Here you will find information on various adaptations, faithful and otherwise, of Kurt Vonnegut's many works. If you have additional information regarding an entry, or would like to submit a new sighting, please email me! Thanks.

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"The worst thing about film, from my point of view, is that it cripples illusions which I have encouraged people to create in their heads. Film doesn't create illusion. It makes them impossible. It is a bullying form of reality, like the model rooms in the furniture department of Bloomingdale's.

There is nothing for the viewer to do but gawk. For example: there can be only one Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick. There are tens of thousands of Clockwork Oranges by Anthony Burgess, since every reader has to cast, costume, direct, and design the show in his head." - Kurt Vonnegut, 1972

    Auf Wiedersehen This was a 1958 television drama based on the short story, D.P.
  Between Time and Timbuktu;
or, Prometheus Five, A Space Fantasy
This was a 1972 television drama televised by PBS. The Vonnegut Web is the authority on BTT.
  Breakfast Of Champions This adaptation of KV's novel of the same name is directed by Alan Rudolph and stars Bruce Willis and Nick Nolte. It was scheduled for a March 1999 release, but it must have been really limited since I never heard a word about it. You can learn a lot about this production at The Vonnegut Web.
    Cat's Cradle In 1976 there was a stage adaptation of this novel by Theatre Express in Pittsburgh, PA.
D.P. This short story from KV's Welcome To The Monkey House was directed by Alan Bridges and televised by American Playhouse on PBS.
    Epicac A made for TV adaptation of this Welcome To The Monkey House story was televised by NBC in 1974.
    Front Door This short story turned up as a black and white short film in 1975 and was directed by Andrew Silver.
    God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater This KV novel-turned-musical made its theatrical debut in 1979 in New York. It was adapted by Howard Ashman with music by Alan Menken (Little Shop Of Horrors). It was recently presented again in the UK at Portsmouth in 1995. This adaptation is also currently running (during the month of June) in Nashville, TN at the Euphoria Theatre.
  Happy Birthday Wanda June Released in 1971, this film adaptation of Vonnegut's play of the same name was directed by Mark Robson and starred William Hickey (who played the role of Stony Stevenson in BTT). Vonnegut hated this adaptation and was 'happy that it sank like a stone.' This play as written by Vonnegut first appeared in 1955. He later revised it and renamed it.
Harrison Bergeron This made for Showtime movie was adapted by Authur Crimm and directed by Bruce Pittman. In the movie, Sean Astin plays Harrison Bergeron. It was televised and released to video in 1995.
Mother Night This is the most faithful film adaptation of any of KV's works. It was adapted by Robert Weide and directed by Keith Gordon. Nick Nolte stars and the film was released by Fine Line in 1996.
    The Sirens Of Titan This Vonnegut novel was adapted for the stage in Chicago in 1974 by Stuart Gordon and the Organic Theatre.
  Slapstick (Of Another Kind) I've read that this was another bomb of an adaptation. This movie was released in 1983 and starred Jerry Lewis.
Slaughterhouse Five This wonderful movie was adapted for film by Stephen Geller and directed by George Roy Hill. Michael Sacks stars in this 1972 Universal Picture film.
Recently there was also a theatrical adaptation of this novel by Eric Simonson and Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1996 and 1997. Click here for more info.
Vol. (1, 2, 3)
Boxed Set
Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House This is actually a series of seven 25 minute adaptations of short stories from KV's Welcome To The Monkey House. Included are All The King's Horses, EPICAC, The Euphio Question, Fortitude, The Foster Portfolio, More Stately Mansions and Next Door. They were originally aired on Showtime in 1991 and 1992. Copies of these shows have been difficult to come by, but they are being re-released on May 18th. Hooray!
Who Am I This Time? Starring Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken, and directed by Jonathan Demme, this 1982 television drama was televised by American Playhouse on PBS.


Corrections? Suggestions? Additions? please email me!

 

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last update: May 10, 2000
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