Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey (2nd example of a book that was turned into a movie)

 

This is the classic story of the little monkey, George, who is constantly getting into trouble. His owner, a nameless man in a yellow suit, always saves the curious little monkey at the end of the day. The original story tells of how the man in yellow goes to the woods in Africa, captures the monkey and takes him back to the city to live in a zoo.

The movie, however, tells that the man in yellow (in this version named Ted), goes to Africa in search of an ancient shrine called Zagawa. He doesn’t find exactly what he is looking for, and so, disappointed, he returns to the city. When he does, he realizes that the monkey has followed him on the boat.

This version also adds common movie themes, such as a love interest for Ted, and a desperate need to keep the museum from failing. There is also a rivalry between Ted and the museum owner’s son, who wants to raze it and make room for a parking structure.These inclusions do not necessarily detract from the story, but are clearly Hollywood conventions, and are as predictable as they come. I think I saw this movie ten years ago when it was called Billy Madison (minus the monkey).

I thought it was a nice touch that the filmmakers named the ship used to bring George to the city after the author. Both at the beginning of the movie and again at the end, you can see “H. A. Reys” painted along the side of the boat.

Rey, H.A. (1998). The original curious george. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.