Some history of Ross Thomas and Hollywood.
The only other film based on a Ross Thomas novel was ST IVES - a 70's
Charles Bronson film based on the Oliver Bleeck (and Ross Thomas pseudonym) novel
THE PROCANE CHRONICLE.
Mr Thomas also wrote many screenplay (unproduced) based on his films and
several original (also unproduced).
I had the opportunity to meet Mr Thomas several times and optioned TWILIGHT
AT MAC'S PLACE when I worked at Warner Brothers for a possible Warren Beatty /
Jack Nicholson project...Guess what? It never happened.
An original Ross Thomas screenplay JIMMY THE RUMOR is owned by Robert Evans
at Paramount. It told the story of a hitman who had no identity at all and
what happens when he falls in love with his latest hit. Jack was at one time
attached to that as well.
Fox at one time optioned THE FOOLS IN TOWN ARE ON OUR SIDE which told the
back story of Lucifer Dye and his upbringing at Shanghai Lilly's. Thomas also
wrote the screenplay.
Novelist Brian Garfield also had producing clout in Hollywood in the 70's.
One night over a poker game (with Donald Westlake and Ross Thomas) they
talked Ross into adapting THE SEERSUCKER WHIPSHAW into a screenplay. Ross did,
but instead of setting it in Africa he switched it to America and re-titled it
SPOILER. It even had two endings - one only less cynical that the other.
Columbia Pictures owns THE MONEY HARVEST, but nothing was ever done with it.
Ross also sold an original SIGNAL THE INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE to them but it
also was never made. Columbia doesn't have a copy of the script and the only
other existing copy perished (along with most of Ross's works) in a fire at
his Malibu home.
That was the main problem the studios had with Ross Thomas's work. They
found his characters so dark and cynical, it hard to root for anyone. Of
course that's what was so great about his work.
His works continue to be optioned today, so maybe there's still some hope.
Thanks.
Joe
In a message dated 12/13/2008 2:38:14 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net writes:
Dick wrote:
"Thomas wrote an original script for the interesting, very noir crime
movie Bad Company. Lawrence Fishburn is narrator and anti-hero."
And Ellen Barkin. Don't forget Ellen Barkin.
It's not a great film, but I really enjoyed it, as I think any Thomas
fan would. I also liked that they showed one of his books (forget which
one) on an end table in Fishburne's apartment.
Mark
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