Learn English – Movie/Book {by/from/of}

prepositionsword-choice

Which is the best way to say that a movie is directed by someone, or a book is written by someone? (without saying directed and written).

One of my favourite movies is Indiana Jones by/from/of Lucas.

I enjoyed reading The Stranger by/from/of Camus.

Best Answer

Usual custom dictates that the author of a book is the one who owns it and the director of a movie is the one who owns and the choreographer of a dance is the one who *owns** it

Lucas' Indiana Jones
Camus' The Stranger
Balanchine's The Nutcraker

in the above, different versions would be referred to by the owners name

Teacher: So class,what did you think of The Stranger?
Student: Which one?

Orson Welles' The Stranger
Guillermo Amoedo's The Stranger
Robert Leiberman's The Stranger

are all different films with the same title.

Which Nutcracker are they doing this year?

Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Petipa's The Nutcracker
San Francisco Ballet's The Nutcracker
Ballet Scotland's The Nutcracker

are different versions of the same dance.

To say that something is by someone might lead to some ambiguity of what's being referred to since movies can be based on a story in a book

P1: In Cold Blood is by Richard Brooks
P2: No its not, it's by Truman Capote
P1: I was talking about the movie
P2: But the book is much better

In Cold Blood directed by Richard Brooks based on a story by Truman Capote

has no ambiguity.

In movies there is the added layer of a screenwriter who's name might be used if they happen to be famous.

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