classics with multiple versions-pick best

Here are some multiples I have seen:
War and Peace American with Audrey Hepburn, Mel Ferrer and Henry Fonda
English with Anthony Hopkins as Pierre
Russian with serge Bondarchuk directing and also as Pierre (I loved them all)

Anna Karenina with Garbo and later with Vivien Leigh -I vote for Vivien

Pride and Prejudice with Greer Garson and Lawrence Olivier
English with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (I liked this best)
English again with Keira Knightly
(there is another English one)

Don't forget Bride and Prejudice, the Bollywood version!

Most of the Jane Austens have multiples - i.e. Emma
Emma with Gwyneth Palrow
Clueless (which I actually prefer)
about a zillion British versions I haven't seen as well

And while not a classic, there is Fever Pitch
British version with Colin Firth
American version with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon (which, in an unusual case, I prefer over the British version!)

There are multiple versions of Jane Eyre, one with William Hurt, another with Orson Welles - I've seen both, but it's been awhile, not sure which I prefer. There are many other versions of that as well.

There are multiple versions of Pygmalion, film and TV.

Pygmalion 1938 - Leslie Howard,Wendy Hiller
Pygmalion 1963 (TV) - James Donald, Julie Harris
My Fair Lady 1964 - Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn
Pygmalion 1983 (TV) - Peter O'Toole, Margot Kidder

Who could resist Audrey Hepburn's "I'm a good girl I am"? Just out of interest does anyone think the movie "Pretty Woman" is in any way based on Pygmalion?

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Actually, there are two different Garbo versions of Anna Karenina, one of which, called Love has a happy ending. But it had the best clothes.

#3-There is another Pygmalion with Lynn Redgrave as Eliza and she does 'Marry Freddy'. I got it in a bundle of Shaw Dvd's which includes Mrs. Warren's Profession, The Millionairess, Arms and the Man, and The Devil's Disciple.

There are two movies made from Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I liked the last one best (199?). The one from the 1930's is black and white and not so visually beautiful.

Little Women. I didn't see the last version so I can't speak about it. I like the Hepburn one better than the others I've seen. But it is fun to see young Liz Taylor, etc.

Not sure if this is necessarily a classic in the sense you're thinking, but there are two very distinct versions of the Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe. The first done by the BBC and almost an exact page to screen adaptation. The second, of course, being the recent Disney creation. Personally, I prefer the BBC production, its truer to the book, and while its not special effects savy (it was shot in the '80's in a sort of stage play style), it is much more concerned with sticking to the original plot than the Disney version. Although, honestly the Disney version tends to get more of a reaction out of me. For some reason I can't watch the scene of Edmund getting stabbed in the gut by the white witch without cringing and crying.

ITV has been resurrecting Austen novels! My picks are:

Pride and Prejudice - BBC v.
Emma - Gwyneth Paltrow v. (more comedic than the BBC adaptation)
Persuasion - ITV v. with Rupert Penry Jones
Hamlet - Mel Gibson v.
Oliver Twist - the one with Elijah Wood
The Count of Monte Cristo - Jim Caviezel/Guy Pierce v.

not sure if these can be considered classics:
The Little Princess - Shirley Temple v.
Helen of Troy - Hallmark Channel v.

I think I prefer the Alfonso Cuarón version of Little Princess better.

BUT I am annoyed that both versions reunite Sara with her father, which doesn't happen in the book.

>8 dancerinthedark: BBC haven't made a version of Emma for thirty years, the other recent version of "Emma" with Kate Beckinsale was made ITV.
It's a fair bet if BBC make the series it will be better than ITV - they just do it better, with more care, more attention to detail. The ITV version of "Persuasion" mentioned above has one of the worst changes to an ending of any classic adaptation.

The best version of The Count of Monte Cristo is the French one with Gerald Depardieu but they screwed up the ending - at least the Richard Chamberlain version got that right.

Why do filmmakers change endings so much? Are they ever improved?