Quotation by

Alexander Payne

The novel succeeds on terms exclusive to literature. A good film succeeds on terms exclusive to the cinema. That's why so many bad novels can become good movies, like 'Jaws' or 'The Godfather.'

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Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Alexander Payne is saying that novels and films have different standards for what makes them successful because they are different art forms. Therefore, a story that might not work well as a book can still be turned into a great movie by using the unique strengths of cinema.

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