-----Original Message-----
>From: jimdohertyjr <
jimdohertyjr@yahoo.com>
>Sent: Nov 7, 2007 8:38 PM
>To:
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RARA-AVIS: Re: Chandler's The Lady in the
Lake
>
>William,
>
>Re your comments below:
>
>> Are you amazed that Spillane fans *might* like
the
>> film version of "Kiss Me, Deadly" or Philip K
Dick
>> fans *might* like "Bladerunner"?
>
>Despite Robert Aldrich's assertion that he intended
KISS ME DEADLY to
>be an "anti-Spillane" film, it was faithul to
Spillane's vision in
>more respects than it was unfaithful. Meeker's
version of Hammer,
>though something of a brute rather than a driven
avenger,
>nevertheless brought out Hammer's determination, his
skill at combat,
>his loyalty to friends, and his affection for Velda.
Hammer may have
>been depicted in less flattering terms than Spillane
intended, but he
>wasn't ransformed into an inconsequential nebbish
like Gould's
>Marlowe was. Ultimately, according to those who knew
Spillane well,
>even Spillane eventually admitted that Meeker's was
the best
>depiction of his character.
>
>So, no, it doesn't amaze me that Spillane fans might
like Aldrich's
>version of KISS ME DEADLY, but I don't think the two
cases are
>comparable.
>>
Jim, who are these nameless people who supposedly knew
Spillane so well that you can speak for him through their
words? Not long before Mickey died he was interviewed for a
documentary on A. I. Bezzerides who wrote the screenplay for
Kiss Me Deadly and he stated that he STILL hated the film and
thought it had little or nothing to do with his book.
(And for the record, it appears that it was Bezzerides who
initially really hated the source material and wanted to do
an "anti-Spillane" adaptation of the book - this comes from
Bezzerides himself, not just people "who knew him
well.")
Now maybe Mickey somehow enjoyed Meeker's performance in
spite of hating the film, but it would be nice if you
provided some sort of real documentation to back up your
statement. Like some direct quotes from Mickey himself.
Nevertheless, if the question is did he like the movie and
did he think it represented his book, the answer to that
would be the same as it always was for Spillane: "No."
But you are right about one thing: These two cases are not
comparable. In the case of KISS ME DEADLY we have all the
parties on record as to their opinions of the various
versions of work we are discussing.
In the case of THE LONG GOODBYE, we have only your opinion of
the film to go on since Chandler was long dead before it was
made and you've decided to speak for him (repeatedly). Plus
your repeated misquotings of what Altman himself said about
his intentions when approaching the material. And now you are
also repeating your old material about Altman's parents' sex
life. Not sure why you're obsessed with that, but...
"It's okay by me."
TL
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