I never had any sort of contact with James Crumley so I'm speaking here strictly as a reader. I've read most of his novels at least three times. I agree with Otto Penzler that he was the finest hardboiled writer of the last three decades. His literary skills were enormous and all his own. When the dust settles on our time I expect it will be Crumley future readers and writers will acknowledge as the master. A terrible loss.
----------Cinema Retro
The best issue yet of this fine magazine. Two major interviews with Robert Vaughan and Joe Dante. The Vaughan is especially interesting. A life well lived by a man intelligent enough to appreciate it yet view it with a certain objectivity. The Dante interview is packed with memories of his long and successful run in Hollywood.
Pinewood Studios, Goldfinger, The Chase as exemplary chase film, David McCallum and a stunning reprise of the films of 1971. Think of this in a twelve month period the following films were released:
The Anderson Tapes
Carnal Knowledge
A Clockwork Orange
Dirty Harry
Fiddler on The Roof
The French Connection
The Last Picture Show
Macbeth
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Summer of `42
Sunday Bloody Sunday
And each film is assessed with insightful commentary.
What a great issue.
-----------Seinfeld-Gates
I had no idea how powerful this blog is. Remember how I was complaining last night about the lame Jerry Seinfeld-Bill Gates commercials?
This morning they were pulled. Permanently.
The spokesman said this was "planned" but since one of them has only been in rotation for a week we know bullshit when we see it.
Now I'm going to see what else I can get canceled.
James Crumley's death closes a chapter in crime fiction. He was simply sui generis. The richness of his stories was derived from living life hard, from prowling the odd corners of life.
ReplyDeleteHe loved to gather other writers around and somehow he knew us all, every foible and strength. Even after months apart, we could pick up conversations right where they had broken off.
In his last years he cheerfully defied doctors and death, enjoying life all the more.
Richard Wheeler
Those seventies films are hard to beat. Best decade for films ever?
ReplyDeleteOK Ed, as we face the prospect of the Clampett family two steps away from the White House, can you wave your magic wand and help John and Sarah join Bill and Jerry?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the Huffington page reprinted an article by RFK Jr. a couple of days ago, pointing out that the "small towns grow good people" quote in Palin's convention speech was from an old Westbrook Pegler column. And that Pegler in 1965 wrote of Bobby Kennedy: "some white patriot of the Southern tier will spatter his spoonful of brains in public premises before the snow flies."
To quote Scripture, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."