The novel has been filmed twice. The original 1958 Hollywood film inverted the theme of the novel, turning it into an anti-communist tale instead of a cautionary story about American interventionism. The 2002 film version was true to the book. It was test-screened to positive audience reactions on September 10, 2001. However, the 9-11 event took place the next day, and audience ratings declined with each subsequent screening. Reacting to criticism of its "unpatriotic" message, Miramax shelved the film for a year.