# Remakes and the "Written by" credit

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-and-the-written-by-credit/170498>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 23, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-and-the-written-by-credit/170498 "2003-04-23T02:25:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-and-the-written-by-credit/170498/1 "2003-04-23T02:25:18Z")

</div>

I’ve just seen [_The Good Thief_](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0281820), which I understand from IMDb is a remake of [_Bob le flambeur_](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0047892). Further, my understanding is that the WGA has very stringent rules regarding the use of the “Written by” credit. Which leads me to wonder exactly what those rules are as they pertain to remakes, for I couldn’t help noticing that (IMDb’s credits notwithstanding) director Neil Jordan credits himself as the writer of _The Good Thief_.

How does all that work again?

(BTW, I give it a 6 out of 10.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-and-the-written-by-credit/170498/2 "2003-04-23T03:54:42Z")

</div>

However close the remake sticks to a non-English original, somebody has to write the English dialog as well as the unspoken action. That somebody deserves a new “written by” credit. The IMDB also gives Jean-Pierre Melville a credit.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remakes-and-the-written-by-credit/170498/3 "2003-04-23T13:37:04Z")

</div>

I guess I expected the guy to at least give the original writers a “Story by” credit or something, which I don’t remember seeing.