The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of seven American Pulitzer prizes awarded annually. It recognizes the best fiction literature by an American author, preferably centering around American life, though there have been some exceptions. Initially known as the Pulitzer Prize for a Novel, it was one of the original Pulitzers created by Columbia University. The title changed to the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948, and the category expanded to include novellas, novelettes, short stories, and poetry, as well as novels.
Pulitzer-winning literature is perhaps the surest bet for any filmmaker willing to make an adaptation. But at the same time, transferring a perfect story from paper to the screen is never an easy exercise. A filmmaker might either leave out crucial details or overstuff the picture. So far, various books in the category have been adapted into movies, but here’s what to prioritize if you are looking for something as good as the book.
10
‘Age of Innocence’ (1993)
The Age of Innocence
- Release Date
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September 17, 1993
- Runtime
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139 minutes
Set in the late 1800s New York, Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence, follows the scandalous affair that brews between lawyer Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), and Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), the cousin of his fiancé May Welland (Winona Ryder). What will each party do, especially when the WASP community is looking to sting anyone who doesn’t adhere to social norms?
More Money, More Romance-Related Problems
Scorsese plucked the story from Edith Wharton’s 1920 novel of the same name, and does it justice by constructing a compulsively watchable melodrama powered by the ever-relevant themes of patriarchy, societal control, and wealth.
Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and Scorsese honors her by driving an even greater female empowerment narrative through thought-provoking dialogue. Beyond that, he delivers his trademark cinematic gloss via great costumes (something the Oscars recognized) and rich, saturated period visuals. Day-Lewis is great as usual, but it’s Winona Ryder’s decorous, heartfelt performance that stays with you (she was also Oscar-nominated for this).
9
‘The Old Man and the Sea’ (1958)
The Old Man and the Sea
- Release Date
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October 7, 1958
- Runtime
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86 minutes
- Director
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John Sturges
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Felipe Pazos
Manolin, the Boy
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-
Harry Bellaver
Martin, the Cafe Bartender
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Don Diamond
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Spencer Tracy stars in The Old Man and the Sea as an aging Cuban fisherman on an 84-day catch-less streak. Determined to end his bad luck, he sails far into the Gulf Stream. Predictably, he is haunted by all kinds of dangers. Will the move be worth it?
The True Definition of a Sisyphean Task
John Sturges’ first-rate atmospheric and psychologically rich adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s Pulitzer-winning novella defines everything an adventure thriller should be. The grouchy, enigmatic Tracy was born for the role of the tortured fisherman, while cinematographer James Wong Howe Grahame lends a colorful allure to the proceedings. Tracy received an Oscar nomination, and, according to producer Hayward, Hemingway — notorious for criticizing adaptations of his books — was pleased with what he saw.
8
‘Gettysburg’ (1993)
Undoubtedly one of the greatest movies about the Civil War, Gettysburg covers one of the most defining confrontations of the Confederacy vs Union conflict, the Battle of Gettysburg. With Confederate General Robert E. Lee planning to invade the North and unite all the states under the CSA (Confederate States of America), the stakes were high, and the movie bares it all.
Too Long but Worth It
Gettysburg is a captivating tale of the often messy, greed-related tensions that emerged during wartime. Beautifully directed by the Civil War expert, Ronald F. Maxwell, the war drama is also faultlessly acted, with Martin Sheen and Stephen Lang all doing some Oscar-chasing. Maxwell must have found the 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara to be too compelling since he couldn’t leave out anything. At 254 minutes (4 hours and 14 minutes), this is the longest movie released theatrically in America by a major film studio.
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10 Movie Adaptations That Changed the Book’s Ending (And Made It Better)
Hollywood often takes creative liberties and deviates from the source material, especially when it comes to the story’s ending.
7
‘The Color Purple’ (1985)
Heartbreaking in every way, Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple covers 40 years of the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), a black woman who endures years of abuse and bigotry. Her woes magnify when her violent father marries her off to the equally despicable “Mister” Albert Johnson (Danny Glover). Amidst the turmoil, friendships with Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) and Sofia (Oprah Winfrey in her debut role) help her maintain her positive outlook on life.
Tearing Up a Culture of Abuse
With a snappy screenplay, assured pacing, and cinematic easiness that belies the film’s undeniable depth, Spielberg makes clever social commentary under the guise of a domestic story. Probing chauvinism, parenting, and the power of female unity, he proves to audiences that his talents stretch beyond the summer blockbusters he had been known for up until that point. Alice Walker, the author of the book, served as a consultant on the film. No wonder things turned out so well.
6
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ (1962)
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the kids Finch (Mary Badham), and her brother, Jem (Phillip Alford), spend much of their time spying on their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley (Robert Duvall). Everything seems normal until their widowed father, an attorney, offers to defend a black man falsely accused of rape. At that point, they see the sharp claws of racism from a front-row seat.
