Earlier this summer, one of my agent’s partners shared a blog post about her 5 favorite movies about writers. I have to admit that I had only heard of one of these films and had never seen any of them. But it did give me a fun idea about creating a list of my own favorites.
You might sense a theme in my preferences. All of them are period pieces. And in all but one, the author character is a woman and there is a strong romance thread. Maybe that’s why the only movie from Janet’s list I had even heard of was Shakespeare in Love.
So here they are . . . my top five favorite movies about writers.
#5
I had not seen this movie prior to posting about this topic in my Facebook group, The Posse, but I got so many recommendations about this one, especially from other authors, that I knew I had to watch it. Based on the true story of Charles Dickens, it tells the tale of how his battle with writer’s block and his need to produce a new book in order to pay the bills ended up producing the classic tale A Christmas Carol. There were so many things to love about this movie: Characters inspired by people he encountered in real life, his own personal issues finding their way onto the page, his frustration when his writing time was interrupted, his frenzied desperation to meet his Christmas deadline – I could relate on so many levels.
#4
I love a good black and white classic Hollywood movie, and this one features a ghostwriter – in every sense of the word. A widow seeking independence rents a cottage by the sea that is haunted by a sea captain. When she finds herself in financial difficulty, the captain dictates his memoirs to her. She writes the salty book, sells it, and becomes a best selling author virtually over night. Her money woes are over. I have to roll my eyes a bit at the idea that a single book could set one up for life, but it was a different century then, so I’ll cut them some slack.
#3
This classic celebrates family, the art of writing what you know, and the tender romance that can be found when one lets go of past disappointments and searches for love that touches the intellect as well as the heart. I’m eagerly awaiting the 2019 version of this one.
#2
I adored this story! A female author determined to tell a story that mattered. A book club that helped a misfit bunch of English islanders survive German occupation during WWII. A romance so sweet it changed people for the better. My sappy heart is sighing just thinking about it. I might have to go watch this one again.
#1
Somehow I missed seeing this movie when it came out in 2007. Big thanks once again go to my Posse. They recommended this gem to me, and it quickly skyrocketed to the top of my list. What an amazing woman Beatrix Potter was! So courageous to follow her dreams without compromise. A stunning artist with a vivid imagination. Unafraid to be herself despite the opinions of others. And the later-in-life love story (or two) completely won my heart. It’s going on my Christmas list so I can own a copy of the DVD.
What are your favorite movies about writers?
Any recommendations for me?
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Ahhhh I loved “ Saving Mr. Banks “ author P. L. Travers who wrote Mary Poppins
And “ Finding Neverland “ author J.M. Barrie who wrote Peter Pan.
Great additions, Grace! I think I’ve seen Saving Mr. Banks, but I’m not sure about Finding Neverland. I’m going to have to look for that one.
I just recently heard about Miss Potter. I loved it, too! What a sweet movie!
She really was a remarkable woman. I was so inspired by her life. Not only in her writing success, but in the way she used her success to preserve the land she loved so well and protect a fading way of life.
Oh, I love this post, Karen! I haven’t seen the first two movies you mentioned, so they are going on my list! And I second Grace’s comment. I really enjoyed Saving Mr. Banks and Finding Neverland. The soundtrack to Finding Neverland is one I write to often! Same with Miss Potter’s soundtrack.
An oldie, but one I still laugh about is Romancing the Stone from the ’80s maybe? Ken and I almost got up and left the theater during the cheesy opening scene—and then cracked up when we realized why it was there. Being it’s from the ’80s, the whole movie might feel cheesy now, but it was a fun, feel-good movie and I could so relate to Kathleen Turner’s writer character Joan Wilder back in the day before I was yet published!
Yes! Romancing the Stone is a classic. Especially for romance writers. Ha! I love how the gangster in Columbia is a fan and helps her because he loves her books and leaves the tough guy hero floundering over why he didn’t get to save the day.
One of my favorites is “Stranger Than Fiction.” It cracks me up every time, especially the college English professor.
I haven’t seen that one, Lynn. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
Thanks for the list! I have only heard of a couple of these movies. I’ll have to check the others out soon. A couple favorites of mine that instantly pop into my head are “Anne of Green Gables” and “Becoming Jane”.
Two great ones, Jennifer. I love Anne of Green Gables. I don’t think I’ve seen Becoming Jane, but I need to watch it one of these days. Thanks!
If you have not seen Stranger Than Fiction I highly recommend you do so. I won’t give away anything other than it’s amazing. Don’t be fooled by the actor who plays the main character. He dies a superb job.
Thanks for the recommendation, Nicole. I’ll definitely look it up. 🙂
Fun post! You’ve inspired me to watch The Man Who Invented Christmas and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Thanks for the recommendations!
