The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939) is a short story by James Thurber which chronicles the fantastical daydreams of mild-mannered man named Walter Mitty. Walter daydreams himself into heroic adventures as a U.S. Navy flying boat pilot, a surgeon, an assassin, and an Royal Air Force pilot as an escape from his humdrum life.
The book has been adapted into two movies, two radio plays, and a stage play. The most famous of the adaptations is the 1947 technicolor comedy film starring Danny Kaye. The plot of the film departs from the story by a fair bit with Walter eventually meeting a mysterious woman and getting involved in a real life adventure involving missing jewels.
A new drama adaptation, starring Ben Stiller, will be out Christmas day. The plot of this film also departs from the original story. In the new film, daydreaming Walter is eventually forced to go on a real life adventure around the world to recover a lost photo. It looks like a heart-felt movie about living life to the fullest.
It's a short read, so if you are intrigued by Walter Mitty's tale then make sure to grab a copy of the book linked above.
A new drama adaptation, starring Ben Stiller, will be out Christmas day. The plot of this film also departs from the original story. In the new film, daydreaming Walter is eventually forced to go on a real life adventure around the world to recover a lost photo. It looks like a heart-felt movie about living life to the fullest.
It's a short read, so if you are intrigued by Walter Mitty's tale then make sure to grab a copy of the book linked above.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Trailer (2013)
Cover courtesy of LibraryThing.
After hearing there was an older adaptation I wondered if there was also a book--now I know and I'll have to check out all three! I'm super excited to see the Ben Stiller version, looks like fun.
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