RARA-AVIS: Re: The Chandler followers and...

From: Channing ( filmtroll@sbcglobal.net)
Date: 09 Dec 2007


> Since we are talking about Chandler anyway, it occurred to me that
> Chandler's work was too personal, too dependent on his enormous
> writing ability, to allow for successful imitation.

I don't know if I'd call it "imitation", more like inspiration, but James Crumley has acknowledged his debt to Chandler. "Last Good Kiss" is essentially a re-working of the plot of "The Long Goodbye." He's got the humor, explosions of violence, cynical tough talking private eye. Crumley's trick was to move his private eye out of the city into Montana, grizzle him up some more and give him a bulldog that drinks beer.

The later Crumley books aren't in the same league but "Last Good Kiss" is certainly Chandler-fied noir.

--Chan



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