Adaptations we'd like to see: 001

The Love of Seven Dolls (Paul Gallico)

Originally a short story called ‘The Man Who Hated People’ which was adapted by Hollywood for the film Lili starring Leslie Carron. Following the films success author Paul Gallico decided to expand his story creating The Love of Seven Dolls. Both are very different, but all center around the story of a confusing relationship between a group of friendly puppets and a young woman who is in love with the puppets but is badly treated by the cruel and bitter puppeteer who controls them.

The story starts with us joining a young girl called Mouche who has given up on life is about to throw herself into the Seine river. However her suicide attempt is interrupted when her attention is attracted by a voice calling out too her in the distance. The voice turns out to be that of a glove puppet called Carrot Top. She’s soon transfixed by this odd event and forgetting what she was up to decides to go over and investigate. She later meets Reynard the Fox and the rest of the puppets, each one with their own unique characteristics. Before long her bizarre conversations with these puppets starts to draw a crowd, and without realizing Mouche has become part of the show.

The story is about her relationship with the seven puppets and their grim puppetmaster, Capitaine Coq. Although the puppets embrace her with open arms, Mouches relationship with the puppet master is a lot more complex. How can it be that a man who has created such loveable creatures can be so dark and mean to the young Mouche?

The book opens like a wonderful children’s story but underneath lies much darker undertones concerning issues of love, loneliness and domestic violence.

Perfect Director: Spike Jonze

There currently isn’t a director around who could combine the magical elements of such a children’s story with such dark undertones. Previous work like Being John Malkovich is a perfect example of this. My only other suggestion would have to be Tarsem Singh after watching the beautifully moving The Fall.

Cast:

Mouche: Zooey Deschanel

Not only because I’d pay to see anything with her in, but her wide eyed childish innocence would fit perfectly with Mouches naivety and fragile mental state.

Capitaine Coq: Willem Defoe

His dark piercing stare, and naturally evil looking face would make Defoe a perfect fit for the hiddious puppet master, and man who at first impressions is full of nothing but hate, but who deep down must have a heart to create such joyfull creatures.

The Seven Dolls:

Obviously appearance doesn’t come into casting here, but the vocal talents of Alan Rickman, John Hurt and Bill Murray (Who surely would like to make up for Garfield) would certainly make for an entertaining puppet show.

Soundtrack: Beirut

After his second album showed an abdundance of ability for capturing Parisian sounds surely he could conjure up a host of mesmorising tunes to accompany the puppet show. Failing that Seu Jorge whos’ work on The Life Aquatic would be a worthy silver medal.

Patrick Gamble