A movie which is much better than the book

I have to agree--when I got to the ending in the book, I threw it across the room.

Interestingly, in Gent's sequel "North Dallas After-40" the person who is the cause for the horrific ending (this character and that whole sub-plot do not appear in the movie)is one of the first people with whom Elliot has an encounter.

Just proof that when one compares novels to their movie-interpretations, one has to realize that each is a unique art and judge each on its own merits. Otherwise one will just be frustrated.

I have to admit that this is one of the few times where I liked the movie better than the book also. I also enjoyed the changes from the book. The ending of the book is a real downer and would have been a real upsetting way to end what up that point was a very enjoyable film.

Agreed. One of the few movies that manages that.

I picked up the book last week and just finished reading it for the first time. I think the novel is very impressive, worthy reading material and it inspired me to see the film the next chance I get--but I’m still very glad to hear the ending was not included as Gent originally wrote it. I agree with Greenteeth that it’s simply horrific and doesn’t fit at all with the carefully modulated insanity of the preceding 300 pages. Although you can argue its virtue as a social commentary, Gent provides much more realistic and contextual insights on racism throughout the body of the novel. By contrast, the violent end just feels tacked on and grotesque.

good to know. thx.



Season's Greetings

Speaking of the movie's ending, would Nick Nolte's character smoking marijuana really get him in so much trouble? Yes, it could have been against his morals clause and everything. But, would it be that severe? And, the Private Detective searched his house? How does that work? P.I.'s can't break and enter, from anything I've ever known.

Plus, as Nolte said, with the incredibly strong stuff they shoot him up with, marijuana is nothing by comparison!

Thank you for any feedback on this. I appreciate it!

"I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP!" - Daniel Plainview - "There Will Be Blood"

I was 15 when this was released and loved it. Just saw it again for the first time in probably 20 years and was amazed at how well it stands up. Except for when the score goes upbeat, it has aged VERY well. I was more impressed than ever by Mac Davis. What ever happened to...?

I read the book once shortly after the first time I saw the movie. Three things I remember most about the book: a) HATED the ending, wtf was that about?, as if it wasn't bad enough to kill off the girlfriend, she had to be cheating on him as well?, b) book was set in the 60s when Gent actually played, so race was a big theme. The movie, was made in the late 70s as a contemporary story, c) in the book Phil and Seth were obsessed with Dylan's 'Blonde on Blonde' album and anything by Doug Sahm and/or The Sir Douglas Quintet. I was still unfamiliar with Dylan at the time and (like the rest of the world, unfortunately to this day) I had no clue who this Sir Doug guy was. But the way Gent wrote about them made me curious. The summer after I graduated high school I took a job as a DJ at a little country radio station in Paris AR, and in the closet I found a promotional copy of a 1976 album called 'Texas Rock For Country Rollers' by Sir Douglas and The Texas Tornadoes. I took it home that night and my life was changed forever! If you don't know, do yourself a favor and seek this out, especially if you're into roots rock, Americana, TexMex, or Texas roadhouse music. Within 18 months I was a Dylan freak as well, so while I only read the book once, and was never even sure how much I liked it, it ABSOLUTELY changed my life!

All that being said, I'm usually against remakes/reboots. But maybe this would be an excellent candidate, IF it was set in the 60s, and was more faithful to the books racial themes. Add the 60s music from the book, lose the horrible ending. Maybe it could be awesome. You could probably never cast it though, with the current crop of girly-men in movies.

Anyway, I guess I'd recommend the book. I'm certainly gonna read it again soon. Still like the movie better. I think. Only other time I remember preferring a movie to a book was when Cronenberg did ' The Dead Zone'.

"Poetry don't work on whores" - Dick Liddil