Normally contracts for books, scenarios... etc picked up by
Hollywood have a standard clause saying that if the producer
(studio, ... whatever) thinks fit they can "re-use" any
character of the story in future films with or without the
writers help... and in any context they decide.
So, in case of an existing and rather successful series of
books as it was the case with Parker, one understands easily
why the agents (or the writer himself, I'm not sure) did not
authorize the use of the original name of their "hero" for
the film. This led to Walker in the classic Point Blank(Jim
is right for the name). I suppose Porter's name followed the
same way (even maybe a double reason, as being not even
authorized to use Walker again in the new- and very inferior-
film).
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athrens/6384
--- Rene Ribic <
rribic@optusnet.com.au> wrote:
> >
> > > I think Parker was changed to
Porter
> > > in Point Blank because
> > > of copyright concerns.
> >
> > You may be right about the reasons for the
change,
> but
> > not about the change itslef. In the Lee
Marvin
> > version, POINT BLANK, the character
became
> "Walker"
> > not "Porter." The name was changed to "Porter"
in
> the
> > Mel Gibson remake, PAYBACK.
> >
> > JIM DOHERTY
> >
>
> IIRC, Westlake himself (or his agent) insists
on
> this - I believe it has
> something to do with being able to sell the
other
> books separately as
> movies. Somebody else on the list may be able
to
> correct or clarify me
> on this issue. (Usually it's Jim D himself
that
> performs this function
> but I guess that role will have to go to
someone
> else this time).
>
> Rene
>
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