Book Vs Movie Podcast

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 brought the classic mystery back to the big screen with an all-star cast and a modern flair. But how faithful is this adaptation to the original 1937 novel?

Branagh (who returns as Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot) updates the cast of characters from the source material and discusses the racial politics of the time more. The director also adds to Poirot's backstory, including his facial hair and past romances, which are not in the book.  Between the original novel and the film — did we prefer one over the other? Have a listen to find out!

In this episode, the Margos discuss:

• Agatha Christie & her character of Poirot 
• The differences between the book and the movie
• The cast includes: Tom Bateman (Bouc,) Annette Bening (Euphemia Bouc,) Kenneth Branagh (Poirot,) Michael Rouse (Private Laurin,) Alaa Safi (Corporal) Letitia Wright (Rosalie Otterbourne,) Sophie Okonedo (Salome Otterbourne,) Gal Gadot (Linnet Ridgeway,) Jennifer Saunders (Marie Van Schuyler,) Dawn French (Bowers,) and Susannah Fielding as Katharine. 

Clips Featured:

• “Entrance of Jacqueline”
• Death on the Nile (2002 trailer)
• “Champagne Toast”
• “Hammer, Gadot & Branagh”
• “The last scene”
• Music by Patrick Doyle

Follow us on the socials!

• Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”
• You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast Group
• Instagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmovie
• [email protected] 
• Margo D’s Blog: Brooklynfitchick.com
• Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”
• Margo D’s TikTok 
• Margo D’s YouTube: @MargoDonohue
• Margo P’s Instagram: @shesnachomama 
• Margo P’s Blog: coloniabook.com
• Margo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomama

Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

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 glamorous whodunit set in a sun-soaked Mediterranean locale.  Both versions center around the murder of actress Arlena Stuart at a resort, with Poirot reluctantly drawn into the investigation, uncovering secrets among the guests, each with a motive. While the book is set on a secluded Devon island during World War II, featuring a more introspective tone, the film opts for colorful costumes and picturesque settings, filmed in Mallorca. Poirot in the book is sharp and formal, while Ustinov’s portrayal is warmer and more humorous, appealing to some fans for its charm and theatricality.

Between the original novel and the film — did we prefer one over the other? Have a listen to find out! In this episode, the Margos discuss:

• Agatha Christie & her character of Poirot 
• The differences between the book and the movie
• The cast includes: Peter Ustinov (Hercule Poirot,) Colin Blakley (Sir Horace Blatt), Jane Birkin (Christine Redfern), Nicholas Clay (Patrick Redfern), Maggie Smith (Daphne Castle), Roddy McDowall (Rex Brewster), Sylvia Miles (Myra Gardener), James Mason (Odell Gardner), and Diana Rigg as Arlena Stuart Marshall. 

Clips Featured:

• “Poirot swims”
• Evil Under the Sun 1982 trailer
• “Cattiness & Cocktails”
• “Poirot deduces”
• Music by Cole Porter

Follow us on the socials!

• Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”
• You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast Group
• Instagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmovie
• [email protected] 
• Margo D’s Blog: Brooklynfitchick.com
• Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”
• Margo D’s TikTok 
• Margo D’s YouTube: @MargoDonohue
• Margo P’s Instagram: @shesnachomama 
• Margo P’s Blog: coloniabook.com
• Margo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomama

Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

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 different from the 1968 novel it’s based on? Let’s take a look at how Alexander Key’s book compares to its big-screen adaptation. Alexander Key’s Escape to Witch Mountain is a surprisingly serious story for a children's book. It follows orphaned siblings Tony and Tia, who possess strange psychic abilities — Tony can move objects with his harmonica music, and Tia communicates with animals and speaks telepathically. As they dodge sinister adults who want to exploit them, they slowly uncover the truth: they're aliens stranded on Earth. The book delves into deeper themes, including prejudice, the fear of outsiders, and the desperate search for a sense of belonging.

There is a strong sense of melancholy running through the story, and while the ending offers hope, it is also mysterious and bittersweet. It feels less like a fairy tale and more like a poignant sci-fi fable. The 1975 Disney adaptation is much lighter, precisely what you’d expect from a family-friendly studio in the '70s. Between the play and the film — did we prefer one over the other? Have a listen to find out! In this episode, the Margos discuss:

• Disney live-action films of the 1970s 
• The differences between the book and the movie
• The cast includes: Eddie Albert (Jason O’Day,) Ray Milland (Aristotle Bolt,) Donald Pleasence (Lucas Deranian), Kim Richards (Tia Malone,) Ike Eisenmann (Tony Malone,) Walt Barnes (Sheriff Purdey), Reta Shaw (Mrs Gerindley and Denver Pyle as Uncle Bene.