You’re welcome, Becky. 🙂 Hope you enjoy them!
You’re already been given a number of additional great writer movies (I love all five on your list, and I own all of them on DVD or Blu-ray except for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir; Miss Potter is one I watch frequently). Finding Neverland is a huge favorite of mine; I cry every time. Stranger Than Fiction is amazing and funny. Saving Mr. Banks is one I’ve watched at least three times this year (it makes me tear up too). No one has mentioned an oldie but goodie, American Dreamer (stars JoBeth Williams and Tom Conti). In it, “frustrated housewife and writer Cathy Palmer enters a mystery-writing contest and wins an all-expense-paid trip to Paris. Once there, she is struck by a car and awakens believing that she is Rebecca Ryan, the heroine in a wild spy adventure.” It is great, great fun.
Thanks for the recommendations, Robin! I’ll have to check those out. 🙂
Oh I cry at Finding Neverland & Finding Mr Banks too!!! Thanks for all the recommendations, I’ve got a list going in my notes! Fun post Jaren 😊
Sorry.. Karen 🤪
Ha! No worries. I mistype all the time.
Saving Mr. Banks was SO good! Had me in tears at points.
A shorter film from our young filmmakers community was a really fun somewhat-comedy on writing in Hollywood, filmed as a period piece; it’s titled ‘The Screenwriters’. We quote it a lot around our house.
That sounds like a fun one, Bree.
I love Little Woman!
Me, too, Shirley!
I LOVE the last three. I will have to look up the one about Dickens–sounds like something I’d love.
I just finished 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, and someone told me a film was made of it. It’s a true record of the correspondence between Helene (a screenwriter at the time) and a used-book seller in London during and after WWII. What starts out as very business-like notes turns into a friendship. I saw a few clips on YouTube of the film, with Anthony Hopkins playing the male lead. Now I want to see it!
Ooo – that sounds intriguing, Barbara. I’ll have to look for it.
Three of these are among my favorite movies – Miss Potter, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! I also love Finding Neverland which makes me cry and Saving Mr. Banks. I love celebrating writers and creativity.
Glad we have so many favorites in common, Marilyn. 🙂
The movie “The Man Who Invented Christmas” is based on the 2008 non-fiction book of the same name by Les Standiford. It tells how Charles Dickens wrote his famous novella. The book was reissued to coincide with the movie.
Great to know, Elisa! I bet the book is wonderful, too.
I may have mentioned this movie within The Posse FB page previously, but just in case I HIGHLY recommend “This Beautiful Fantastic”. It is a quiet little movie I was lucky enough to discover free on Amazon Prime and loved it, then later watched it again when my whole family was visiting – nobody having a clue if they were even interested, but everyone wholeheartedly loving it in the end! I ordered the DVD because it is that good! Although contemporary, because of the costumes and backdrop, it feels very much like a period piece. You’ll have to let me know if you agree.
Here is part of a review from the Washington Post – I’ll include a trailer link below as well.
“Fantastic” tells the story of Bella Brown (Jessica Brown Findlay of “Downton Abbey”), an aspiring children’s book author and reluctant librarian who lives next door to a curmudgeonly retired widower named Alfie Stephenson (Tom Wilkinson). Their seemingly opposite natures — he’s a fussbudget, especially about his garden, while she has let her own yard go to ruin — are the main source of the film’s shambling forward momentum. Oddly, the inside of Bella’s house is a spotless monument to O.C.D. She keeps seven toothbrushes in rotation — one for each day of the week — and organizes her cupboard like a “food prison,” as one character observes. The fact that her back yard is a mess is explained away as the result of a childhood phobia of plants, the result of her having been abandoned in a park as an infant.
Jessica Brown Findlay also starred in ‘Guernsey’ and ‘A Winter’s Tale’ (another good period piece). Co-star Andrew Scott (of Sherlock) is a wonderful character, Anna Chancellor (1995 Pride & Predjudice and many other period pieces) is an odd-ball head librarian, and Tom Wilkinson is absolutely wonderful.
TRAILER & FULL MOVIE LINK ON AMAZON
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Fantastic-Jessica-Brown-Findlay/dp/B06WVW16WY/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=this+beau&qid=1567875463&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I’m so glad you posted this, Heather. This looks wonderful! I’ve added it to my Prime watch list and look forward to viewing it soon. Thank you for the recommendation!
One of my favorite movies about a writer is Stranger than Fiction. It’s hilarious in so many ways. Another contemporary “writer” movie is called Finding Forester. The Man who invented Christmas sounds amazing though and I plan to put that on my watch list for Christmas. I’m always looking for good Christmas movies.
Two of my favorite movies about writers are Nim’s Island (classic hero’s journey) and The Help.