You've Seen It All Before

10 Original films that inspired remakes plus one remake inspired by the original

Click on the title to search the catalog. Use your browser's "Back" button to return to this page.

Alfie (1966)
The 2004 remake starred Jude Law as the promiscuous Alfie, who is forced to re-evaluate his life. The original stars Michael Cain. This version may seem a little dated by today’s standards, However in the 1960’s Alfie’s lifestyle was more shocking and on the cutting edge of cultural change.

Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Special effects and heavy handed preaching abounded in the 2008 remake of this 1951. Some have even questioned why it was made. The 1951 version stars Michael Rennie as Klaatu who arrives on earth with the classic movie robot Gort on a mission of peace. Filmed as the Cold War and the fears of an atomic holocaust fuelled panic and paranoia in our nation this early version carried a different message to the people of the time. Rennie’s Klaatu is less enigmatic and more understanding than Keenu Reeve’s in the remake. He seems more puzzled than angry at the reaction of the people whose paranoia is all too apparent.

Hairspray (1988)
Director John Walters is not known for films with good taste. His film Pink Flamingo’s was once described as the most disgusting films ever made. Hairspray was the exception; both written and directed by John Walters, this film dealt with not just the race issue, but the weight issue as well.   The message is still relevant and the film is both down –to-earth and over-the top at the same time. The film stars Ricki Lake, Devine, and Sonny Bono among others. This is the film that inspired the musical and the 2007 remake starring John Travolta.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
For those who have seen it few forget the final scene of the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with Donald Southerland, but it is the giant pea pods of the 1956 movie that have become the iconographic image in our minds for alien invasion and the idea of replacing our friends, and family with something that looks like them, but isn’t.

Man Who Knew Too Much (1931)
Alfred Hitchcock was known as the master of suspense. His films are well known for their twists and turns. What many people don’t know is that one of his most famous films, The Man Who Knew Too Much produced in 1956 staring Jimmy Stewart was in fact a remake of one of his earlier films. Here is your chance to check out how his vision and methods changed over time. This is one of the few great films remade by the same director.

Ninotchka (1939)
Ninotchka tells the story of a Russian loyalist and a lawyer on opposite sides of the same case in Paris France. The two meet and fall in love before they find out about each other’s involvement in their legal battles. Later remade as a musical with Cyd Charisee and Fred Astaire, this screwball comedy stars Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It may not have the singing and dancing, but Oh! does Garbo laugh!

Stepford Wives (1975)
The suburbs of Stepford seem ideal in this film. The families are happy, and wives are attentive to their husbands needs. Perhaps a little too happy and a little to attentive. Stepford, it seems, holds a secret behind it façade of quiet idealism. Unlike the 2004 remake which turned the story into a black comedy. The original Stepford wives has a quiet horror that runs though story.

Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Pitting a rich bank thief [Steve McQueen] against a never-give-up insurance investigator [Faye Dunaway] attempting to bring him to justice this film has a number of twists and turns. Over the course of the investigation the two find themselves with an intense admiration for each…and more. Remade with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, the original is less flamboyant than the remake, and leaves more to the imagination.   Oh, and can Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway ever play chess. You will have to check out the original to see just what I mean.

War of the Worlds (1953)
The earth has been invaded by spaceships from Mars and they seem bent on the complete destruction of life on earth. This 1953 film, very loosely based on the H.G. Well’s novel, has the distinction of being called one of the best science fiction films ever made… and of one of the worst.   The special effects were generated by one of the masters of stop motion animation George Pal. Whether you watch it as a masterpiece of science fiction or as because it is “so bad it’s good,” something that can be said of most 1950’s SF films, it is a treat not to be missed. Recently re-made with Tom Cruise in 2005 by director Steven Spielberg.

Wicker Man (1973)
Investigating the disappearance of a small girl on small remote island investigator Neil Howie finds his Christian faith put to test as he becomes involved with a pagan cult run by Lord Summerisle [Christopher Lee]. Once called the “Citizen Kane of movies” by Cinefantastque and making #45 in Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments The Wicker Man remains to this day one of the most powerful films of kind. Remade in 2006 with Nicolas Cage in the investigator’s role, it was not able to top the tension and suspense of the original.

Plus One

Never Say Never Again.
For many Sean Connery IS James Bond. He was the actor who started it all and his delivery of the trademark line, “Bond. James Bond,” is classic. When he stopped playing Bond in 1971 he said to the press that he would “never again play James Bond.” In 1983 he signed on to play Bond again in the only James Bond film not produced (as of that date) by EON productions, hence the title. The only Ian Fleming James Bond book Orion Films had license to film at the time was Thunderball, so after making slight changes and renaming the film Sean Connery starred in the only James Bond movie remake, in a film that he himself had already made famous.

Catalog View