Matthew Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 (edited) He was 80 years old I remember what a big scandal his book was, and, of course, to my thirteen year-old mind, it was the greatest book I ever read. Edited July 11, 2019 by Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 Embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read it in its entirety—an oversight I definitely need to rectify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 "Yeah, sure..." (read the book) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 (edited) I saw Bouton pitch for the Portland Mavericks (the subject of the documentary, "The Battered Bastards Of Baseball") in the 70's. By then, he was a knuckleballer. He went 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA. "Ball Four" along with Jim Brosnan's book, "The Long Season" both put baseball under a microscope that was not particularly flattering. Edited July 11, 2019 by Dave James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 Loved him as Terry Lennox in Altman's The Long Goodbye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 19 minutes ago, medjuck said: Loved him as Terry Lennox in Altman's The Long Goodbye. Oh man, I completely forgot about that weird connection! Didn’t realize he was in it till I saw the movie again at the IU Cinema a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 2 hours ago, medjuck said: Loved him as Terry Lennox in Altman's The Long Goodbye. I thought he did a fine job as Lennox. Gould may have done precisely what Altman wanted, but I thought what he did was a terrible Marlowe. But I guess in Hollywood it's considered cheating to have read the book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, GA Russell said: I thought he did a fine job as Lennox. Gould may have done precisely what Altman wanted, but I thought what he did was a terrible Marlowe. But I guess in Hollywood it's considered cheating to have read the book! I think the ending is better than that of the book. I just wish Altman hadn't gone around saying he was deconstructing the book (or words to that effect). BTW Has anyone else read The Black Eyed Blonde? It's a sequel to The Long Goodbye commissioned by the Chandler estate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted July 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 2 hours ago, medjuck said: Loved him as Terry Lennox in Altman's The Long Goodbye. Love Altman, loathed that movie and the ending. For me, it was one of those movies that you watch, and you’re shaking your head saying “no” for the whole movie. Might have to watch again to be certain about my dislike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 38 minutes ago, medjuck said: I think the ending is better than that of the book. I just wish Altman hadn't gone around saying he was deconstructing the book (or words to that effect). BTW Has anyone else read The Black Eyed Blonde? It's a sequel to The Long Goodbye commissioned by the Chandler estate. Joe, I've never heard of it, but if you recommend it I'll put it on my camels list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 5 hours ago, Dave James said: I saw Bouton pitch for the Portland Mavericks (the subject of the documentary, "The Battered Bastards Of Baseball") in the 70's. By then, he was a knuckleballer. He went 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA. Bouton was with the Astros when Ball Four was released...he was maddeningly inconsistent with his pitching then, and that, coupled with the dislike for him among most fans for having wrote the book, made for some really intense booing episodes in the Dome. Back then, I unconditionally loved the book and its (necessary) irreverence. With the benefit of hindsight, I still feel the book was necessary, but do have some empathy for the sense of betrayal that some players felt. Ultimately, the book's value could probably have been maintained with naming all the names that were named in regard to all the activities that were portrayed. Of course, it's all history now, but it was still pretty much real-time then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 2 hours ago, GA Russell said: Joe, I've never heard of it, but if you recommend it I'll put it on my camels list. I like it much better than the acclaimed "last"( I guess until he goes pd) Philip Marlowe novel: "Only to Sleep". I still haven't read "Perchance to Dream" the sequel to "The Big Sleep" which Robert B Parker wrote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 1 minute ago, medjuck said: I like it much better than the acclaimed "last"( I guess until he goes pd) Philip Marlowe novel: "Only to Sleep". I still haven't read "Perchance to Dream" the sequel to "The Big Sleep" which Robert B Parker wrote. Joe, do you believe Chandler wrote Playback? I don't. The writing was not his style IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted July 11, 2019 Report Share Posted July 11, 2019 1 hour ago, GA Russell said: Joe, do you believe Chandler wrote Playback? I don't. The writing was not his style IMO. Is there any question about that? I haven't heard. I liked the movie a lot. You just have to adjust your mindset from Bogart and the other classic Marlowe interpretations. Sterling Hayden was great, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 I used to think his decline began with the second half of The Long Goodbye and reached its nadir with Playback. It is based on an unmade screenplay he wrote a that doesn't involve Marlowe, which may explain its deficiencies. (That screenplay was published by the Mysterious Press under the title "Raymond Chandler's Unknown Thriller". ) Reading Long Goodbye more recently I like it a bit better but still think the end of the movie is more satisfying and makes more sense. Black Eyed Blonde follows the book not the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted July 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 58 minutes ago, medjuck said: I used to think his decline began with the second half of The Long Goodbye and reached its nadir with Playback. It is based on an unmade screenplay he wrote a that doesn't involve Marlowe, which may explain its deficiencies. (That screenplay was published by the Mysterious Press under the title "Raymond Chandler's Unknown Thriller". ) Reading Long Goodbye more recently I like it a bit better but still think the end of the movie is more satisfying and makes more sense. Black Eyed Blonde follows the book not the movie. Okay, now I’m definitely going to rewatch The Long Goodbye, I want to see if I will change my mind about the film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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