TERRILL LANKFORD (TOLANKFORD@webtv.net)
Wed, 1 Sep 1999 12:11:39 -0700 (PDT)
I've been lurking, swamped with work and wanting to post on
many of the subjects brought up in the last few weeks but
just too damn busy. Etienne's concerns about the influences
of my book Angry Moon have jolted me out of my stupor.
First I'd like to thank Mark Sullivan for his very kind words
about the book. Angry Moon is a mix of hardboiled noir and
the supernatural. It is definitely not for everyone. When
someone discovers the book and appreciates it for what it was
intended to be, I am very pleased. To stick their neck out
with a review like that is no small feat. Mark, you made my
day. Thanks again.
As to the origin of the plot which "troubled" Etienne: Angry
Moon is a novel I wrote in 1990, long before my "first" novel
SHOOTERS. Angry Moon was based on a screenplay I completed in
1986 that circulated quite heavily in Hollywood in 1987
attached to a director friend of mine. We had a number of
offers on the script but they did not want the director
involved. My deal with the director precluded selling the
script separately so the material was stuck in limbo. I
decided to turn it into a novel.
I sold Angry Moon to the publisher, FORGE, in 1992. A series
of savage publishing cluster fu#ks then occurred, keeping the
book from seeing publication until 1997. SHOOTERS actually
leap frogged it and became my debut novel, even though it was
written five years after Angry Moon.
(This wonderful experience in the land of books is why I have
returned to writing movies. I didn't think I could find a
place more screwed up than Hollywood, but then I dealt with
the publishing industry. New York has Hollywood beat by a
country mile when it comes to screw ups.)
As to the influences on the story, specifically the hitman
targeting his mentor theme (which is really only a gimmick in
Angry Moon so we can learn more about the target through the
protagonist's previous experience with him) I can honestly
say I've never seen or even heard of MAX AND JEREMY or the
book it is based on. Considering that the screenplay of Angry
Moon was based on the first or second thing I ever tried to
write way back in the mid-seventies I have a feeling I was
more heavily influenced by THE MECHANIC or any number of
Charlie Bronson/Clint Eastwood flicks. (Maybe the creators of
MAX AND JEREMY caught those matinees too?) Nevertheless, that
element of the plot is the least original. Hopefully there
are some fresh surprises for the reader along the way. I was
also influenced by horror movies, which I loved as a child,
and wanted to blend the two genres. I actually thought it
would be simpler to pull off than it was. Very naive.
What can I say? Etienne, just buy the darn thing from Amazon
or wherever then give us your take AFTER you've read it,
okay? I'd like to hear your opinion. And I'm dying to know
who wins the grudge match of the century listed in your log
line "Angry Moon vs Max and Jeremy." Dig it!
While I'm here I'd like to chime in with further praise of
Joe Lansdale's FREEZER BURN. It's a wild ride. Joe's touring
with the book right now so be on the lookout for him if
you're into autographs and good conversation.
And there was a lot of discussion going on about Richard
Fleischer and his movies at the exact same time they were
running a week-long retrospective of his work at the Egyptian
theater in Hollywood. Fleischer appeared every night and many
luminaries he worked with dropped in and spoke to the
audience as well.
I could only go one night. They had a double feature of
FANTASTIC VOYAGE and SOYLENT GREEN. They were both terrific.
Fleischer looks heathy for 80+ and was very sharp, very funny
when he spoke. Leonard Rosenman
(who composed the music for FANTASTIC VOYAGE) joined him on
stage after FV. Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young and Dick
Van Patten joined Fleischer to introduce SOYLENT GREEN. (Van
Patten has a very small role in the film.) When asked by
someone in the audience what flaws SOYLENT GREEN had,
Fleischer dryly replied "Dick Van Patten." The audience
roared with laughter.
The print of SOYLENT GREEN was freshly struck by Warner's
(who owns the rights to MGM's library courtesy of Ted Turner)
and it was beautiful. Hopefully they will play it around the
country at colleges and special screenings. SOYLENT GREEN is
a practically forgotten classic. It's every bit as visionary,
in its own way, as BLADE RUNNER was eight years later and
probably more important.
Fleischer may well be the undiscovered king of Hard Boiled
films
(although Robert Aldrich probably has him beat). Even in
films such as FANTASTIC VOYAGE, THE VIKINGS and SOYLENT GREEN
the prevailing attitude and atmosphere is Hard Boiled. I am
going to seek out his older, more obscure work. His book,
JUST TELL ME WHEN TO CRY, was remaindered a few years ago.
Buy it if you can. It's fascinating reading.
Sorry for the long post. It's tough to catch up.
TL
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