by Lucas Vandergriff
Today people enjoy complaining about remakes. “Why can’t Hollywood do something original like in the past?” they say. They may be surprised to know that some of the greatest films of the past were also remakes. Here are six films, stretching from the 1930s to the 2000s, that you may not know were remakes.
I Am Legend
Believe it or not, Will Smith did not do it first. I lead with this because the looks this fact evokes are quite entertaining. “The Omega Man” was released in 1971. “The Omega Man” was based off the 1954 novel “I Am Legend” by John William Corrington and Joyce Corrington. The director of “The Omega Man” did not think “I Am Legend” was a manly enough title for the story. Surprisingly, Charlton Heston plays the same role as Will Smith. The plot is the same, but insert the stereotype of manliness, Charlton Heston, with a dash of 70s nostalgia and you have “The Omega Man.”
Homeward Bound
Yes, one of your favored childhood movies was indeed a remake. The title was “An Incredible Journey,” and it came out in 1963. The plot is recognizable, but the animals were different. Also, instead of the animals being voiced, there was a narrator. Some describe the format like “Milo and Otis.” “An Incredible Journey” is poorly remembered because the film industry was congested with other interests at the time.
Scarface
Resisting this interesting remake would have been scarring. The original came out in 1932, around the time when gangsters were all anyone could talk about. The original, which takes place in Chicago instead of Miami, ends the same way as the remake: Scarface dying under the words, “The World is Yours.” Sadly, the line “Say ello to ma lil fren!” was not in the original.
The Wizard of Oz
To those who aren’t surprised, you may be shocked to realize that many people are unaware of the “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” released in 1925. Though now considered a classic, the 1939 technicolor adaptation of the L. Frank Baum children’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was not the first (or even second) feature film to be crafted from the tale. Produced out of contractual obligation associated with Baum’s personal bankruptcy, the 1910 film showcases a much different tale than the beloved Judy Garland version. With the Scarecrow, already being alive in Kansas, he helps save Dorothy to end up in the land of Oz, where they meet the Tin Woodman and the Lion. In the end, the Scarecrow becomes the king of Oz while Dorothy leaves in a hot air balloon with the now-retired wizard. This only deviates from the “Wicked” plot just a little.
You’ve Got Mail
Some may not remember or even have seen this classic, but it has been remade a few times. Judy Garland’s version, entitled, “In the Good Old Summer Time,” is called a classic. It arrived on the scene in 1949. However, “The Shop Around the Corner,” released in 1940, is also considered a classic due to Jimmy Stewart’s performance. While the original featured the main couple falling in love over mail correspondence, the updated version turned to the then popular AOL email service to accomplish the job. Director Nora Ephron did pay homage to the original film, though, as Meg Ryan character’s bookstore was called “The Shop Around the Corner.”
The Bourne Identity
Although widely known to be based on the popular spy novel by Robert Ludlum, “The Bourne Identity” trilogy starring Matt Damon was not the first time screenwriters adapted the work. In 1988, a made-for-TV version aired on ABC over two nights in two-hour segments, earning actor Richard Chamberlain a Golden Globe Nomination for his performance as Jason Bourne. While the original was a more literal translation of the text, the 2002 remake by Doug Liman is a more action-packed and thrilling experience.
Focus 