Endless Ends

[hotwords229_A]

Way ahead of you, my good man! Part 2 is playing.

Part 2 Jason was the best Jason—in my opinion.

 

[Endless_Night]

I ate two entire pralines earlier. My version of hair of the dog. Talk about a sugar coma.

*rearranges cold washrag on my forehead*

Urrrgh….


So. Satan Met a Lady (1936). Apparently Betty Davis was unhappy with the film and it's easy to see why. Oddly, this version, made to pass the Code, was still far racier than the 1941 offering. Several plot changes and completely unmemorable, but curious to see Betty Davis so young!

The Maltese Falcon (1941). Ahhhhhhh. As it should be.

I found it interesting that both TMF films followed the same plot and even lifted much of the dialog from the original story, yet were completely different films. COMPLETELY! The casting in this one sang, not to mention the suspense. Partly due to this version actually being film noir, unlike the earlier films.

Most of Hammet's writing centered on The Continental Op. Sam Spade showed up in very little of his writing, yet he is the character that endures. I blame Humphrey Bogart.

Seriously.

I always struggle to differentiate between his role in TMF and his Philip Marlow in The Big Sleep (1946). Even though there are numerous Chandler adaptions and Bogart only played the character once. He just makes an impact with his own peculiar intensity.

I guess that's why he's considered iconic.

 

[Endless_Night]

It's official. I was meant to be the heroine in a Mary Stewart romantic suspense novel.

I'll take Wildfire at Midnight. The Isle of Skye, mountaineering, murder. Toss in a little philosophy and pagan mythology and *boom* you have yourself some suspense!

Besides, who doesn't like the isolated island equivalent of a good locked-room style mystery?

Besides, besides, she always has interesting words and phrases: scree, preux chevalier, wether, greaves and cuirasses, needfire, and a mhic a diabhail.

*nods vigorously*

That last one means son of the devil.

 

[JennyNo1]

It's official. I was meant to be the heroine in a Mary Stewart romantic suspense novel.

I'll take Wildfire at Midnight. The Isle of Skye, mountaineering, murder. Toss in a little philosophy and pagan mythology and *boom* you have yourself some suspense!

Besides, who doesn't like the isolated island equivalent of a good locked-room style mystery?

Besides, besides, she always has interesting words and phrases: scree, preux chevalier, wether, greaves and cuirasses, needfire, and a mhic a diabhail.

*nods vigorously*

That last one means son of the devil.

Accckkk! Another one of my favorite 'older' authors! I even have this one in my bookcase; I haven't read it in ages, but I remember it being really good. Remember "The Moon-Spinners", that was made into, I think, a Disney movie with Haley Mills? (I may have that totally wrong, but I remember a scene with windmills...) And The Merlin books (The Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills, Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day) are among my favorite books ever.

 

[Endless_Night]

Accckkk! Another one of my favorite 'older' authors! I even have this one in my bookcase; I haven't read it in ages, but I remember it being really good. Remember "The Moon-Spinners", that was made into, I think, a Disney movie with Haley Mills? (I may have that totally wrong, but I remember a scene with windmills...) And The Merlin books (The Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills, Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day) are among my favorite books ever.

She is another pull from the parental bookcase. I've read most of her earlier romantic suspense (supposedly the best) but it's been FOREVER. Somehow I missed reading the Merlin books. I'm not sure how, as I believe those were around, but it is so.

Her writing is just so good. So well written. Atmospheric settings and interesting plots like the classical dressage in Airs Above the Ground. Or Nine Coaches Waiting, with it's epigraphs and Easter eggs peppering the plot and struchture. I easter eggs.

Rediscovering these makes me sad how far the romantic suspense genre has fallen. *shakes head woefully*

And, yes! There was a Disney version of The Moon-Spinners starring Haley Mills!

It is nothing like the book.

 

[JennyNo1]

She is another pull from the parental bookcase. I've read most of her earlier romantic suspense (supposedly the best) but it's been FOREVER. Somehow I missed reading the Merlin books. I'm not sure how, as I believe those were around, but it is so.

