AUDIO, CD, RECORDS AND VIDEO RESOURCES
(Inclduing Feature Film Adaptations)
Under Development
The materials on this webpage and its section links are copyrighted for literary non-commercial uses. No other uses of its contents are permitted.
Last Update 17 November 2003
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Updike at the Milwaukee Public Library 2 November 1999
New Updike CD of Stories
A new six hour 5 CD set titled "The John Updike Audio Collection" has been released by HarplerCollins (October 2003). The street price is $29.95. Selections are read by John Updike, Jane Alexander, and Edward Herrmann as follows:
CD 1
Foreward to The Early Stories 1953-1975, read by John Updike (16.:03).
"Killing," read by Jane Alexander (29:40).
'The Family Meadow," read by John Updike (14:43).
"The Orphaned Swimming Pool," read by Jane Alexander (12.:40).
CD 2
"A&P," read by Edward Herrmann (15:06).
"Gesturing," read by Jane Alexander (32:06).
"Snowing in Greenwich Village," read by John Updike (25:03).
CD 3
"The Bulgarian Poetess," read by Edward Herrmann (36:06).
"The Persistence of Desire," read by John Updike (25:19).
CD 4
"The Man Who Loved Extinct Mammals," read by Jane Alexander (17:52).
"Lifeguard," read by John Updike (21.22).
"Your Lover Just Called," read by Edward Herrmann (16:53).
"Ace in the Hole," read by Jane Alexander (21:50).
CD 5
"Pigeon Feathers," read by Edward Hermann (57:46).
UPDIKE WORKS MADE INTO FILMS OR VIDEOS
"A&P." 1996 production in the Harcourt Brace Original Film Series in Literature, along with an interview with Updike conducted by Boston Globe columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Donald M. Murry. Running time is 30 minutes. This same film and interview, likely after the Harcount Brace copyright was sold to them, has been re-released by the Films for the Humanities & Sciences, for the price of $149, now titled, "A & P: John Updike" (Item #9137). The film may be ordered at (800) 257-5126. The order information may be reviewed at http://www.films.com .
"Rabbit, Run." Directed by Jack Smight. With James Caan, Anjanette Comer, Jack Albertson, Arthur Hill, and Carrie Snodgrass. Warner Brothers-Seven Arts, 1970.
"The Music School."
(1) Deerfield, IL:Coronet/MTI Film & Video, 1976. One video cassette, VHS, 69 minutes, 1/2 inch. On the same tape: Richard Wright, Almos' a Man. Also issued with two other cassettes featuring Ernest Hemingway's Soldier's Home, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Bernice Bobs Her Hair, and Willa Cather's Paul's Case.
(2) Chicago: Perspective Films. One videocassette, VHS, 30 minutes, 1/2 inch. 1982.
(3) The American Short Story Collection. Monterey Home Video, 1986 . Two parts: John Updike's The Music School starring Ron Weyland, and Ambrose Bierce's Parker Adderson, Philosopher starring Harris Yulin and Doug Watson. Series hosted by Henry Fonda. Approximate running time:69 minutes.
TELEPLAY WRITER / DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: John Korter; PRODUCER: Dan McCann; CAST: Ron Weyand, Dana Larson, Tom Dahlgren, Vera Stough, Frank Albertson, Elizabeth Huddle Nyborg, Anne Lawder / EDITOR: Richard Chew / MUSIC: Ed Borgas / COSTUMES: Shoshana Dubiner SOUND: David MacMillan
[Photo credit: (c) 1982 Jill Krementz. Not to be reproduced in any manner without her permission]
"Too
Far to Go." Directed by Fielder Cook. With Blythe Danner,
Michael Moriarity, and Kathryn Walker. MTV. 1979. Adapted for
Television 12 March 1979 as a 2-hour dramatic special; later released as
a commercial film.
"The Roommates." American Playhouse. Based on "The Christian Roommates," from The Music School (Knopf, 1968). Directed by Nell Cox. Screenplay by Morton Miller. Starring Barry Miller and Lance Guest. 27 January 1984.
"The Witches of Eastwick." Directed by George Miller. Screenplay by Michael Cristofer. Starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, and Veronica Cartwright. Warner Brothers. 1987.
"Pigeon Feathers." American Playhouse. Robert Geller, Executive Producer. Sharon Miller Director. Public Broadcasting System. 17 February 1988.
