tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post5521216498782992643..comments2024-03-28T11:13:05.893-07:00Comments on The Rap Sheet: The Book You Have to Read: “The Grifters,” by Jim ThompsonJ. Kingston Piercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17073921191624535912noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-61591508489724729602017-03-28T11:05:48.049-07:002017-03-28T11:05:48.049-07:00Thompson is one of my all time favorite writers. H...Thompson is one of my all time favorite writers. His books are still pretty 'shocking' to this day. The Grifters film is ok with props for trying out the whole split screen technique to tell the various narratives going on in the story. Unfortunately I don't think this really worked that well and actually makes the film look dated. The thing that REALLY got me about the difference between the ending of the book and the ending of the movie is that: SPOILERS!!<br /><br />At the end of the movie, the grifter mom kills her son and has a complete guilty meltdown about it. In the book, not so much. As a matter of fact, in the book, she just sort of shrugs her shoulders, takes all the money and leaves his body lying there. Was Hollywood forced to make the ending more palatable to the ' average viewer'? <br /><br />None of the films made of Thompson's books really do his writing justice. Except the French film Coup De Torchon. I'll definitely look for the other French film, Series Noir, mentioned by another poster.<br /> <br />As an aside , Thompson wrote the novelization of the TV show Ironside with Raymond Burr. Definitely worth reading if you can find a copy. Much darker and weirder than the TV show and a great 'what if?' (Thompson had written scripts for the show).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-69040690117021095882008-11-29T12:12:00.000-08:002008-11-29T12:12:00.000-08:00I loved the movie, but haven't read the book. Than...I loved the movie, but haven't read the book. Thank you for the review.Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-2508259314381096792008-11-29T01:43:00.000-08:002008-11-29T01:43:00.000-08:00Yes, Thompson is without doubt one of the best wri...Yes, Thompson is without doubt one of the best writers (notice I do not use crimewriters) and about the films who are made of his work is 'Coup de torchon' the best of all, with an almost celestial Philippe Noiret.<BR/><BR/>Walter A.P. Soethoudt<BR/>literary agent<BR/>BelgiumAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-40430820558524890432008-11-28T21:58:00.000-08:002008-11-28T21:58:00.000-08:00I've been a fan of Thompson's for decades. His sty...I've been a fan of Thompson's for decades. His style is difficult to translate to the screen and it's half the attraction -- along with a twisted story line. For a comparison of The Grifters, book to film, check this out:<BR/><BR/>http://www.williamahearn.com/grifters.html<BR/><BR/>There's also another French flick -- Series Noir -- based on Hell Of A Woman.<BR/><BR/>William<BR/>www.williamahearn.comwilliamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12956180339547472407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-57444663949898095772008-11-28T14:30:00.000-08:002008-11-28T14:30:00.000-08:00I read this book earlier this year - I was intendi...I read this book earlier this year - I was intending to watch the movie but never gotten around to it. I enjoyed the book, also I've read a few others from this author and plan on reading many more!JZIDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09474407509117601963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-77924872897933507502008-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:002008-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:00I ended up reading the novel after being blown awa...I ended up reading the novel after being blown away by the film version.<BR/><BR/>I totally dig both of them.MysterLynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885108255773793665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16749171.post-71317772328961409242008-11-28T12:59:00.000-08:002008-11-28T12:59:00.000-08:00I bought this recently - as I'm familiarising myse...I bought this recently - as I'm familiarising myself with the great pupls. This is in my T.B.R pile and after this review I've moved it to the top.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.com