# What Heinlein Book Should Be Made a Movie?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 5, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748 "2010-01-05T14:55:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/41 "2010-01-06T04:50:15Z")
I second _The Star Beast_. I think that it would be perfect as a CGI animated feature.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/42 "2010-01-06T05:05:48Z")
> [@ghardester](#):
>
> Oh I agree. There are at least 5 good movies within ‘Time Enough for Love’.
Perhaps a series of animated movies?
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/43 "2010-01-06T05:25:38Z")
> [@ghardester](#):
>
> I agree, this is where to start. If you are going to get people interested in movies made from Heinlein you are going to need a big box office draw to start . Tunnel in the Sky has elements that will accomplish that. Although the stargate idea has been ripped off (or Heinlein ripped it off from someone else, don’t side track) the idea of college students passing a performance test by being placed on an alien world is great. You can have a large ensemble cast of Hollywood’s current young darlings. Incorporate elements of everything from Jurassic Park to Lost to Survivior. It’s a gold mine if done right.
>
> Fantasy, adventure, sword fights, beautiful smart, powerful woman, bravery, discontented youth, and a frivolous sense of humor, it has it all.
>
> You need a story that can be started and finished in 2 hours tops. Move fast and not be connected to some larger mythology. Because it will need to be a commercial success before you will get any more Heinlein ideas past marketing.
>
> .
Right, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is way too long to be a good movie. Bunches will have to be cut out, thus the fanboys will hate it. Same with Job: A Comedy of Justice and Door Into Summer, or Time Enough for Love (which is his worst anyway, it’s dreck imho)
I’d also suggest any of his YA works. Have Spacesuit will Travel.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/44 "2010-01-06T05:28:02Z")
> [@Waenara](#):
>
> I agree with _Double Star_, _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_, _Job: A Comedy of Justice_ and _Door Into Summer_
>
> Time Minear (writer for _Angel_, _Firefly_, _Wonderfalls_, _Dollhouse_, and other shows) wrote a screenplay of _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. (["]Downloadable pdf available on this page]([http://socalbrowncoats.com/?p=28](http://socalbrowncoats.com/?p=28)), and [direct link to pdf here](http://socalbrowncoats.com/images/moonfriday.pdf)) I think it’s a pretty good adaptation for a feature length film - inevitably you have to cut some stuff out.
Started reading it… it’s not the same story.
Maybe I should get back into screenwriting.
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/45 "2010-01-06T05:34:07Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#):
>
> I second _The Star Beast_. I think that it would be perfect as a CGI animated feature.
So let’s grab our torches and pitchforks and storm Pixar until they agree to make TSB. I can’t believe that I didn’t mention it.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/46 "2010-01-06T05:35:37Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#):
>
> So let’s grab our torches and pitchforks and storm Pixar until they agree to make TSB. I can’t believe that I didn’t mention it.
Yes, that’s short enough and it’s also funny _and_ “heartwarming”. It is a good choice.
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### Author:  [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/47 "2010-01-06T05:38:10Z")
> [@Voyager](#):
>
> I remember seeing an ad in the Village Voice looking for someone to write a script for Stranger. In 1967. Clearly people have been thinking about this for a long time. I’m afraid that most of it would be seen as very outdated today.
Oh? In the days where retro is hip? Since when did orgies go out of style? You can make it all retro-styled. Maybe Oliver Stone should direct it. ;p
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/48 "2010-01-06T05:38:23Z")
_Harsh Mistress_ is the clear winner. It’s got everything: Space opera, political satire, high-tech revolution, sex, and a lovable computer mascot. Presumably the movie version would dump the off-putting patois.
I would agree with _Time for the Stars_, _The Star Beast_, or _Podkayne_, although the latter two would likely be kids’ movies. And you’d have to change the _The Star Beast_ protagonist’s name to something other than “John Thomas.” I guess Heinlein probably never read D.H. Lawrence.
Regrettably, I think _Stranger in a Strange Land_ is a bit dated. It was visionary when it was published, but now the 60s and 70s have come and gone. Besides, Hollywood would strip out most of the spiritual depth, and then you’re essentially left with _Crocodile Dundee_.
I came in here to suggest _Citizen of the Galaxy_, but as I thought about it, I remembered that nothing actually happens in that book. 😛 Thorby begs, then flees. He learns Finnish, then flees. He goes through basic training, then flees. In the end, the book dramatically climaxes with – a proxy fight! And then it concludes with our hero crushed behind a desk.
Come to think of it, that totally sounds like a George Lucas movie. 😃
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/49 "2010-01-06T13:16:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> And you’d have to change the The Star Beast protagonist’s name to something other than “John Thomas.” I guess Heinlein probably never read D.H. Lawrence.
On the contrary, I think it’s pretty clear that Heinlein did, and knew _precisely_ what he was doing. Especially with that line about Lummox wanting to “continue raising John Thomases”.