Her writing is just so good. So well written. Atmospheric settings and interesting plots like the classical dressage in Airs Above the Ground. Or Nine Coaches Waiting, with it's epigraphs and Easter eggs peppering the plot and struchture. I easter eggs.

Rediscovering these makes me sad how far the romantic suspense genre has fallen. *shakes head woefully*

And, yes! There was a Disney version of The Moon-Spinners starring Haley Mills!

It is nothing like the book.

"Atmospheric," yes, that's a good word for it. Such magical settings she chose - Greece, Isle of Skye, Provence, Corfu, Wales. Thornyhold I bet you would like -"With its reputation for magic and its resident black cat, Thornyhold offers..." from the Amazon review. BTW, have you read Frenchman's Creek (back to du Maurier)? I reread it last year, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, modern writing can't hold a candle to that of the older stuff like these. The good thing is, the old stuff will always be around. I only started reading any newer stuff a couple of years ago when I got a Kindle, and then just because I can get a lot of stuff free through Prime Reading.

That said, I did read one called Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg that was fun - a different twist on the rules and role of magic in the Victorian era. From her other titles, I think the author's other works are in the same vein. This was the first in a series, so I have to wait 'til next year for the second one, a fact I didn't realize.

 

[Endless_Night]

I have not read Frenchman's Creek. The only du Maurier books I've read are Rebecca, My Cousin Rachael, and Jamaica Inn (I think).

It looks like there is a movie version of Frenchman's Creek. Also - like Rebecca - starring Joan Fontaine. Two degrees.

The blurb for Spellbreaker sounds interesting. It reminds me - vaguely - of the Cecelia and Kate books. Except these were YA and set in Edwardian England. Hmm. Maybe not so similar. More just the twist on the usual rules and universes of magic. This trio is probably too light to entertain you, but I found them a rather unique take on the epistolatory novel. The only books I've read in letter game style.

That is one of the reasons I enjoy Mary Stewart books so well, I think. She handles fantasy and suspense with equal deftness.

 

[Endless_Night]

A recent conversation while child minding a four+ year old who likes to *doctor* people.

Them: That’s a terrible scratch on your leg.
Me: Can you fix it, doctor?
Them: I don’t know. It looks really bad.
Me: Oh. Okay. How bad?
Them: I think maybe, it’s going to fall off.
Me: What?! The leg?!
Them: Yeah.
Me:

Admittedly, I had just fallen off a four foot wall into a bank of azaleas and was hardly in pristine shape, but that bedside manner needs some work!

 

[hotwords229_A]

Did you ever read The Birds by Daphne du Maurier? I’ve always wondered if it was anything like the movie.

 

[Endless_Night]

Did you ever read The Birds by Daphne du Maurier? I’ve always wondered if it was anything like the movie.

I have not.

But as I am now highly curious, I'll have a different answer by late tonight or tomorrow.

#shouldhavebeenbornacat

 

[JennyNo1]

Did you ever read The Birds by Daphne du Maurier? I’ve always wondered if it was anything like the movie.

I read it a long long time ago. As I recall, it bore little to no similarity to the movie. It was creepier.

 

[Endless_Night]

*votes with Jenny*

The short story was nothing like the movie. NOTHING. Honestly, I don't think a single movie character appeared in the original writing! And, Holy Cats, my respect for du Maurier's writing went up another notch. I did not know she wrote horror.

Fantasy, Suspense, and horror. Quite the trifecta!

It seems most of her short stories are horror? Who knew?

The Birds was good. Not what I was expected, but good.

 

[hotwords229_A]

I read it a long long time ago. As I recall, it bore little to no similarity to the movie. It was creepier.

*votes with Jenny*

The short story was nothing like the movie. NOTHING. Honestly, I don't think a single movie character appeared in the original writing! And, Holy Cats, my respect for du Maurier's writing went up another notch. I did not know she wrote horror.

Fantasy, Suspense, and horror. Quite the trifecta!

