7

The movie The Running Man (1987) is based on the Stephen King Novel The Running Man (1982).

The movie Das Millionenspiel (1970) is based on the short story "The Prize of Peril" (1960). (The movie The 10th victim (1965) is also based on the short story)

I have seen both movies, but I must admit, I did not read the stories. The movies have the same base story, a game show with a charismatic host where a candidate is hunted by some people and must try to survive, with strong media criticism.

Is there also such a strong similarity in the books?

Also, was King inspired by the older movie or short story, did he just copy the idea, or is the similarity by accident? Did King or the makers of the movie ever admit the influence of the older story/movie?

Improve this question
3
  • 2
    One minor point - While King wrote the books, they were originally published under the pen name "Richard Bachman", due to industry stereotypes of the time. He treats Bachman as a separate person, the history of it is pretty interesting.
    – JohnP
    Commented Sep 3, 2015 at 17:54
  • 2
    Also, "The 10th Victim" is not based on "The Prize of Peril", but rather the story "The Seventh Victim" (also by Sheckley).
    – Organic Marble
    Commented Sep 3, 2015 at 18:52
  • 2
    Note that the movie The Running Man is not at all similar to the book; it borrows some of the names, and they are both set in a dystopian society, and that's pretty much it.
    – Harry Johnston
    Commented Sep 3, 2015 at 22:25

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
12

From a discussion on Amazon, from a commenter named E. Martin Olson (possibly this fellow who collaborated with Sheckley on a book):

Bob Sheckley told me he was surprised at Running Man because it was so close to The Prize of Peril. Sheckley said King was apparently a fan of his, so I asked Bob how he handled it. He said he wrote out a list of all the similarities between the two stories and then called King on the phone. He said King was surprised and said he didn't remember reading The Prize of Peril. Sheckley really had nowhere to go after that and the conversation was over. Sheckley didn't characterize King as a thief or as not as nice guy, but he told me King probably read it and forgot about it, and then was too embarrassed because he'd accidentally stolen from Sheckley, a writer he liked.

I don't believe that King (even under the Bachman pen name) ever commented publicly on the similarities.

Improve this answer
1
  • A classic Dale Snitterman situation.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Commented Sep 3, 2015 at 19:20

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.