Jim B.,
Re your message below:
> Laying aside the opposition some may have to
the
> notion of adapting stories
> to the screen, I would like to know what stories
or
> novels of years past
> members of this group think should have been
filmed
> or would make good
> movies now. In particular I'm thinking of
more
> obscure properties that
> might likely be available for option rather than
the
> latest John Grisham
> (not that anyone here would suggest
Grisham!)
This one's pretty easy for me, because I just happened to be
thinking about it. In fact, I alluded to it in the e-book I
wrote for that Chandler course I mentioned a few posts
back.
Raymond Chandler's PLAYBACK is the only currently unfilmed
Marlowe novel. All of the others, even POODLE SPINGS which,
for practical purposes, he didn't even write, have been
filmed at least once.
Now no one would claim that PLAYBACK is Chandler's most
shining moment as a crime novelist, but, after all, even bad
Chandler is still better than, say, good Michael
Avallone.
The most interesting thing about PLAYBACK being the only
unfilmed Chandler novel, is that it's the only novel
originally conceived as a movie project. Chandler originally
wrote it as a screenplay for Universal in the late '40's. In
its original version, it was set in Canada, and the guy who
solved the crime was a Canadian police detective. Marlowe
wasn't present. Ultimately, Universal decided not to go ahead
with the film. Years later, Chandler salvaged the material by
novelizing the script, changing the setting to LA, and
more-or-less inserting Marlowe into the Canadian cop's
role.
The unproduced screenplay was published as a book with a
forward by Robert B. Parker some years ago. I've never read
the original script, so I'm not sure how many changes
Chandler made when he novelized it. But if it's essentially
the same as the book, perhaps all you'd have to do is a
slight revision, changing the setting, and inserting Marlowe
(and maybe beefing up his role a bit; my understanding is
that the cop doesn't come into the story 'til fairly late).
That way you could share credit with Raymond Chandler!
Collaborating with Chandler. Wouldn't THAT be something to
write home about!
JIM DOHERTY
PS As with Mario, your wife has my deepest sympathies. I'll
keep her in prayer.
JD
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