Which Judith Krantz Novels Were Adapted Into Films?

Question

Fans of steamy eighties bestsellers and miniseries adaptations might recall a few. Which Krantz TV movies or film versions were actually made?

Jamie Pairama · Answer

A few of Judith Krantz’s novels were made into films, including ‘Scruples’ which was made into a TV miniseries in 1980. ‘Princess Daisy’ was made into a TV movie in 1983 and ‘I’ll Take Manhattan’ was also made into a miniseries. There was something about the rich settings and glamorous storyline that inspired a lot of modern romantic fiction. I’m currently reading ‘Forbidden Love Stories’ which updates the intense and emotional drama of Krantz’s novels to a modern day setting, focusing on the scandalous and dramatic relationships between the characters as they try to find true love amidst family rivalries and more.

Charlotte · Answer

Innovative works that give readers a glimpse into the lives of the super-rich are always of great interest. Of her novels, author Krantz is perhaps best known for Scruples and Princess Daisy, both of which were adapted into miniseries. The inaugural work, a 1980 miniseries starring John Philip Law, follows the adventures of a determined young woman who tries to make her way in the high-end world of fashion by opening her own fashion boutique. The characters, including their sometimes-overwhelming relationships, are all so rich and full of greed and heart.

'Princess Daisy' was made into a miniseries in 1983. It was a very dramatic story of love and ambition and the casting was excellent. It brought the very rich story to life. I recently revisited ‘Scruples’ and ‘Princess Daisy’ in two separate TV miniseries and once again I was reminded of just how influencial Judy Krantz was in bringing literature to TV and the other way around. There are not many instances of this happening and that is why it is so special.

Yasmin · Answer

Iconic novelist Judith Krantz’s works were always meant to be adapted to film and when they finally were in the late 20th century, she had found the perfect canvas to express herself in full glamour and ambition. Among her notable works adapted to film are Scruples and Princess Daisy.

'Scruples' was adapted into a 1980 miniseries starring Lindsay Wagner and Barry Bostwick. This was an epic tale of the stunning boutique owner, revealing her life in and out of the fashion world. A 1980s tale of 1980s glamour, ‘Scruples’ had captured the era perfectly as it followed the characters of the fabulous little boutique in the very center of Beverly Hills. The characters were always at the center of the fabulous settings and I was utterly drawn to the drama and to the gorgeous settings.

Then there was Princess Daisy, the 1983 miniseries based on another Krantz bestseller. The story revolves around the life of a beautiful and complex girl as she grows up into a woman and finds herself in the midst of a big love triangle. Judd Nelson and Jack Scalia starred in this explosive and dramatic miniseries, full of tension in each scene. What I loved most about both adaptations was how they kept true to the novels by Judy Krantz. The movies were not superficial dramas but rather in-depth explorations of the inner lives of the characters, despite them being so rich and weird in their glamorous lives.

Xander · Answer

Adaptations of the works by Judith Krantz that I think were particularly good were ‘Scruples’ and ‘Princess Daisy’. The miniseries based on these two novels were both released in 1983, 3 years after the Scruples miniseries was first released in 1980.

‘Scruples’ follows the life of Billy Ikehorn, a determined woman who has built up her own boutique in a chic Los Angeles street. She is seeking for love, and she is seeking for success. We follow her and get a glimpse of a very glamorous and successful world.

'Princess Daisy' on the other hand shows us the intricate emotional drama of its central character and her various relationships with others. Judith Krantz never fails to bring believable characters to life whatever their circumstances and this is certainly true of her Princess Daisy. The film is of particular interest as it exemplifies another highly enjoyable story by the celebrated author.

Hector Colon · Answer

I don’t know if anyone can explain why the heroines of these novels are all such incredible survivors. Possibly it is because I have always known that the stories of the women of my family were not sweet ones. My mother’s family had suffered many hardships and losses; my father’s family had been through a great deal of betrayal and exploitation. And yet they had all managed to make successful lives for themselves, using their intelligence, their strength, their willpower. It makes for very good reading, and for good reasons. These novels are fantasies about wounded women coming to power, and they are, ultimately, Timeless. The various adaptations of these novels have, to varying degrees, managed to preserve the core of these stories, even as the rest has grown rather dated. We see Billy Ikehorn struggling to come to terms with her own grief and insecurity in order to build a fashion empire. We see Daisy Valensky confronting the horrific events of her past in order to claim her rightful identity and inheritance.

Azhar Abd. Aziz · Answer

These made sense as a cultural moment. We were in the heart of network TV as home entertainment, miniseries were big events, and glossy female-centric dramas were at the height of their popularity. Moreover, the huge plot-driven novels that dominated the bestseller lists for years were being translated into TV events. The adaptation of Scruples in 1980 was a unique combination of a huge bestseller and a TV network looking for a special event. The formula was reused many times thereafter. But by the late 1980s the formula was starting to wear thin. The till We Meet Again miniseries of 1989 felt like the end of an era for the big budget female novel miniseries on network TV. After that, other formats largely took their place.

Jonzon Morecho · Answer

I recommend watching the Krantz adaptations in the following order: first, Scruples, the iconic and perhaps most true to her style of all of them, which, for some reason, holds together best as a TV movie. Then Mistral's Daughter, a more artistic, tragic adaptation. After that, I'll Take Manhattan, which is set in the cutthroat world of magazine publishing. And, finally, Princess Daisy, the most chaotic and melodramatic of them all. Its narrative can be quite stressful and sometimes even annoying due to the many ‘80s TV ‘narrative shortcuts’ it contains. But, at the same time, it can also be a lot of fun to watch. And, as for me, I think that watching them in the release order also makes for a very nice historical retrospect of how TV as a production and a narrative evolved throughout that decade, within one and the same genre. They are all movies from a very specific time.

Melissa Johnson Tuck · Answer

These were REALLY big productions. Huge locations were shot for ‘Mistral’s Daughter’ in France which must have cost an absolute fortune for a 1984 TV miniseries. The artists studios and high end boutiques would have all been built as sets. The costumes for ‘Scruples’ and ‘Princess Daisy’ must have been a huge department, creating or sourcing hundreds of high fashion costumes each to make the series look as glamorous as possible. From today’s perspective these may look ‘staged’ but at the time they were ‘big event TV’ – in other words people had things to do other than watch TV and these shows were a ‘big deal’. The whole family would watch over several nights and then discussion would ensue the next day at work. None of us are used to watching big budget productions as TV anymore and then having to wait to discuss them the next day with friends and family. This is a huge element of how these shows affected culture and one that many current adaptations would struggle to replicate.

Denilson Pinas · Answer

So these adaptations are sort of a mess, but mostly fun. They are the literary equivalent of an unhealthy snack that you devour because it tastes so good, even though you know it’s terrible for you. ‘ Scruples’ is probably the most coherent, because the book was written as episodic TV, so it translates best. ‘ Princess Daisy’ is a beautiful disaster of a short film that tries to condense decades of a global saga into a short space and it all feels a bit mad and rushed. ‘ Mistral’s Daughter’ is really good as a miniseries, because it’s able to allow the story to breathe in a way that feels natural for the family centric story. The acting is very hit and miss – in one scene, someone can be completely reserved, and in the next, he or she can be soap-opera-like in their behavior. But it’s all part of the fun. You watch these because of the clothes, the score, and the sheer incredible-ness of the plots. These are not serious attempts at “quality” TV. They are just happy, glamorous entertainments. For the most part, they succeed at what they’re trying to do.

Which Judith Krantz Novels Were Adapted Into Films?

9 Answers

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