Re: RARA-AVIS: W. R. Burnett's "Dark Hazard" (1933)

From: Allan Guthrie (allan@allanguthrie.co.uk)
Date: 01 Jul 2009

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    Thanks for the link to the clip, Kari. Enjoyed that. Burnett looks nothing like the only photo of him that I've seen.

    Al

    ----- Original Message ----- From: "prosperena" <prosperena@yahoo.com>

    > In deciding which of Burnett's novels to read after "Little Caesar," I
    > noticed an 11 Jan 2009 post from RA member Allan Guthrie recommending
    > "Dark Hazard" as a "stand out." Just finished it and agree completely.
    > Burnett writes with a detached sympathy for all his characters, from the
    > easy-going, irresponsible gambler Jim Turner to his conventional,
    > stick-in-the-mud wife Marg. Jim's love for the racing greyhound Dark
    > Hazard, the real center of the story, is touching without
    > sentimentalization. The narrative moves neatly along and Burnett's spare
    > descriptions of place are nevertheless evocative. His descriptions of
    > greyhound races are vivid and realistic. I guess they should be; Burnett
    > owned the dog that co-starred in the 1934 Warner Bros. adaptation of the
    > novel. Check out the "Dark Hazard" trailer at tcm.com:
    > http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=144881&titleId=2885
    > to see W. R. Burnett himself along with the film's co-stars Edward G.
    > Robinson and Burnett's own record-holding racing greyhound War Cry as they
    > "casually" run into each other in the "Hollywood Book Store."
    >
    > Kari E. Johnson



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