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### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/50 "2010-01-06T13:17:43Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> It was a shock when they received a letter from Heinlein pointing out the similarity. Heinlein, IIRC, didn’t legally press the issue, or demand payment, even in the form of a script.
I vaguely recall from another source (Maybe **The Heinlein Concordance?** Gerrold met Heinlein at another occasion later on and apologized again and Heinlein laughed it off saying that he (Heinlein) swiped the idea from Twain\*
\*I have no idea which Twain story.
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### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/51 "2010-01-06T13:26:31Z")
I think everyone’s making a mistake focusing on the novels. Someone (Ellison?) once said that an average short story translated into (some amount–1 hr?) of film. And much of Heinlein’s best stuff is his short stories.
I’d personally kill to see “Magic, Inc” (aka “The Devil Makes The Law”) turned into a feature length film: dirty politics, a love interest, a strong supporting role for a black actor, tons and tons of eye-candy, witty dialogue. It’s perfect.
“Our Fair City” would be a _fun_ hour-long made-for-TV movie.
If the director could refrain from party-centric finger-pointing, “Lost Legacy” would rock as a film.
Neither would ever be made, but both of **Job’s** prequils would be great on screen: “They” would make a killer Twilight-Zone type episode and “The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathon Hoag” would be a great movie…or it would have been if made in the late '40s/early '50s.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/52 "2010-01-06T13:50:26Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I think everyone’s making a mistake focusing on the novels. Someone (Ellison?) once said that an average short story translated into (some amount–1 hr?) of film. And much of Heinlein’s best stuff is his short stories.
I agree entirely, which is why I suggested the short novel **Double Star**.
In theory, a good short story would make a good movie, as I’ve said many times before – it gives lots of time for development. Unfortunately, Hollywood has shown its ability to screw up this theory, too. Instead of using longer scenes, they tend to pad unmercifully, which is why **Enemy Mine** (based on a novella) and **Mimic** (based on a short story) turned out the way they did. And they’ve shown their ability to mess up Heinlein short stories when **Masters of Science Fiction** messed up _Jerry Was a Man_.
I’m not sure I’d like any of Heinlein’s short stories turned into movies. I can see them being padded too easily.
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### Author:  [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/53 "2010-01-06T15:06:10Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#):
>
> Besides, Hollywood would strip out most of the spiritual depth [from _Stranger_], and then you’re essentially left with _Crocodile Dundee_.
OK, you seriously owe me a new keyboard .😃
Also, Heinlein claimed he stole the idea behind _The Rolling Stones_ from Ellis Parker Butler’s _Pigs is Pigs_.
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### Author:  [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/54 "2010-01-06T16:21:48Z")
I’d love to see _The Door Into Summer_ made into a movie, but in today’s climate the relationship between Dan and Ricky would never fly.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/55 "2010-01-06T16:44:43Z")
Oooo, yes, _The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag_ could be made into a very creepy, atmospheric film, with a semi-tragic love story to boot. I’d pay good money to see that.
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### Author:  [@A.Selene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Selene)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/56 "2010-01-06T18:22:43Z")
_The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. But you already knew I would vote for that.
Engaging characters, a sentient computer, politics, revolution, a love story, real science, a future culture… the list could go on. However, I would fear that any script would gut the story. The well thought out lunar politics and culture would undoubtedly take a hit, but more importantly, the core message of freedom and self-determination would somehow be lost in the mix, or only ascribed to loosely as “freedom” in a sense no one can disagree with, not the kind of absolute freedom espoused in the novel.
I’m afraid a Hollywood version would smack too much of Stars Wars on the Moon: Manny and Mike (with the Professor as an Obi Wan figure) fighting the evil terran empire, with little thought as to why they fight and what they fight for.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/57 "2010-01-06T18:29:56Z")
That’s why they really need to make an HBO miniseries of the book. With decent funding and 8 hours or so of screentime to work with, you could reasonably have it all.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/58 "2010-01-06T18:40:17Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#):
>
> So let’s grab our torches and pitchforks and storm Pixar until they agree to make TSB. I can’t believe that I didn’t mention it.
I live not that far from Pixar, so sign me up. They’d do a great job on it.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/59 "2010-01-06T18:42:25Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> Oh? In the days where retro is hip? Since when did orgies go out of style? You can make it all retro-styled. Maybe Oliver Stone should direct it. ;p
But we’ve gone right past water brothers into disco. Can you just see Valentine Michael Smith on the dance floor doing the Martian Mash?
I’m going to barf now.
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### Author:  [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/60 "2010-01-06T21:42:39Z")
[Upcoming Heinlein movies?](http://www.wegrokit.com/rah_faq.htm)
From the bottom of section 10, “Rumors and Buzz”:
\*"The Star Beast has been recently optioned by Disney. Whether this will be an animated or live action/CGI adaptation is unknown
Dreamworks has recently optioned The Moon is a Harsh Mistress."\*
We can only hope.
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