To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is voted best film adaptation of all time 2nd June 2006 – The Book Marketing Society, in association with The Guardian, today announced the results of a national poll to find the best ever film adaptation. The winner, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was announced, along with the top ten film adaptations out of an original list of 50, at The Guardian Hay Festival 2006. The public voted online on Guardian Unlimited for their best ever film adaptation. With To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee coming in first place, the public’s top ten favourite adaptations were: To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee (Random) One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey (Penguin) Blade Runner (Do androids dream of electric sheep) – Philip K. Dick (Orion) The Godfather – Mario Puzo (Random) The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro (Faber) Kes (Kestrel for a Knave) – Barry Hines (Penguin) Apocalypse Now (Heart of Darkness) – Joseph Conrad (OUP) The Shawshank Redemption (Different Seasons) – Steven King (Hodder) LA Confidential – James Elroy (Random) Brokeback Mountain (Close Range) – Annie Proulx (HK) A recent survey conducted by the Book Marketing Society through BML/YouGov to ascertain people’s perceptions of film adaptations found that only 39 of people said that they preferred to read the book before they saw a film adaptation. Just 7 preferred to see a film before reading the book. On Saturday 3rd June 11.30am, a panel at The Guardian Hay Festival will discuss the winner of this national poll, as well as the other top ten film adaptations as voted for by the public.