“Ocean’s Eleven”, “Scarface”, “The Departed” and other films that are actually remakes
Julia Roberts in Ocean’s Eleven
It’s no secret that Hollywood loves to remake films. And often the remakes are even better than the original. Today we are talking about cult films that are actually interpretations of previously released films (and we had no idea!).
"Ocean’s Eleven" (Ocean’s Eleven)
This is exactly the case when the remake clearly surpassed its predecessor. Released in 2001, Steven Soderbergh’s film is a new version of Lewis Milestone’s 1960 film.
Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson in Ocean’s Eleven
The cast of the new film was very impressive: it starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon and other Hollywood stars. The picture was so successful that it received a sequel – so, over the next few years, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen appeared. The fourth part could also appear, but George Clooney refused to participate in it.
George Clooney and Brad Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven
Two years ago, the "female version" of the film was released – "Ocean’s Eight" (Ocean’s Eight) with Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter and Cate Blanchett in the lead roles. The film grossed nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office.
"Scarface" (Scarface)
The famous 1983 crime thriller starring Al Pacino is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. The difference between the two films is that in the first the action takes place in Chicago, and in the second – in Miami. Both films end with the death of the protagonist, and in both films the last phrase of the hero was the words "The world is yours."
Ann Dvorak and Paul Muni in Scarface
Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino in Scarface
The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 2006 film is a remake of the 2002 Chinese film Infernal Affairs, about a mafia agent who works for the police and a police officer who is infiltrated into a mafia group.
Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chu Wai in Infernal Affairs
The original, it must be said, was not successful, but its American interpretation received a large number of awards, including four Oscars.
Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed
"Toy" (The Toy)
This time Hollywood decided to reshoot the French film. The 1982 "Toy" was released just six years after the original, starring Pierre Richard, was released. By the way, the French "Toy" became the debut work of director Francis Weber.
Fabrice Greco and Pierre Richard in the movie "The Toy"
Richard Pryor and Scott Schwartz in Toy
"Meet the Parents" (Meet the Parents)
Occasionally, when an independent film or a short film receives critical acclaim, Hollywood studios make these stories into films for the general public. This is exactly what happened with Greg Glienna’s 1992 short film Meet the Parents.
Film "Meet the Parents"
Although this picture was never released in wide release, it was highly appreciated by film critics. As a result, Universal Studios received the rights to the film and in 2000 released its extended version. It stars Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller and is directed by Jay Roach.
Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents
"Train to Yuma" (3:10 to Yuma)
Although westerns are no longer as popular in Hollywood as, for example, action movies, they nevertheless remain an important part of American cinema.
In 2007, director James Mangold presented the film "Train to Yuma", which was a remake of the film "At 3:10 to Yuma", filmed by Delmer Daves in 1957. By the way, the original film was based on the story of the same name by Elmore Leonard, but Mangold relied on the work of his colleague when creating the film.
Glenn Ford in 3:10 to Yuma
Now, of course, not everyone knows that Mangold’s film is a remake, given that the original was released more than 60 years ago, but this does not mean that Daves’ film is not a recognized classic. In 2012, it was recognized by the Library of Congress as a "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant film".
Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in Yuma Train
"Meet Joe Black" (Meet Joe Black)
The heyday of Brad Pitt’s career in Hollywood falls on the 90s of the last century – then such famous films as "Seven" (Seven), "Fight Club" (Fight Club) and "Meet Joe Black" with his participation were released. The latter was based on the 1934 film Death Takes a Holiday, directed by Mitchell Lazen.
Fredric March and Evelyn Venable in Death Takes a Holiday
Interestingly, Leisen’s painting appeared between the era of silent cinema and the establishment of censorship, and it, by the way, was based on the Italian play La Morte in Vacanza by Alberto Casella.
Despite the fact that Martin Brest’s film starring Pitt, where he played death itself, earned more than $142 million at the worldwide box office, the $90 million budget spent on its creation prevented it from achieving its due success. Critics were also not impressed with either the film or the actor’s performance. In addition, Brest challenged the studio’s major edits to the airline version of the film, and ultimately disowned the project altogether, opting to replace his name in the credits with the pseudonym Alan Smithee.
Claire Forlani and Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black
"Robbery in Italian" (The Italian Job)
When young moviegoers hear the name Michael Caine, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth from Batman Begins. However, one of the actor’s earliest and most famous roles was as the character of Charlie Crocker in Peter Collinson’s 1969 film The Italian Job.
Michael Caine in The Italian Job
Gary Gray directed an American remake in 2003, starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Jason Statham and Donald Sutherland.
That the audience remembers the remake and not the original is not surprising. Despite the fact that the paintings have several points of similarity, the films differ significantly from each other in terms of plot. Gray has said that he would like his film to be more of an homage to the original than a remake.
he said.
Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron in The Italian Job
"Unfaithful" (Unfaithful)
In the early 2000s, Adrian Lyne made a remake of the 1968 French film La Femme Infidèle, directed by Claude Chabrol.
Stéphane Audran and Michel Bouquet in The Cheating Wife
At the box office, the new version of the film, starring Richard Gere, Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez, earned nearly $120 million. Despite the financial success, the film received a lot of negative reviews from the audience, although film critics rated it quite highly, and Diane Lane was nominated for the Golden Globe and Oscar awards in the Best Actress category.
Diane Lane and Richard Gere in Unfaithful
"The Reluctant Millionaire" (Mr. Deeds)
There have been many rather unsuccessful films in Adam Sandler’s career, and Reluctant Millionaire is just one of them.
Although technically based on the Clarence Budington Kelland short story Opera Hat, Steven Brill’s film is actually a remake of the 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town directed by Frank Capra.
Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in Mr Deeds Moves into Town
At best, Brill’s film is a testament to why Hollywood doesn’t always have to remake old movies. Critics were unanimous that the remake was no match for the original. However, trying to "surpass" the Oscar-winning picture (in 1937, Frank Capra was awarded the Oscar in the nomination "Best Director") was initially not a good idea.
Winona Ryder and Adam Sandler in Reluctant Millionaire
"Gentlemen’s Games" (The Ladykillers)
The Coen brothers love to create original stories, such as the films Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and Inside Llewyn Davis. But "Gentlemen’s Games" is not the case. The 2004 film is based on the 1955 British film The Ladykillers, written by William Rose.
Alex Guinness and Kathy Johnson in The Ladykillers
Critics, unfortunately, did not appreciate the remake and consider the film one of the weakest in the brothers’ career, although they gave very high marks to the work of Tom Hanks in the film.
Tom Hanks in The Gentlemen’s Game