It seems most of her short stories are horror? Who knew?

The Birds was good. Not what I was expected, but good.

Creepier? More respect for the author? Now I have to read it!

 

[Endless_Night]

First: Jenny! Is that a new Xmas AV? Sexy.

Second: Another novel that spawned movie adaptions. A Kiss Before Dying, Ira Levine (1953).

I talked about the book a little in Fermina’s book thread, here. It reads like a noir, but it’s not, or, at least I don’t think it is, not technically. The construction is just so cleverly done. Twisty, too (if you don’t read spoilers), and the reveal is uniquely situated. It's dark. The clean prose and storyline drew me in, even though third POV is not, in my opinion, the most intimate style of writing.

Not only did the book win awards, it spawned two film adaptions. Two. Count ‘em, two!

That a seems to be a Levine thing. All but a couple of his novels have been made into films. (He wrote The Stepford Wives and Rosemary’s Baby, etc.)

The First Adaption (1956) featured a very young Robert Wagner. This one was rather good. There were a couple of plot changes, primarily reducing the number of sisters from three to two. The story lost a little, but all things considered, not too much. I still felt the flavor of the book transcribed to the screen.

Second Adaption (1991)….. Erm. I’ve seen it. Once. Forever ago. Meant to watch it again, but things have been crazy around here. Soon.

No really. Soon.

 

[Endless_Night]

Dear Universe,

Nine more days.

Nine.

Is it possible to make a deal? I promise to be good from now on. Like, forever and ever.

*pinky swear*



Endless

 

[hotwords229_A]

The problem with film noir is that I can’t remember them by name.
A Kiss Before Dying sounds like a movie I’ve seen, but the description doesn’t. I can’t tell you how many times I borrowed a noir movie from Netflix only to realize that I’d already watched it a few months earlier. That’s when I wished Netflix had a feature to tell me that I’ve already seen that DVD.

It seems you can take a group of “hard” words and string them together to come up with any noir title.

A Bullet for a Broad
A Scream in the Night
The Concrete Sidewalk
Shadows of Darkness
Her Deadliest Gun

Those could all be noir stories and their plots could be about anything!

Look no further than The Postman Always Rings Twice.

 

[Endless_Night]

< It seems you can take a group of “hard” words and string them together to come up with any noir title.

A Bullet for a Broad
A Scream in the Night
The Concrete Sidewalk
Shadows of Darkness
Her Deadliest Gun

Those could all be noir stories and their plots could be about anything!.>

For one hot second - that felt like an hour - I thought this was a list of film noir of which I had never heard.

I could not catch my breath.
Completely nonplussed.
Speechless.

(And let me just say that it’s that last one is not easy to accomplish. )


Hard words. Interesting. Not a concept that has occurred. Huh.

Noir films, completely off the top of my heard.

The Maltese Falcon
Strangers on a Train
Vertigo
Sunset Boulevard
Murder My Sweet
Laura?

 

[Endless_Night]

The Postman Always Rings Twice.

The Book.

Both Adaptations.

*becomes hysterical with appreciation*


OH. MY. GOD.

Speaking of James M. Cain:

Double Indemnity!!!

The Book.

The Movie.

BARBARA STANWYCK

I am not usually a huge Stanwyck fan, but her, in that character, in that movie. Has there ever been a better screen villainess? No. No, there has not. Oddly, this is one of the few (actually the only I can think of at the moment) instances where the film ending was better than the book ending.

*feels faint*

I think I might need to sit down.

 

[hotwords229_A]

For one hot second - that felt like an hour - I thought this was a list of film noir of which I had never heard.

I could not catch my breath.
Completely nonplussed.
Speechless.

(And let me just say that it’s that last one is not easy to accomplish. )


Hard words. Interesting. Not a concept that has occurred. Huh.

Noir films, completely off the top of my heard.

The Maltese Falcon
Strangers on a Train
Vertigo
Sunset Boulevard
Murder My Sweet
Laura?

All great movies!

