidays by exploring Russell Hoban's "Emmet Otter's…
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Holiday (1938) Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, George Cukor, & Philp Barry
Book Vs. Movie: Holiday The 1928 Play Vs. the 1938 Film The Margos celebrate the holiday season with the classic 1938 film "Holiday," directed by George Cukor and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Based on the 1928 play by Philip Barry, the story follows an adventure-seeking playboy...
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Convoy (1978) CW McCall, Sam Peckinpah, Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, & Burt Young
Book Vs. Movie: Convoy The CW McCall Novelty Song Vs. the Sam Peckinpah (!) Film In the mid-1970s, a unique country song about truckers, CB radios, and the open road captured the imagination of America. It was called "Convoy," and it not only topped the charts but also inspired a Hollywood movie,...
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The Wizard of Oz (1939) L. Frank Baum, Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, and Bert Lahr.
Book Vs. Movie: The Wizard of Oz (Replay in honor of Wicked!) The Margos celebrate the new Wicked movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande with a replay of our beloved episode devoted to L. Frank Baum and The Wizard of Oz. The book presents a vast, detailed Oz with darker undertones, while...
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The Boy the Mole the Fox and the Horse (2022) Charlie Mackesy, Tom Hollander, Idris Elba & Gabriel Byrne
Book Vs. Movie: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse The Charlie Mackesy Children’s Book Vs. the 2022 Apple+ Film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a beautifully illustrated book that explores themes of kindness, resilience, and self-acceptance through the...
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Travels with My Aunt (1972) Maggie Smith, George Cukor, Louis Gossett Jr, and George Cukor
Book Vs. Movie: Travels with My Aunt The 1969 Graham Greene Novel Vs. the 1972 Maggie Smith Film The Margos pack their suitcases for Graham Greene’s Travels with My Aunt and its 1972 film adaptation. The story of Henry Pulling, a reserved Englishman, whose life changes when his eccentric Aunt...
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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Benny Hill, & Ian Fleming
Book Vs. Movie: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (replay) The 1964 Ian Fleming Novel Vs. the 1968 Classic Movie Book vs. Movie: Chitty Chitty Bang BangThe Margos explore Ian Fleming's only children's story, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," published in October 1964, shortly after his death at 56. Written for…
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The Night of the Hunter (1955) Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, & Davis Grubb
Book Vs. Movie: The Night of the Hunter The 1953 Novel Vs. the 1955 Classic Movie Davis Grubb’s 1953 novel *The Night of the Hunter* and its 1955 film adaptation by Charles Laughton offer haunting interpretations of a sinister preacher, Harry Powell, and two children fleeing him. The novel delves...
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The Fly (1986) Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, & David Cronenberg (Special Guest: Patrick Bromley "F This Movie" podcast
Book Vs. Movie: The Fly The 1957 Short Story Vs. the 1986 Movie The Margos feature The Fly this month with special guest Patrick Bromley, who hosts the excellent F This Movie podcast. The 1957 short story and the 1986 film share the core premise of a scientist merging with a fly during a...
About this show
Book Vs. Movie is the podcast that ponders the question: "Which was better...the book or the movie?" We spoil away the details, uncover the plot points, discuss casting choices and shower with praise (or pummel with snark) as we see fit. Hosts are Margo P. (She's Nacho Mama's Blog) and Margo D. (Creator of Brooklyn Fit Chick.com) and we are not afraid to tell it like it is!
Hosted by
Margo Porras