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As a matter of fact, i.e., joking aside, you might very well want to order the novel. The late author Davis Grubb was one of the people I interviewed for my research, and it happens that both he and his book were much more closely involved with the filming of HUNTER than with most typical Hollywood movie adaptions/bastardizations...
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Thank you, PeterD, I'm in your PeterDebt -- I'm such a Luddite Cyberpunk that I had no knowledge whatsoever of Mr. Maltin's website!
I do remember chatting with him that night at UCLA -- he brought John Landis, or vice versa -- and I thanked him for upgrading the review/rating for "HUNTER" a few years ago in a revised edition of his annual Movies-on-TV book. (I hope he won't mind page 392 of my book when I disagree with him on his assessment of FOOLS' PARADE...)
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Posted: |
Oct 5, 2002 - 11:06 PM
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By: |
Howard L
(Member)
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MEMO
TO: Preston Neal Jones, Author
Joan Hue, English teacher (emeritus)
FROM: Howard L
We are pleased to announce that with the arrival of the video this morning, we have decided to go all the way and take your advice, for whatever it's worth. As such, this afternoon we actually drove further into the county and picked up a copy of The Night Of The Hunter, the novel, at the library. We will commence reading within the next few days. We will then watch the film, The Night Of The Hunter, in its entirety upon conclusion of said reading. We will then read Mr. Jones' new 'Making Of' tome upon conclusion of said watching.
We hope to generate some stimulating conversation after all is read & watched, with perhaps helpful little chats in between. Either way, we are psyched.
Respectfully,
Howard L
HL/hl
cc: all respondents
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Posted: |
Oct 6, 2002 - 2:41 AM
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By: |
joan hue
(Member)
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Wow, Howard, I’m VERY impressed with your secretary. Better pay “him” well.
You’re going to know a lot more about his movie that I do. I watched it once a while
ago, and as I said earlier, I thought it was rather strange. I don’t think I understood a lot
of the techniques employed in the movie. (Angles, lighting, etc.) I had hoped that
Preston’s book would enlighten me. I’ll be the first to admit that, “not getting it,” does
tend to hamper one’s appreciation. And I’ve never read the novel.
Guess I’d better rent the video one more time, but I duly bow to Mr. Jones’ and soon-
to-be Mr. Howard’s expertise in this matter. “Mez” just a learner in this endeavor, and I learn "good."
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Dear Howard,
How I envy you your adventure!
(Oprah's book club, eat your heart out.)
Enjoy,
PJ
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Preston, I have been wanting for eight months to add input to his thread; so, better late than never, here's my two cents' worth:
I first became aware of the novel THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER when it was included in READERS' DIGEST CONDENSED BOOKS, which my mother subscribed to in the 1950's. She raved about the story, but I never had time to read it. I really became interested in the movie version when the Hollywood premiere was telecast in 1955 on the Steve Allen "Tonight" show. Everyone leaving the theater seemed to be in a state of shock. I believe it was Mamie Van Doren who said, "It scared the daylights out of me!" The movie almost didn't make it to my Texas hometown, because the local clergy was up in arms over Robert Mitchum's portrayal of "a man of the cloth". When it finally did open, I was at the first showing "just in case". Not having read the book, I experienced the full force and suspense of the story. I was particularly impressed with the music, but the best I could find on record was Charles Laughton's narrative version. The movie has gone on to become a classic, well worth the time of historians like yourself. However, my 9th grade English teacher was aghast when I stood up before her class and delivered an oral book report on THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (which I had finally read). She told me I was lucky not to get an "F". (But the class loved it, I might add.)
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Dear Soundtracker,
Thanks for your amazing anecdotage. How come Schumann's score isn't listed among your favorites in your personal profile?
(All will be forgiven if you buy a copy of my book. Seriously, I hope you enjoy it.)
Dear Dylan,
And what are YOU waiting for, young man?
Seriously, I had NOT seen your earlier post, and I almost didn't see it this morning -- the thread was whisked off the main page almost immediately after I read your message today. Also seriously, do get the book. Not because I'll get rich, (it is to laugh), but because I wrote it for you and other HUNTER fans, and I want you to enjoy it. You'll also find the aspect ratio discussed in its pages (by second unit director Terry Sanders). The recent letterboxing on TCM is correct. Now that the film has been restored by UCLA, which also has preserved nine and a half hours of out-takes, I'm lobbying to get a new DVD release for the film...
Best wishes to everybody,
Preston
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Preston did a terrific job on the book and not just because my name is in it. BTW, four weeks ago a reading took place in NY of the musical version and apparently it went very well.
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Posted: |
Apr 12, 2005 - 1:19 AM
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By: |
Howard L
(Member)
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MEMO
TO: Preston Neal Jones, Author
Joan Hue, English teacher (emeritus)
FROM: Howard L
We are pleased to announce that with the arrival of the video this morning, we have decided to go all the way and take your advice, for whatever it's worth. As such, this afternoon we actually drove further into the county and picked up a copy of The Night Of The Hunter, the novel, at the library. We will commence reading within the next few days. We will then watch the film, The Night Of The Hunter, in its entirety upon conclusion of said reading. We will then read Mr. Jones' new 'Making Of' tome upon conclusion of said watching.
We hope to generate some stimulating conversation after all is read & watched, with perhaps helpful little chats in between. Either way, we are psyched.
Respectfully,
Howard L
HL/hl
cc: all respondents
Mr. Jones and Ms. Hue, I realize y'all have more important things to do than sit here listening to me quote myself, but the 2 and 1/2 year sabbatical has ended. The challenge lives on! I have just completed reading Book One: The Hanging Man and intend to forge my way through an additional Book or two tomorrow (Tues.) with an evening break of live film music at Lincoln Center per another thread.
We are very excited as we are being hellaciously drawn into Mr. Grubb's novel. it is really neat the way dialogue seamlessly melds with the narrative sans all them " " and whatnot. And I am consciously anticipating how the screenplay might have dispensed, edited and/or strung together all the exposition within this first part. "There's so much can happen to a widowed woman and two youngsters." These cautionary words of Icey Spoon sure do have that ominous foreshadowing thing to them! As does young John's "shadow man."
Yep, we are definitely into it now. On all levels. 'S got me thinking maybe I should read Preston's book before watching the flick. Maybe that's what I just plain want to do.
...Eh, we'll stay with the game plan. And I aim to see it through. We is back in business!
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