I also like (probably) all of the Dan Duryea movies. That guy is awesome and the perfect noir villain.
Too Late for Tears (or Killer Bait) is a personal favorite.

Also, Double Indemnity is one of the very best of the best noir films. I love, love, love that one. I don’t remember how the book ended, but the movie is perfection. Postman is another great Cain book. Wish he had written more.

I’m not sure I ever saw the whole movie (Lana Turner), but I did see the Jack Nicholson/Jessica Lange movie. I like the book better.

 

[Endless_Night]

Double Indemnity really is perfect. Every move and look of Stanwyck. The crime. The slow erosion of trust….

*shiver*

Did you know it was nominated for 7 Academy Awards? And that Raymond Chandler co-wrote the screen play?

(I know because I just looked it up. )

Dude. The end of the book. I saw the film first, so had no idea the wrap up was different. It was a binge read for me, one of those that finishes up after midnight. The end took me by surprise.

I was awake until dawn.

< I also like (probably) all of the Dan Duryea movies. That guy is awesome and the perfect noir villain.
Too Late for Tears (or Killer Bait) is a personal favorite. >

Dan Duryea? Too Late for Tears?

I have not heard of either. How can this be?

*toodles off to google*

 

[JennyNo1]

I've been trying to look through the tv guides to catch my fav old Christmas movies and found It Happened on Fifth Avenue on Saturday and Holiday Affair and Christmas in Connecticut (again, with the sublime Ms. Stanwyck) on Sunday on TCM. Oddly, they're showing Bell, Book an Candle now instead of back at Halloween. BUT, while I was looking I saw that on Saturday The Maltese Falcon is on, and on Tuesday Dial M for Murder and Rear Window are on. Just in case anyone is still watching cable tv besides me.

 

[Endless_Night]

I've been trying to look through the tv guides to catch my fav old Christmas movies and found It Happened on Fifth Avenue on Saturday and Holiday Affair and Christmas in Connecticut (again, with the sublime Ms. Stanwyck) on Sunday on TCM. Oddly, they're showing Bell, Book an Candle now instead of back at Halloween. BUT, while I was looking I saw that on Saturday The Maltese Falcon is on, and on Tuesday Dial M for Murder and Rear Window are on. Just in case anyone is still watching cable tv besides me.

I like Dial M for Murder, but I LOVE Rear Window. The casting is just so freaking excellent. James Stewart and Grace Kelly had some spectacular chemistry. Thelma Ritter who darn near stole the show.

Too, it amuses me no end to see Raymond Burr as a villain. My only other viewing experience where he is concerned is when my mother watched Perry Mason reruns.

He was not a villain.

 

[Endless_Night]

Dan Duryea? Too Late for Tears?

I have not heard of either. How can this be?

*toodles off to google*

*returns*

Huh. I am surprised. Shocked, actually. Duryea's wiki page mentions at least six specific film noirs by name.

I have not heard of a single one….



Clearly there are holes in my film noir education. Clearly this must be rectified. You know, in the name of film noir research.

 

[hotwords229_A]

*returns*

Huh. I am surprised. Shocked, actually. Duryea's wiki page mentions at least six specific film noirs by name.

I have not heard of a single one….



Clearly there are holes in my film noir education. Clearly this must be rectified. You know, in the name of film noir research.

He is the King of the Sleazy-noirish-villain-guy roles.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Johnny Dangerously Joe Piscapo is basically doing a Duryea impression—spot on. https://youtu.be/YT4WRmQa0Zs

 

[Endless_Night]

Life has been crazy around these parts as of late. Not only have I yet to view Too Late For Tears (1949) with the estimable Mr. Duryea, and it's sort of companion film, Johnny Dangerously (1984), but I still haven't managed the second adaption of A Kiss Before Dying (1991).

My film noir education is suffering a set back. Which may continue for another full week. *wrings hands*

By the way, in a total aside, whatever happened to Michael Keaton and Joe Piscopo?


Tonight, I am spending my snatched hour of personal time listening to Trekka's sex podcast.

Because, priorities.