Georgette Heyer's film adaptations
Mar 25
2009
The question of “Why hasn’t there been a Georgette Heyer television adaptation?” is one of the great Wordcandy conundrums, right up there with “How can anybody read the Twilight books without wanting to punch Bella in the face?” and “Why won’t someone reprint Jill Pinkwater’s Buffalo Brenda?”. According to GeorgetteHeyer.com, there have actually been two Heyer film adaptations (a 1959 German version of Arabella and a spoof of The Reluctant Widow), but neither sounds like the kind of thing our readers are looking for. We want the full-on Mystery!–style treatment, complete with great vintage costumes, cars, and location shots. Is that so much to ask?Apparently, yes.
After some e-mail hunting, I received a response from the literary agent who handles Ms. Heyer’s work in the U.K. According to his letter, his agency has been trying to interest production companies in dramatizations of Heyer’s mysteries for a long time, with no success. He said production companies “mumble about the cost of period drama, and whether there is an audience for old-fashioned crime”!
Thankfully, he assured me that they plan to persevere until someone sees the light....
Posted by: Julianka
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Comments
Anonymous
How much could it cost?! A book like "The Unfinished Clue" pretty much only has one setting!
I'd be there with bells on to watch any Heyer adaptation, even if it meant flying to England to do it.
Hecate
Somebody should start a petition.
ros
We have been making casting suggestions here. Feel free to come and join in!
Yulianka
Casting already? Heh--awesome. Seriously, someone with more computer skills with me SHOULD start an online petition.
nineveh-uk
Thanks for the link to this post (via girlyswot's LJ). Perhaps the solution is to get a load of 18 - 30 year old men writing to the TV companies telling them how much they love Georgette Heyer. THEN they'll listen.
Yulianka
You're probably right. Unless there was some way we could interest Judd Apatow, we're probably screwed...
Laaleen
PLEASE tell me the name of the literary agent! I've been searching unsuccessfully because I'm adapting one of her Regency novels into a screenplay and need to know whether I need to buy the rights! (The US Copyright office, which I've already checked with, doesn't include this particular title, although most of them are copyrighted under Richard George Rougier, her late son)...any information would be extremely helpful!
Anonymous
Bravo all you GH fans and scriptwriters out there! Keep pushing for film adapatations of this very entertaining and highly intelligent writer. I disagree with many who think her Regency novels are out of date. Wake up everybody, Heyer's novels are ready-made scripts just waiting for adaptation to film by a clever and wealthy film producer!!! Keep on plugging this lady's wonderful stories!!!!
I shall watching this site faithfully,
Keep at it, everyone.
LAINAJAY
Anonymous
I REALLY REALLY want someone to make adaptation of GH's novels, they are all amazing.
Someone should write to the BBC and tell them to wake up, smell the coffee and start writing a script for their frist adaptation.
It is soooooo boring now that the BBC are remaking the same old period dramas like pride and prejudice, sense and sensibilty and emma. WE REALLY NEED SOME NEW STUFF!
Alex @ Petition admin
Hi All
I have decided to start a petition for turning Georgette Heyer books into movies. Please click this link to add your signature. Any suggestions are welcome (there is a box on the form for comments) Only i can see this information at [present and will send only to producers once we have enough people signed. I will also publish (on this blog for now) when the count hits a decent number.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFJDNGxKb2hkcUxxSkNsSlRKbGdBNXc6MQ
Thanks All
Alex (Petition admin)
Alex @ Petition admin
mmmm. ok that link doesn't seem to be working. i will try something else
Alex @ Petition admin
Right try this link for the petition. You will need to copy and paste into the address line for now
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFJDNGxKb2hkcUxxSkNsSlRKbGdBNXc6MQ
Alex
Alex @ Petition admin
OH dear. This comment function keeps cutting off part of the link. I will post it on my website instead. Watch this space
Alex
Anonymous
GEORGETTE HEYER MOVE PETITION
CLICK here to sign
Alex @ Petition admin
GEORGETTE HEYER MOVIE PETITION
Excellent, it worked. So, to join the petition Click here
As I mentioned, i will publish the count when it is high enough. I have also posted a link on http://alexwiid.wordpress.com so copy that link and send to friends if you think they will be interested - it is the top post.
happy signing!
Alex
Anonymous
Everyone I know who has ever read a Heyer novel thinks they should be adapted into films. Period drama's are so fashionable now as well. How can they not get that??!! Have signed the petition - please please people come on!
jhunter
Who is the agent that handles her work? would like to contact re: these old shades
Jenny Allworthy
Yes, we do really need a Georgette Heyer film. Badly. I write a blog on period drama called The Jane Austen Film Club.
I love Georgette Heyer and so I have also started a petition to have her brought to the screen. I didn't realize that someone else was thinking the same thing. I have signed Alex's petition and if anyone would like to sign mine...
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/georgetteheyerfilm
link text
Julia
Dude, I would fully sign that petition, but I don't actually have a Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, or Hotmail account, and I am REALLY trying to avoid getting one. (I know: I am a traitor to my generation.) But thanks for posting your link, and if you like we'll do a blog post about it.