Adult Injustice as Seen Through the Eyes of Children
Adapted from Harper Lee’s 1960 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird is widely considered an essential film for people of all ages. The critically acclaimed legal drama sure helps in erasing the stain of race-related bigotry, and you’ll appreciate how meticulously director Robert Mulligan paints this affecting portrait of bias against the minority. Gregory Peck is superb, too, as the lawyer Atticus Finch. He not only got recognized by several award bodies, but his character was also named the greatest movie hero of the 20th century by the American Film Institute.
5
‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939)
Gone With the Wind
- Release Date
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December 15, 1939
- Runtime
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238 minutes
- Director
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Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood
Gone with the Wind traces the life of Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) through the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Much focus is placed on her romantic escapades, specifically her pursuit of Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), who is married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland).
One of the Very Best That Hollywood Has Had To Offer
Based on Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer-winning book, Gone with the Wind offers an unflinching look at love, classism, and racism. A 2014 Harris Poll found that the source material hasn’t gone with the wind. It is still the second favorite book of American readers, next to the Bible, and even though the movie isn’t topping any streaming charts, it remains one of Hollywood’s greatest productions.
Over 1400 actresses are reported to have auditioned for the role of Scarlett, but God bless Vivien Leigh, who sunk herself into the picture and resurfaced with a Best Actress trophy.
4
‘The Hours’ (2002)
Events in The Hours revolve around three women whose lives are linked via the 1925 novel, Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. In 2001, Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) prepares an award party for her ailing friend. In 1951, Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is a pregnant housewife in an unhappy marriage. In 1920s England, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) is an author battling depression.
Overflowing with Talent
A box-office smash for a film of its genre, The Hours also honors Michael Cunningham’s 1998 novel, bringing the characters to life as perfectly as the author imagined them. It helps that we have some of the greatest actresses on board. Kidman won Best Actress, but Streep must have been jealous, given how hard she had also worked. The soundtrack album was even nominated for a Grammy. It doesn’t get better than that.
3
‘The Caine Mutiny’ (1954)
The Caine Mutiny
- Release Date
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June 24, 1954
- Runtime
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124 Minutes
- Director
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Edward Dmytryk
The mayhem in The Caine Mutiny unfolds aboard the minesweeper USS Caine during World War II. Captain Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) proves erratic and incompetent, so executive officer Maryk (Van Johnson) forcefully takes command during a deadly typhoon. Unsurprisingly, Maryk gets court-martialed for mutiny. Will he be acquitted?
Another Bogart-Led Masterpiece
Edward Dmytryk’s adaptation of Herman Wouk’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1951 novel of the same name is a shiny piece in the pantheon of WWII cinema. Out of the chaotic early scenes emerge many distinctive characters, notably, William H. De Vriess (Tom Tully), whose evolution on screen is both measured and credible. Without leaning on excesses, Dmytryk perfectly shows how personalities clash in times of danger.
Because the film depicts a rebellion on an American ship (something that has never occurred before), the Navy was initially reluctant to provide ships, planes, the port of San Francisco, and Naval Station Treasure Island for filming, resulting in a lengthy production process. Thankfully, an agreement was made.
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10 Classic Film Noirs Adapted From Novels and Serials
Some of the greatest films ever made are classified as noir, and almost just as many are adapted from famous novels.
2
‘The Road’ (2009)
Based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner by Cormac McCarthy, The Road traces a father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they endure the hardships of a post-apocalyptic wasteland. From the usual starvation to harsh weather, and cannibalistic survivors, they face it all.
Surviving at All Costs
Director John Hillcot crafts a moving and deeply human tale with The Road. Nothing feels rushed. Each sequence begins quietly, giving the characters room to breathe. And the love between father and child remains evident. Capped by an amazingly neat conclusion, this adaptation rewards both the mind and the heart. And it has the perfect visuals too, earning a BAFTA award nomination for Best Cinematography.
1
‘The Grapes of Wrath’ (1940)
The Grapes of Wrath
- Release Date
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January 24, 1940
- Runtime
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129 Minutes
- Director
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John Ford
John Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family from Oklahoma who witness their sharecropping empire crumble due to the increased mechanization during the Great Depression. They are thus forced to become migrant workers, traveling across America in search of better opportunities.
A Depressed Family in the Great Depression
This intense family drama adapted from John Steinbeck’s similarly titled 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel boasts a tight screenplay and several explosive performances, notably by Jane Darwell and Henry Fonda, who play off each other brilliantly. The Grapes of Wrath netted Oscars in most major categories that year, including Best Director for John Ford. Even though Darwell won the acting trophy, it’s just as much Fonda’s film. Apart from that, you’ll love how John Ford makes palpable the economic hardships of the time.