Filmography › Cornell Woolrich

All the books by Cornell Woolrich adapted to cinema and television, ranked

The works by Cornell Woolrich, known for titles such as It Had to Be Murder or Waltz Into Darkness, have been adapted several times to cinema and television.
Below, we present a ranked list, from best to worst, of 2 movies and TV series based on titles by Cornell Woolrich. Revisit old favorites or discover hidden gems, whether books or film productions. We invite you to watch, read, and vote for any title, joining the debate of whether the book or the movie is better.
Rear Window. Poster of the 1954 movie and cover of the 1942 book, It Had to Be Murder
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It Had to Be Murder
Cornell Woolrich, 1942
movie vs book
Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock, 1954

Recuperating from a broken leg, adventuresome professional photographer L. B. Jeff Jefferies is confined to a wheelchair in his apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan. He spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.

Original Sin. Poster of the 2001 movie and cover of the 1947 book, Waltz into Darkness
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Waltz Into Darkness
Cornell Woolrich, 1947
movie vs book
Original Sin
Michael Cristofer, 2001

Luis Vargas sends for American Julia Russell from Delaware to sail to his country Cuba to be his mail-order bride. Julia explains she wants more than a man who is only interested in a pretty face and that is why she has been deceptive—substituting a plain-looking woman’s photo in place of her own picture.