Clips Featured:

• “RV scene”
• Escape to Witch Mountain TV Ad 
• Escape to Witch Mountain 1975 trailer
• “Marionette Scene” 
• Music: Johnny Mandel theme to Escape to Witch Mountain

Follow us on the socials!

• Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”
• You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast Group
• Instagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmovie
• [email protected] 
• Margo D’s Blog: Brooklynfitchick.com
• Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”
• Margo D’s TikTok 
• Margo D’s YouTube: @MargoDonohue
• Margo P’s Instagram: @shesnachomama 
• Margo P’s Blog: coloniabook.com
• Margo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomama

Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

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 sisters—one desirable and another perceived as problematic. In The Taming of the Shrew, the younger, more attractive Bianca cannot marry until her older, strong-willed sister, Katherina, finds a husband. Similarly, in 10 Things I Hate About You, Bianca Stratford can only date if her rebellious, sharp-tongued sister, Kat, does too. The character of Petruchio in Shakespeare’s play, who is hired to "tame" Katherina and make her marriageable, is mirrored in Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), who is paid to date Kat (Julia Stiles) so that Bianca can start dating.

Despite the initial financial motivation, Petruchio and Patrick develop genuine feelings for their partners. While The Taming of the Shrew ends with Katherina seemingly submitting to societal expectations, 10 Things I Hate About You gives Kat more agency. She remains independent but opens up to love, showing a more modern and feminist take on Shakespeare’s story.

 Between the play & the film--which did we prefer? Listen to find out! In this ep, the Margos discuss:

• The teen comedies of the late 1990s  
• The work of Heath Ledger
• The differences between the play and movie
• The cast includes Julia Stiles (Kat), Heath Ledger (Patrick Verona), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Cameron James), Larisa Oleynik (Bianca), Larry Miller (Walter Stratford), Andrew Keegan (Joey Donner), David Krumholtz (Michael Eckman), Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (Mr. Morgan), Susan May Pratt (Mandella), Alison Janey (Ms. Perky), David Leisure (Mr. Chapin), Gabriele Union (Chastity Church), Letters to Cleo, and Save Ferris. 

Clips Featured:

• “Hey there, Girlie!”
• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999 trailer)
• “You see that girl?”
• “Rock bar scene”
• “Kat dances”
• “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”
• “The poem scene”
• “Bianca beat down scene.”
• Music: Letters to Cleo; I Want You to Want Me 

Follow us on the socials!

• Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”
• You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast Group
• Instagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmovie
• [email protected] 
• Margo D’s Blog: Brooklynfitchick.com
• Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”
• Margo D’s TikTok 
• Margo D’s YouTube: @MargoDonohue
• Margo P’s Instagram: @shesnachomama 
• Margo P’s Blog: coloniabook.com
• Margo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomama

Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

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 narrative that vividly portrays the underworld. John Huston’s 1950 film adaptation remains faithful to the book while enhancing the story with striking cinematography and strong performances. However, it shifts the setting to an unnamed urban landscape and introduces Marilyn Monroe's expanded role as a corrupt lawyer's mistress. Between the novel & the film, which did we prefer? Listen to find out!

 In this ep, the Margos discuss:

• Author W.R Burnett and Film Noir of the 40s and 50s 
• The work of John Huston
• The differences between the book and movie
• The cast includes Sterling Hayden (Dix Handley,) Louis Calhern (Alonzo D. Emmerich,) James Whitmore (Gus Minissi,) Jean Hagen (Doll Conovan,) Sam Jaffe (Doc Erwin,) John McIntire (Hardy,) Marc Lawrence (Cobby,) Barry Kelley (Lt. Dietrich,) Anthony Caruso (Louis Ciavelli,) Marilyn Monroe (Angela Phinlay,) and Teresa Celli as Maria Ciavelli. 

Clips Featured:

• “The Job”
• “The Asphalt Jungle” (1950 trailer)
• “Sweet Kid”
• “Play Some Music”
• “A Double Cross”
• “Hoodlums”
• Music by Miklos Rozsa

Follow us on the socials!

• Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”
• You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast Group
• Instagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmovie
• [email protected] 
• Margo D’s Blog: Brooklynfitchick.com
• Margo D’s Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”
• Margo D’s TikTok 
• Margo D’s YouTube: @MargoDonohue
• Margo P’s Instagram: @shesnachomama 
• Margo P’s Blog: coloniabook.com
• Margo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomama

Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine