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Enda80
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
108 Posts |
 Posted - 08/21/2009 : 8:45:58 PM
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While walking around one day in the inner city, I walked up a flight of steps for a bit of exercise. I saw people dressed up for a Harry Potter film. I realized that in less than 10 years, six Harry Potter films had reached theaters, all (so far as I know adaptations of J.K. Rowling's books).
An unfortunate observation occurred to me: could I name a detective story (or least conventional, non-paranormal thriller) author who had done something comparable? Sadly, no. For while private eye novels and cozies still reach bookstore shelves regularly, with many new authors and series, you will not find private eye movies or cozies reaching movie theater screens in great regularity.
If anyone can name an author in the detective or even the conventional thriller genre to have had a series of his or her books adapted into the screen in recent years, with more than two of his books adapted, please reply.
For "recent years", I tend to lean toward the sixties as the earliest period for "recent years". Actually, almost none, if any, detective movies series of the 1940's continued into the 1950's. The Charlie Chan films stopped at 1949, for example, as I recall.
Let us look at some authors who have had their works adapted in recent years:
Mickey Spillane: the Assante remake of the Mike Hammer film I, the Jury had no sequel
Sara Paretsky: V.I. Warshawski only had one film
Walter Mosley: Easly Rawlins only appeared in one theatrical film, Devil in a Blue Dress, though the imdb lists an upcoming sequel
Raymond Chandler: Farewell My Lovely, Big Sleep: Mitchum played Philip Marlowe in these two films, but no theatrical Philip Marlowe films followed in the next thirty years
John D. MacDonald: Darker Than Amber served as the only theatrical Travis McGee novel
James Lee Burke: Dave Robicheaux made it to theaters with Heaven's Prisoners; In the Electric Mist went directly to DVD
Lawrence Block: Scudder did not return to the silver screen after Eight Million Ways to Die
Peter Corris: Empty Beach, the only film version of his p.i. character
Ross MacDonald: Harper and Drowning Pool, the only film version of his work to reach theaters
James Patterson: Alex has so far appeared in only two films
Lawrence Sanders: Edward X. Delany only appeared in two films, The Anderson Tapes and The First Deadly Sin
Jeffrey Deaver: Lincoln Rhyme appeared in only one film, The Bone Collector
Ross Thomas: Only one film, St. Ives
Not quite detective probably, but conventional thriller
A.J. Quinnell: Marcus Creasey appeared in two films, but the one adapted the same novel the previously one had
Craig Thomas: one film about Mitchell Gant, Firefox
Martin Cruz Smith: Arkady Rossovich only appeared in one film, Gorky Park
Dirk Pitt: only two films, roughly twenty-five years apart
Exceptions:
Thomas Harris: multiple films, but these focus increasingly more on Hannibal Lecter, not the investigators out to stop him
Tom Clancy: four Jack Ryan films
Ernesty Tidyman: four movies about Shaft over 29 years, all R-rated at that
Jason Bourne: the Matt Damon series adapted all of Ludlum's Bourne novels, at least in name
Richard Stark (Donald Westlake): Westlake famously refused to allow anyone to use the name Parker in any adaptation of the Parker series unless they agreed upfront to do a series of films. However, despite at least four to five of his Parker novels reaching screens, nobody ever agreed to do a series of films about Parker, just one-shot adaptations of particular novels.
Chester Himes: Coffin Ed and the Grave Digger appeared in three films from 1970 to 1991
John Ball: Virgil Tibbs appeared in three films
87th Precinct: similar to Parker, numerous renamed versions in film adaptations that ranged from Japan, Canada, Boston, etc. (note that the 1950's also produced a few 87th Precinct films) |
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Food
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
342 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2009 : 11:38:20 PM
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| The only one of these I've seen is The First Deadly Sin. It's an excellent movie, I like it a lot. Even though it was made in 1980, it seamlessly combines elements from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and even a couple that would come to the fore in the 90s. Good solid movie. |
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Asta Kask
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Sweden
263 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2009 : 04:10:58 AM
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Does Mankell's Kurt Wallander count? Or did they only screen in Sweden.
- Who is John Galt? - |
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Enda80
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
108 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2009 : 05:49:53 AM
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I forgot about Martin Beck. Other than the Walter Matthau film, most of the films came from Sweden.
PBO series that did (paperback original series) receive adaptations:
The Black Samurai the Jim Kelly Movie, T
The Owl
Cabot Cain
The Specialist film adapted John Shirley's novels and even featured Stallone; it came out during his slide
Remo Williams
SAS Malko Linge (two separate movies),
The film The Firing Line uses the name Mark Hardin, but does not officially adapt the Penetrator series. |
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niccolom
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2009 : 08:02:29 AM
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Here in Canada we have the Murdoch Mysteries which debuted just last year. From wiki the following: Murdoch Mysteries is a Canadian television drama series. Evolving out of a series of television movies based on mystery novels by Maureen Jennings. So far, the series has been sold to the UK, US and France.
Then there's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency which appears on HBO and is based on the novels by British author Alexander McCall Smith.
Besides the Darker than Amber adaption, Sam Elliott starred in TV film adaption of The Empty Copper Sea, titled Travis McGee which was filmed in 1983. And apparently there's a possibly that The Deep Blue Good-by may be adapted for film.
"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, aka "Tuco," aka "the Rat," aka "Ugly," aka "il Cattivo" |
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niccolom
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2009 : 09:18:48 AM
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quote:
Mickey Spillane: the Assante remake of the Mike Hammer film I, the Jury had no sequel.
