THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I thought I'd include this here . . . The Book Nook, right here at Goodreads will be discussing this one for April . . .

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

You can join the Book Nook, or you can discuss the book right here.

As always, I've been working on the chapter summaries, creating questions for discussion, etc., at my own site - Wild City Books n' Movies . . .

http://wildcity.proboards.com/index.c...

You are certainly welcome to register and respond there, as well.

Whatever . . . but if you haven't done so, this book is worth a read.

One of my all time favorite novels, and the movie (the old one, with Gene Tierney) is wonderful too, skip the turkey with Bill Murray. Maugham was the ultimate craftsman and never more at his best than here. And so sly - he tells you he's going to write a novel about Larry, but of course he is not. He's not going to make up scenes that (supposedly) happened when he wasn't there - then he proceeds to do so. He uses as a narrator a writer, which the reader is encouraged to believe his Maugham himself, and of course, it isn't. All brilliant devices.

Yes, Victor, there was supreme craftmanship in this novel.

I loved the story and found all the characters interesting. I've seen the older version of the movie and read the book. I've liked Maughan's work for many years.

I recently ordered the film (The original-I dont do remakes) I love the idea of Herbert Marshall playing the author and narrating the story- and with Clifton Webb-how can it miss!

Herbert Marshall was also in The Moon and a Sixpence with George Sanders

Nanette wrote: "When are we reading this?

I saw the older version of the movie and loved it.

nanette"

Rather then have folks read same book at same time- I prefer that members choose whatbooks to read and when- that wayits not as confining as a Book Club- but rather an Open Discussion Group!

Rick wrote: "I recently ordered the film (The original-I dont do remakes) I love the idea of Herbert Marshall playing the author and narrating the story- and with Clifton Webb-how can it miss!"

I would have agreed with you about remakes until I learned recently that the famous film version of The Maltese Falcon was the third one released in Hollywood. I have the other two, but haven't had time to watch them yet.

Peg wrote: "the famous film version of The Maltese Falcon was the third one released in Hollywood. I have the other two, but haven't had time to watch them yet."

My advice? don't

Victor wrote: "Peg wrote: "the famous film version of The Maltese Falcon was the third one released in Hollywood. I have the other two, but haven't had time to watch them yet."

My advice? don't"

On general principles or have you seen them? I heard that the 1st was OK and 2nd awful. I'll watch the Bogart version again after I've seen the 2 inferior ones.

saw them ages ago, don't remember caring for either - and, face it, with the Bogart version you're talking about something so close to a masterpiece that it ain't worth arguing. Cast couldn't be better, script is perfect, great direction - one of those movies where everything works. And by the way, if you go to San Francisco, there are walking tours of Chandler sites, you can have the Maltese special at John's, and see one of the birds, and up on Burrell there's a plaque that says, more or less, "On approximately this spot Brigid O'Shaugnassey shot Sam Spade's partner, Miles Archer." The bridge/arch is recognizable but of course the vacant lot below is no longer vacant.

Victor wrote: "One of my all time favorite novels, and the movie (the old one, with Gene Tierney) is wonderful too, skip the turkey with Bill Murray. Maugham was the ultimate craftsman and never more at his best ..."

I kinda' thought that too, Victor; I have seen the 1947 (Gene Tierney) movie, but not the later one with Murray.

I enjoy Bill Murray's acting, but I just can't imagine him as Larry.

Nanette wrote: "When are we reading this?

I saw the older version of the movie and loved it.

nanette"

Well, I opened the thread, and as far as I'm concerned, we can read it now, or any time we like.

If anybody wants to do it for a particular month, by all means.

Here's my chapter summaries for parts I & II at Wild City . . .

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

You can register and comment there too, if you like.

Rick wrote: "Nanette wrote: "When are we reading this?

I saw the older version of the movie and loved it.

nanette"

Rather then have folks read same book at same time- I prefer that members choose whatb..."

I like that idea too, Rick - that's more or less how I end up doing it too. A discussion can be on for any particular month with one group and I'll jump in weeks later with my comments. I order my stuff in from the library and if I have to wait a long time for the material, well I gotta' wait.

It took ages to get 'The Help'. The discussion on different boards was over for a long time before I got involved.

Still, you find people are still interested in coming back and joining you.

Victor wrote: "saw them ages ago, don't remember caring for either - and, face it, with the Bogart version you're talking about something so close to a masterpiece that it ain't worth arguing. Cast couldn't be be..."

Oh, I didn't know Bogey was in The Razor's Edge.

.............

I'm going to put 'Of Human Bondage' up at The Book Nook in June - I've promised Zorro . . . she loves that story.

