Miami Blues

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

MIAMI BLUES by Charles Ray Willeford

I don't recall who recommended Willeford to me tho Elmore Leonard said NO ONE WRITES A BETTER CRIME NOVEL. True. Unfortunately Willeford wrote 4 Hoke Moseley hard crime novels just before he died in 1988; MIAMI BLUES was first in 1984. A fifth book exists in a private collection, but never published.

Hoke Moseley is a middle-age Miami homicide detective investigating the death of a Hare Krishna thief and the deaths of four people associated with Columbian drug smugglers. The Krishna dies of a broken finger, the Columbians are gunned down. Hoke Moseley is divorced and pays half his income for child support. He wears false teeth, lives in squalor at an old hotel, and fucks hookers who owe him favors. His cop associates aren't much better than Hoke.

The dead Krishna has a hooker sister he was screwing and made pregnant. Susie's boyfriend, a homosexual ex-con who fucks Susie in the ass and takes all her money, is the Krishna/brother's killer. Freddy, the homo boyfriend, spent much of his life in reform school or prison. He knows how to survive but steps in shit when he ambushes Hoke Moseley, fucks Hoke up (broken jaw etc), and steals Hoke's dentures. Freddy makes his money strong-arming men in restrooms for cash and credit-cards, many are pick-pockets, and robbing dim-witted hookers.

Someone made a movie of this book.

Its 5 star stuff if you like raw action and flawed people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z3pzo-HHJw
Part of the movie

 

[slyc_willie]

I recall liking the movie but thought it was too much glamour for the subject matter. I read the book afterward and thought it could have been adapted better. But that's usually how it goes with adaptations.

Fred Ward, who stars as Moseley, was co-producer for the film. My understanding is that he's a Willeford fan (and noir fan in general) and had to do some glad-handing to studios to get it made.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I recall liking the movie but thought it was too much glamour for the subject matter. I read the book afterward and thought it could have been adapted better. But that's usually how it goes with adaptations.

Fred Ward, who stars as Moseley, was co-producer for the film. My understanding is that he's a Willeford fan (and noir fan in general) and had to do some glad-handing to studios to get it made.

Walter Matthau woulda been a good Moseley.

 

[Carnevil9]

I loved the movie, although your description of the book sounds very different. I recall it was the only time I've ever seen Alec Baldwin and thought, "this guy can ACT!"

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I loved the movie, although your description of the book sounds very different. I recall it was the only time I've ever seen Alec Baldwin and thought, "this guy can ACT!"

The book includes plenty of character history, especially for Junior/Freddy.

 

[slyc_willie]

Walter Matthau woulda been a good Moseley.

He had the down-and-out old fart look, so yeah, Matthau could have filled the role.

Curiously, if anyone were to portray Moseley in a film now, I think Ted Danson could do a good job of it.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Aw yeah yeah. Now I remember. I didn't place the book until you mentioned the flick. And then I remembered thinking when I saw it - this was made by someone who really loves and respects these types of classic detective yarns, and that they didn't make many movies like this anymore. Yeah I did like it.

 

[jomar]

Is this the one where Baldwin gets his fingers chopped off in a diner?

ETA: It is, but not a diner, a pawnshop. I like it, too.