By Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Bibliophiles love libraries, and bookstores, for lots of reasons. A huge building, filled with books, bursting with information and stories just waiting to be discovered. Knowing it’s there, and being overwhelmed by it, is part of the excitement.
Bibliophiles also love everything about books. We love the smell of old books and new books. We love looking at marbled endpapers. We love finding forgotten bookmarks tucked into pages and the scent of wood polish. We love thinking about books and sniffing books.
These are some of my favorite libraries and bookstores depicted on film.
Funny Face (1954)
Audrey Hepburn works in a bookstore that stocks esoteric philosophical titles. She is dowdy and mousey (as much as Audrey Hepburn can be) and loves to organize the store. She is quite annoyed with the camera crew and set designers that show up and make light of her work. The store becomes the setting for the musical number, “How Long Has This Been Goin’ On?”
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
As Indiana Jones, Marcus, and Dr. Schneider follow the clues to find the Holy Grail, they end up in a library in Venice. They cross reference the notes in grail diary and begin searching the beautiful historic building with tall stacks of antique books. This sequence also features one of the funnier jokes of the trilogy.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
I’m definitely not the first to covet the Beast’s library. I’m not advocating for kidnapping or imprisoning young women because you are cranky, but at least Belle was an avid reader with access to an amazing collection. If your library needs stairs to reach the second story of books, you’re doing something right.
Ghostbusters (1998)
The classic ‘80s comedy starts in the esteemed New York Public Library. The eponymous heroes are called to investigate and clear a supernatural disturbance wandering in the basement. After witnessing a spirit empty the card catalog, they see a librarian just looking for some peace and quiet. It would have been nice if they could have let her stay and catch up on some reading, now that she has unlimited time.
Music Man (1962)
Meredith Wilson’s musical is enjoying a popular revival on Broadway with Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman. But if you can’t make it to Times Square, the classic film with Shirley Jones is available. Jones plays a stern librarian, with her own song (“Marian the Librarian”) set in a small town library branch. Don’t we all wish our local library had spiral staircases?
Clue (1985)
It might be the least reverent use of a library, but it’s no less enjoyable. Loosely based on the board game, this cult classic brings together a group of strangers who begin dying one by one. It’s hilarious and more than one important scene takes place in the mansion’s understated library.
Se7en (1995)
I know it’s a masterpiece, but I’ve only watched Se7en once. There was no one particular scene, just a general queasiness. That was enough for me. And I do recall a couple of pivotal scenes in a library as the detectives are both tracking the murderer’s check out history (not legal, by the way) and do their own research on the Seven Deadly Sins. It’s kind of amazing how Fincher can make photocopies seem creepy.
The Bookshop (2018)
Maybe it’s cheating a bit—after all, “bookshop” is in the name, but I feel like this movie was criminally overlooked. Emily Mortimer buys an abandoned storefront in a small English village and opens a bookstore, much to the frustration of the local gentlewoman who believes anything cultural should come from her. Like Chocolat, it’s heartwarming and funny and genuine. And there are so many beautiful books to be admired.
What are your favorite books on film?
Meaghan Walsh Gerard has been writing about films (especially classic ones) and books (especially gothic ones) for more than ten years on her site. She is obsessed with the art of storytelling and holds a master’s degree in cinema studies. Meaghan has been a DVD Netflix member since 2003. Follow Meaghan at mwgerard.com, on Twitter @mwgerard, or Facebook and Instagram.