I'll be doing them all on Wild City's threads before the year is out - that's my 2010 project, to read all of Somerset's work.

I just love the guy.

(He doesn't look anything like I imagined though)

Anyway, Happy Easter to y'all . . . hope you're enjoying this long weekend - I sure am!

I'm hot and heavy into my gardening work already!

Click here if you wanna' see - it's just a lot of down and dirty jobs right now . . .

http://wildcity.proboards.com/index.c...

how did that happen? I swear I was on a thread about The Maltese Falcon - and Peg asked about the other 2 movie versions. Ah, well, the gremlins. As to Razor's Edge, I've already gone on record as loathting the Bill Murray remake - he didn't get it, he really thought the book (and so the movie) was about Larry -

And, by the way, there are very few buildups to an entrance in a movie to equal Larry' entrance in Razor.

Bondage - I loved Bette Davis in the old flick. Kim Novak was a joke in the remake. Also btw, one of Maugham's biographers said that in real life Mildred was based on a young man Maugham had the hots for. If you read it with that in mind, it actually makes sense.

I'm sure I've read everything Maugham wrote, multiple times. Three Fat Ladies From Antibe is one of the funniest stories I ever read.

Carly, when I try to open your chapter summaries it tells me I can't do that because I'm not a member. Did I get kicked out again (that happened a few weeks back, wouldn't let me do anything)? I have a hard time with Goodreads, to be honest. I write reviews, but they never show up anywhere. I am Mister Lo-tech.

Carly wrote: "Victor wrote: "saw them ages ago, don't remember caring for either - and, face it, with the Bogart version you're talking about something so close to a masterpiece that it ain't worth arguing. Cast..."

Bogart was not the male lead in Razor's Edge- it was Tyrone Power

as for the First Maltese Falcon film - I enjoyed it quite a bit- but I am a huge Warren William fan- and like the idea of a woman playing the Sydney Greenstreet Role -(The wonderful Alison Skipworth)
to me- the central characters in the Bogart version were Peter Lorre and Elisha Cook Jr, (Wilmer)

I guess this is going to haunt me - if you scroll up a bit, to message # 9, you'll see where someone sequed into the Maltese Falcon and I was responding to that. Yes, I do know that the gorgeous Tyrone was in Razor's Edge, along with Gene Tierney at her very best, and Ann Baxter, who tricked Zanuck into thinking she'd sleep with him if she got the part, and Clifton Webb, who almost certainly would have slept with Zanuck if asked - how could you go wrong with a cast like that. But, Maugham didn't like it.

Victor wrote: "Carly, when I try to open your chapter summaries it tells me I can't do that because I'm not a member. Did I get kicked out again (that happened a few weeks back, wouldn't let me do anything)? I ha..."

Did you get your confirmation after registration at Wild City? Did you click on their link to 'confirm'?

Also - you say you're lo-tech . . . you logged in, of course . . . tell me you logged in . . . ha ha!

You're not 'that' lo-tech, are ya'?

G'wan with ya'.

As for Wild City - you can see the threads without logging in - you don't even have to register to see the threads - you just can't post anything.

Victor wrote: "I guess this is going to haunt me - if you scroll up a bit, to message # 9, you'll see where someone sequed into the Maltese Falcon and I was responding to that. Yes, I do know that the gorgeous Ty..."

my bad! victor- sorry about that-
The first film- Satan Met a Lady- I really did enjoy- but Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo was very pivotalin the classic version- don'tyou agree?

I lived in LA for years, and my barber had been at MGM and every day shaved Peter Lorre. He said he was just the sweetest man. But, yes, a brilliant actor, in everything he did.

This was in the sixties early seventies. In those days it was not unusual to run into stars at restaurants, bars, shopping. They weren't scared of their fans then nor surrounded by bodyguards. It was easy to meet and chat with them. Not so now.

Victor

Victor wrote: "I lived in LA for years, and my barber had been at MGM and every day shaved Peter Lorre. He said he was just the sweetest man. But, yes, a brilliant actor, in everything he did.

This was in the ..."


so true - my father- as a kid- used to collect autographs- and in NYC- ran into Errol Flynn, Bogart, Edward Everett Horton and even Clifton Webbin a grocers- Webb was like his onrole characters "Do let me finish my shopping and I shall be glad to sign"

In L.A., Celeste Holme shopped at the same supermarket as I did. She was happy to sign an autograph if anyone asked, but you had to make a donation to B'nai Brith.

I never asked for autographs, but had lovely chats with Elizabeth Montgomery, Bob Wagner, Marjorie Main, Natalie Wood - lots of others I can't even remember now.