MovieChat Forums > Dead Again (1991) Discussion > scenario from a stolen story

scenario from a stolen story

posted 17 years ago by fffrancesco
11 replies | jump to latest

Actually, a few years after having seen the movie (1991) I happened to read a book called Always, written by Trevor Meldal-Johnsen. What struck me was that the scenario of the film was very similar to that book in many many details. But the book had not been written and published prior to the film (at least 1983). I happened to be in contact with the author (now deceased) and told him about that. He admitted that it was indeed his story that had been stolen but at the time he was a bit broke and could not afford to start a litigation.

But read the book (one can find it on the web), it is far far more interesting than the film which nevertheless was not a bad movie. Kenneth Brannagh did a great job.

You will be struck by the many similarities between the two. No doubt that the film was inspired by the book. A pity that the author was not credited nor awarded for it. It's quite dishonest to have done such a thing: take away someone's idea and not give the real source. Not mentioning the fees the author never got. Maybe it killed him in the end.

[–] MoneyMagnet 17 years ago

Plagiarism is very hard to prove... there has to be evidence that the screenwriter actually read the book in question, for one thing.

Most plagiarism suits are brought by not-wildly-successful authors who delude themselves into thinking that everyone in the world, including the screenwriter "must have read my book and then stolen it." Which is part of the reason why most plagiarism suits fail. Usually these authors can produce no believable evidence that the "thief" actually ever came in contact with their work.

The most famous plagiarism suit that did get decided in favor of the plaintiff involved George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord..." and in court it was found that there was indeed a specific incident (of Harrison's session player playing a riff from "He's So Fine" in the studio) that they could trace the "lift" back to.

And I suspect if you read a lot of romance/police novels by obscure authors you would find ideas that were in DEAD AGAIN cropping up over and over. (Bet there are a whole lot of plagiarism suits waiting in the wings against the late Trevor Meldal Johnsen!)

[–] fffrancesco 17 years ago

Dear Martisco, you have not read what I wrote: I read the book and found so many coincidental details that I - and nobody else suggested that to me before I was convinced of it - say it is plagiarism. When the author confirmed it to me, it was just another conviction added to mine. He did not influence my opinion about it.

I, and nobody else, claim that this is plagiary. So please do not bring about these generalities on the subject of plagiarism. You are right: in many cases, it is preposterous to say a work has been plagiarized.

But I am talking something specific, not generalities.

You have just to read the book and make your own opinion. You will come to the same conclusions as me, that's all !

And enjoy the book, because it is enjoyable !

[–] MoneyMagnet 17 years ago

I wouldn't come to the conclusion that it's plagiarism unless I had hard evidence that Scott Frank, the writer of DEAD AGAIN, had actually read the book.

Have you got some sort of evidence of that?

[–] fffrancesco 17 years ago

I was not there behind him every day to check what he was reading...

But aren't you curious enough to find out by yourself in reading the book ?

[–] mizhu 17 years ago

I'm definitely curious enough about reading that book now. Thanks fffrancesco.

[–] MoneyMagnet 17 years ago

Crying "plagiarism" is a great way to lift flagging book sales, it would seem. :-)

[–] Mr_Nyar 17 years ago

He says is easy to download the book from the net, so you don´t have to pay anything, just read the book and then tell us what you thing...

[–] westy42 17 years ago

Check out Trevor Meldal Johnsen in IMDB. It will lead to the film "Déjà Vu" that is credited as an adaptation of his novel "Always."

[–] MrsStarkhadder 17 years ago

Dead Again is one of my favorite movies so I will have to check out the book. Thanks for the info!

[–] cookiet74 17 years ago

I just finished the book..........although they were both about reincarnation, there's no way that the film and the book have any other similarities........good book though

[–] starkrazi 13 years ago

they did make a movie of the book Always..Deja Vu