UPDIKE READING HIS OWN WORKS
"The Afterlife and Other Stories." Read by the Updike. (3 Hours). Random House Audiobooks. 679-43657-X. $17.00.*
"Brazil." Read by the Updike. (3 Hours). Random House Audiobooks. 679-43226-4. $17.00.*
"John Updike Reading from His Own Works." Selections: The Centaur (excerpt [Knopf, 1963]); "Lifeguard" (complete short story from Pigeon Feathers [Knopf, 1962]), and Poems (from Verse: Telephone Poles and Other Poems [Crest, 1965]. CMS Records, #523, 14 Warren Street, New York, N.Y., 10007. 1967. Library of Congress Catalog No. R67-3188.
"Golf Dreams." Read by Updike. (3 Hours) Nonfiction. Random House Audiobooks. 679-45269-9. $18.00.* Large Print Edition available.
"John Updike: In His Own Words." Videocassette. Princeton: Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 1997. #ASU6711. 56 minutes, color. . For purchase ($149) or rent ($75). Call 1-800-257-5126 or (609)-275-1400.
Information came recently about the video, "John Updike: In His Own Words," which is offered by Films for The Humanities and Sciences. The Item # is BVL6711, VHS format, with a copyright date of 1997. In can be rented for $75.00 and purchased for $149.00, prices include public performance rights. Regular mail contacts made be made with Films for The Humanities and Sciences at P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543-2053. Telephone (800) 257-5126. Fax (609) 275-3767. Email--you may click here or send separately later: custserv@films.com.
The description of contents runs as follows:
This is a rare glimpse into the literary psyche of one of America's premier novelists, who has twice won the Pulitzer Prize for literature. In the only writers' workshop Updike has ever conducted, the author explores his beginnings as a writer, and offers his unique perception of the writing process--including his insistence that 'most of the best fiction is written out of early impressions.' Workshop sessions are blended with exclusive interviews in which Updike talks about his Pennsylvania roots, and reads aloud from his own works. Printed on-screen selections from specific titles emphasize given topics. (56 minutes, color).
"The New Yorker Out Loud." This audio contains four short stories and a novella published in the magazine. Reflecting the magazine's international tastes (or perhaps its Anglophilia), two of the writers are English, one is Irish. The publication date is listed as follows: "The New Yorker Out Loud. By various writers; some stories read by the authors, others by actors. Mercury Records, CD or cassette, 2 1/2 hours List price $19.95."
Bob Minzesheimer, reviewer from USA TODAY, writes, "John Updike, a New Yorker mainstay for four decades, wistfully reads his 31-minute bittersweet story of '50s-style adultery, New York Girl, driven less by plot than Updike's grace with details. "In those days, New York seemed as far from Buffalo as Singapore does now." [Checking the exact name of the Updike story. J. Yerkes, 9-4-98]
"Rabbit at Rest." Read by Updike. (3 Hours) Random House Audiobooks. 394-58811-8. $15.95 .* Large Print Edition available.
"Selected Stories." Read by John Updike. (3 Hours) Random House Audiobooks. Recorded 1985. Cassette # 1: Side 1 "A & P" and "Pigeon Feathers" Part I [Time: 44:26], Side 2 "Pigeon Feathers" Part II [Time 43:26]. Cassette #2: Side 3 "The Family Meadow"/ "The Witnesses" / "The Alligators" Part I [Time 41.40], Side 4 "The Alligators" Part II and "Separating" [Time 39:03]. 394-55040-4. $15.95.*
"Trust Me." Read by Updike. Unabridged Stories. (3 Hours) Random House Audiobooks. 394-56356-5. $15.95.*
UPDIKE WORKS READ ON AUDIO TAPE OR VIDEOTAPE BY OTHERS
SHORT STORIES AND POEMS
"Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu." Selected Shorts from Symphony Space, Vol IV. Old Greenwich, CN: Listening Library, 1991.
"The Music School." American Short Story Series. Deerfield, IL.: Learning in Focus, 1976. Three video cassettes.
"More Stately Mansions." The Esquire Collection of Great Fiction. N.Y.: Esquire Audio, 1985. Included in 6 sound cassettes.
"Poker Night." Contemporary Esquire Stories, Volume 1. albuquerque, N.M.: Newman Communications, 1986. Two sound cassettes.
"Selected Stories." Read by John Updike. Audiobooks. Random House. Recorded 1985. Cassette # 1: Side 1 "A & P" and "Pigeon Feathers" Part I [Time: 44:26], Side 2 "Pigeon Feathers" Part II [Time 43:26]. Cassette #2: Side 3 "The Family Meadow"/ "The Witnesses" / "The Alligators" Part I [Time 41.40], Side 4 "The Alligators" Part II and "Separating" [Time 39:03].#
"We Only Came to Sleep," "Exposure," and "Thoughts While Driving Home." From "Responding Records Sequence." Lexington, MA: Ginn, 1973. Two sound discs, 102 minutes, 33 1/3 rpm, mono.
