I definitely lucked out in encountering Sutcliff before Renault. (And it was definitely luck, the school library just happened to have them shelved in the corner where I hid during lunch so the teachers wouldn't ask if I had a library pass.)

I think the movie simplified some things but actually added good complexity to others? But in a way that combined made the canon ending less satisfying to me. IDK, I should probably actually watch the film! :D