True, no sequel, but Stacy Keach starred as Mike Hammer in the short-lived TV series Mike Hammer, Private Eye. I remember watching the series and enjoyed it at the time. If I saw it again not sure what my view would be; things change over time.
quote:
Raymond Chandler: Farewell My Lovely, Big Sleep: Mitchum played Philip Marlowe in these two films, but no theatrical Philip Marlowe films followed in the next thirty years.
Movies starring Phillip Marlowe made prior to the two MItchum movies include:
*The Big Sleep (1946) which starred Humphrey Bogart as Phillip Marlowe. Excellent movie by-the-way! Much better then the remake starring Robert Mitchum.
*The Lady in the Lake(1947) with Robert Montgomery as our intrepid P.I.
*The Brasher Doubloon (1947 - based on Chandler's The High Window) with George Montgomery as Marlowe.
*Marlowe (1969 - based on Chandler's The Little Sister). With James Garner in the starring role.
*The Long Goodbye (1973). Starring Elliot Gould as Marlowe. I saw this version years ago and can't remember if it was good or bad. I only remember that it had some nudity in it.
The there's Poodle Springs which aired on HBO in 1998. Poodle Springs was based by on an unfinished novel by Chandler that was finished off by Robert B. Parker, author of the popular Spenser novels. The film starred James Caan as Marlowe. I rather enjoyed this show. If I remember correctly it takes place in the '50's versus the '40's which was the usual timeframe for Phillip Marlowe.
Also, over the years there have been a several TV appearances by Phillip Marlowe.
"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, aka "Tuco," aka "the Rat," aka "Ugly," aka "il Cattivo" |
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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2009 : 11:34:42 AM
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| I have a soft spot for Poodle springs, if only for Caan and because it tries to give some closure to the series. |
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Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2009 : 11:21:28 AM
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Dick Powell also played Marlow in 1943.
If you're counting TV series as well as movies, then Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (Sepratly and together) are amoung the front runners, if not ahead of the pack.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
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niccolom
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2009 : 4:38:59 PM
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Completely forgot about Spenser for Hire and the Jesse Stone series which are based on books by Robert B. Parker.
"When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk."
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez, aka "Tuco," aka "the Rat," aka "Ugly," aka "il Cattivo" |
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Enda80
Preeminent Apostolic Prelate of the Discipleship of Jabootu
108 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 12:59:17 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Greenhornet
Dick Powell also played Marlow in 1943.
If you're counting TV series as well as movies, then Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (Sepratly and together) are amoung the front runners, if not ahead of the pack.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935
No, just theatrically released films. So far, television has not seen the sort of displacement towards paranormal properties that theatrically released films have, aside from some syndicated shows such as Legend of the Seeker. When it comes to ABC, NBC, and CBS, I have not noticed many shows with paranormal elements.
Most Star Trek TV series have, for example, not run on ABC, NBC, or CBS, but in syndication. Dean Cain's Superman series ran for just a few years, John Wesley Shipp's Flash show even less. |
Edited by - Enda80 on 08/24/2009 01:06:25 AM |
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RossM
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 08:25:57 AM
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Raymond Chandler may be tapped out for the movies. Maybe the whole genre has been tapped out. Farewell My Lovely was also used for the movie Murder My Sweet in 1944 with Dick Powell but had earlier been used for The Falcon Takes Over with George Sanders. Set in New York instead of Los Angeles and with the suave falcon instead of the lonely gritty Marlowe, The Falcon isn't bad but just doesn't work.
The High Window was used for The Brasher Doubloon but had earlier been used for Time To Kill with Lloyd Nolan as Mike Shane which to my eyes is better than The Brasher Doubloon.
Dashill Hammett's novels have also been set to many movies. The Maltese Falcon was used 3 times within ten years. The Thin Man spawned a whole series and a tv show. The Glass Key has been made into at least 2 movies that I have seen and The Dain Curse was a very good tv miniseries with James Coburn as the Continental Op. The rights to Red Harvest have been long sold but so far no movies. There is an opportunity for someone.
The last original truly great movie in this genre that I think of is Chinatown. |
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Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 2:48:45 PM
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@ ROSS:
It could be said that the detective movie/novel was "tapped out" by 1950. It was around that time that EVERYBODY knew the hard boiled/film noir cliche and many comedians were doing bad impressions of Bogart with cheesy naration spinkled with cheep "philosiphy" and similes played over the scenes.
Even Bob Hope and GOOFY did "tough guy detectives" spoofs.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
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RossM
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2009 : 4:07:45 PM
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| As early as 1947 Bob Hope was doing movies like My Favorite Brunette and poking holes on the cliches of the genre. |
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Bobby-G
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
USA
904 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2009 : 10:36:58 PM
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Was not RED HARVEST the inspiration for YOJIMBO, FIST FULL OF DOLLARS and LAST MAN STANDING?
Rob |
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Neville
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
Spain
1590 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2009 : 3:45:39 PM
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| Yup. And I'd say Miller's Crossing as well, although that time the Coens were more or less adapting The glass key. |
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Greenhornet
Holy Cardinal and Five Star General of the Righteous Knighthood of Jabootu
1791 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2009 : 6:10:48 PM
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The TV show "Hart to Hart" was an obvious up-date of the Thin Man movie series.
"The Queen is testing poisons." CLEOPATRA, 1935 |
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Detective series adapted to film in recent years
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