A recent review of James Cameron's new film "Avatar" said "it's not based on a literary work ... something entirely unfamiliar ... and it wasn't based on something that was already imprinted on the public consciousness." (Times-Union, Dec. 10, 2009, 6C). Fans of sci-fi writer Poul Anderson would disagree. Decades ago I read Anderson's novella "Call Me Joe", written in the '50s. It is about a disabled man living his life vicariously through a blue-skinned android on Jupiter, a planet with an environment hostile to humans. Sound familiar?
Usually, film makers give credit whey they adapt the works of well-known authors. But sometimes they do not give credit when they adapt lesser-known writers or works.
Before the Death Star roamed outer space, Doc E.E. Smith wrote about Roger's Moon, a giant spherical space station the size of a small moon with a crew wearing ray gun reflective armor. Before the Jedi Knights protected the galaxy, Smith's Lensmen brought law and order to the wild black yonder. Before Luke Skywalker wielded a light saber, a Martian farm boy, John "Big Man" Jones wielded a force knife in Isaac Asimov's "Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury." Before Senator Palpatine used the dark side of the Force to become Emperor, the Mule used telepathy to rule a galactic empire in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation Trilogy." Before Indiana Jones climbed a sheer cliff face to avoid a cataract from a flooded mine, Jean Evans "The Panther Girl of the Kongo" (1955) climbed a sheer cliff face to avoid a cataract from a flooded cave. Before Col. Steve Austin become the bionic man, Edgar Allan Poe wrote of Bvt. Brigadier General John A.B.C. Smith, a wounded soldier rebuilt with mechanical parts in "The Man Who Was All Used Up." Sound familiar?
I believe James Cameron should be more careful to give credit where credit is due. He was successfully sued for copyright infringement by Harlan Ellison over the "Terminator."
The movie "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" is a prime example of how film makers and writers should cooperate. Ray Harryhausen had his friend Ray Bradbury work on the script. However, Bradbury informed the producers that their script sounded like his own story "The Foghorn." Rather than fighting extensive law suits, the principles agreed to buy the rights to Bradbury's story and give him credit.
The two Rays remained best of friends and "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" made cinema history (www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/b/beast20000fathoms.html)
Movie makers enhance their credibility by acknowledging where they got their ideas. They create new fans for past authors and earn the respect of past author's fans. Everyone would benefit.
