Not every writer wants to see their work made into a movie. Here are 6 Authors Who Sued to Prevent Movie Adaptations:
Best Man Wins (1948)
Mark Twain Estate Sues ‘The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County’ Movie
Chamberlain v. Columbia Pictures Corp: Mark Twain (real name Samuel L. Clemens) estate sued Columbia Pictures over a now obscure and forgotten movie called ‘Best Man Wins’, which was based on his short story called “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. The short story was in the public domain, but Clemens’ estate sued to prevent the release because the low quality of the movie depreciated the value of his literary work. In the lawsuit, ‘Best Man Wins’ was referred to as “an inferior motion picture photoplay,” which “tells a very common, ordinary and what is commonly characterized in the motion picture theatrical industry as a `corny’ love story.”
They also objected to Twain’s name plastered all over the movie’s marketing, which proclaimed “A Story only Mark Twain Could Tell,” “Mark Twain’s Favorite Story,” “Mark Twain’s Tale of a Gamble in Hearts,” and other similar statements. The court dismissed the Twain complaint. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Bus Stop (1956)
William Inge Wins Lawsuit to Delay ‘Bus Stop’ Movie Release
Inge v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation: William Inge was the author and Broadway producer of the play “Bus Stop.” An agreement was made between Inge and FOX, that the movie adaptation starring Marilyn Monroe and Don Murray could not open theatrically before December 1, 1956 until all first-class stage presentations of the Play had closed. FOX decided to date ‘Bus Stop’ for August 1956 while the first-class stage productions were still open and William Inge successfully sued to block the distribution of the movie until the Play closed. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Captain January (1936)
Shirley Temple Movie ‘Captain January’ Successfully Sued by Author Laura E. Richards
LC Page & Co. v. Fox Film Corporation: This Shirley Temple vehicle was the second book to movie adaptation for ‘Captain January’, which was previously produced as a silent film in 1924. Laura E. Richards, who wrote the novel, sued FOX when they were developing the movie and her lawsuit can be simply summarized with the complaint that [FOX] “are threatening to produce a talking motion picture version of the novel Captain January without having obtained the consent”. Laura E. Richards won a court ordered injunction against the movie and the parties eventually reached an agreement, because the movie was obviously produced and exists. READ THE LAWSUIT.
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Stephen King Wins Lawsuit to Remove His Name From ‘The Lawnmower Man’
King v. Innovation Books: Stephen King’s short story The Lawnmower Man, had such little resemblance to the movie adaptation, that King filed a lawsuit against New Line Cinema for trying to sell this different narrative off his name. King was particularly upset with the possessory credit, describing the movie as “Stephen King’s The Lawnmower Man” and sought an injunction against the movie. King won the case and his possessory credit was removed. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Tarzan the Ape Man (1981)
Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate Sues To Prevent Awful Tarzan Movie
Burroughs v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc: The heirs of Edgar Rice Burroughs sued MGM to prevent the production of what would become the infamous trainwreck ‘Tarzan the Ape Man’. This was mainly a rights issue, which the Burroughs estate claimed MGM no longer had in relation to the Tarzan properties. MGM did have the right to in their previous licensing agreement with Burroughs, that they could produce remakes of the original Tarzan movie from 1932. MGM won the lawsuit and produced this stinker. READ THE LAWSUIT.
The River Why (2010)
Author of the novel ‘The River Why’ Sues to Prevent the Book to Movie Adaptation
Duncan v. Cohen: David James Duncan is the author of the novel “The River Why” and seeks to prevent the book to movie adaptation from a screenplay he dislikes, alleging that the producers have an expired option. Duncan eventually settled with the producers and the movie was made. READ THE LAWSUIT.