BOOKS AND ESSAYS
Assorted Prose. Books on Tape. #1276 A first compendium of his essays and reviews.
Bech: A Book. Books on Tape. #1277 A middle-aged Jewish author faces the loss of his creative powers.
Bech at Bay and Before: Three Novels. (Abridged Edition) Random House Audio Tapes. 4 Cassettes, 6 hours. Read by Ron Rifkin. More of Bech at Bay than the first two, Bech: A Book and Bech Is Back. ISBN 037540-4996.#
The Centaur. Books on Tape. #1655 A father and son story told with Greek mythical overtones.
The Coup. Books on Tape. #1282 The presidnet of a black African republic survives a coup and tells the story.
Couples. Books on Tape. #1353 Suburban marriage infidelities during the Kennedy years.
Hugging the Shore. Books on Tape. (3 tapes) #'s 1930 A, B, and C. Collection of his essays and reviews since 1960.
Marry Me. Books on Tape. #1133 Two thirtyish couples with each person involved in affairs with the other's partners.
Memories of the Ford Administration. Books on Tape. #3243 A college professor reflects on his life during the Ford admninistration and contrasted with the era of James Buchanan's presidency.
A Month of Sundays. Books on Tape. #1279 An ordained minister sent to rehab after multiple infidelities. First in the Scarlet Letter trilogy.
Of the Farm. Books on Tape. #1656 Man and new wife with stepson visit his mother and the farm on which he was reared.
Picked-Up Pieces. Books on Tape. (Two tapes) #'s 1926 A, B Third and perhaps finest of the four Updike collections of essays and reviews.
The Poorhouse Fair. Books on Tape. #1654 An old man in the poorhouse resists the "modernity" of the young new superintendent.
Rabbit at Rest. Books on Tape. #2698 Final in the series of Harry Angstrom--the 1990's.
Rabbit is Rich. Books on Tape. #1695 Third in the series of Harry Angstrom--the 1980's.
Rabbit Redux. Books on Tape. #1281 Second in the series of Harry Angstrom--the 1970's.
Rabbit, Run. Books on Tape. #1280 First in the tetralogy: Harry Angstrom--in the 1960's.
Roger's Version. Books on Tape. #2204 A divinity school professor and young computer-enthralled student engage in faith discussions and infidelity. Second in the Scarlet Letter trilogy.
S. Read by Kathryn Walker. (3 Hours) Random House Audiobooks. 394-57416-8. $15.95.* Final in the Scarlet Letter trilogy.
The Witches of Eastwick. Books on Tape. #1912 Real witches meet their match in a devilish alchemist.
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#Random House Audiobooks may be ordered at the toll-free number 1-800-793-2665. Prices range from $15.95 to $18.00.
*Books on Tape may be ordered--rented or purchased--from the webpage: http://booksontape.com . The tapes contain complete readings of each text.
CD's
"The John Updike Audio Collection" has been released by HarplerCollins (October 2003). The six hour 5 CD set is retail priced $29.95. Selections are read by John Updike, Jane Alexander, and Edward Herrmann as follows:
CD 1
Foreward to The Early Stories 1953-1975, read by John Updike (16.:03).
"Killing," read by Jane Alexander (29:40).
'The Family Meadow," read by John Updike (14:43).
"The Orphaned Swimming Pool," read by Jane Alexander (12.:40).
CD 2
"A&P," read by Edward Herrmann (15:06).
"Gesturing," read by Jane Alexander (32:06).
"Snowing in Greenwich Village," read by John Updike (25:03).
CD 3
"The Bulgarian Poetess," read by Edward Herrmann (36:06).
"The Persistence of Desire," read by John Updike (25:19).
CD 4
"The Man Who Loved Extinct Mammals," read by Jane Alexander (17:52).
"Lifeguard," read by John Updike (21.22).
"Your Lover Just Called," read by Edward Herrmann (16:53).
"Ace in the Hole," read by Jane Alexander (21:50).
CD 5
"Pigeon Feathers," read by Edward Hermann (57:46).
INTERVIEWS WITH UPDIKE
"John Updike, with Claire Tomalin." The Roland Collection, Video #W33. 50 min. Description: "Personal and domestic themes; Updike as chronicler of the New World; Writing about Sex; Small-town life as the site of drama; God." Freephone: 800-597-6526. Tel: 201-251-8200. Fax: 201-251-8788. Email: sales@roland-collection.co.uk . Internet: http://www.roland-collection.com .
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The materials on this webpage and its section links are copyrighted for literary non-commercial uses. No other uses of its contents are permitted.