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Nancy Oakes's Reviews> The Third Man & The Fallen Idol
The Third Man & The Fallen Idol
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both stories are excellent and I loved them both. Graham Greene is a master storyteller, and is a genius at characterization - and from what I can see, much more about people than plot. It is just a crying shame that he's not as widely read as he should be.
I'll be linking this post directly to my reading journal, since I wrote about this book and The Ministry of Fear together. So read on:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2017/03/...
I'll be linking this post directly to my reading journal, since I wrote about this book and The Ministry of Fear together. So read on:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2017/03/...
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Reading Progress
March 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 22, 2017
– Shelved
March 25, 2017
–
Started Reading
March 25, 2017
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38.75%
"replacement until my new copy of the Rector of Veilbye gets here. Greene is such a good author."
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62
March 26, 2017
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76.25%
"Finished The Third Man, ready to go on to The Fallen Idol, which was originally titled" The Basement Room. "I love Graham Greene - it's a shame so few people read him any more."
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122
March 27, 2017
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98.13%
"finished. I loved both stories here -- now for the films.
I'll post about this book this week -- we spent the weekend with our very best friends from IL and last night's beer pong together with tequila shots has fried the brain for today. "
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157
I'll post about this book this week -- we spent the weekend with our very best friends from IL and last night's beer pong together with tequila shots has fried the brain for today. "
March 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
uk-fiction
March 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
spy-fiction
March 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
1940s
March 27, 2017
– Shelved as:
1930s
March 27, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-11 of 11 (11 new)
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Gary
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Mar 25, 2017 10:07PM
Third Man & Fallen Idol have both been on TCM recently. Two of my all time favorite films.
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Gary wrote: "Third Man & Fallen Idol have both been on TCM recently. Two of my all time favorite films."Mine too. Both are outstanding. Re Fallen Idol -- I remember watching it thinking that back then the film censors couldn't possibly let anything bad happen to the boy, but it was still a white knuckler and stomach churner! I'll be watching both films again after I finish the book.
Nancy wrote: "Gary wrote:" Third Man & Fallen Idol have both been on TCM recently. Two of my all time favorite films. "Mine too. Both are outstanding. Re Fallen Idol -- I remember watching it thinking that back... "
Greene adapted both stories for the film versions. Here's something that surprised me. Greene's original ending for The Third Man is romantic and relatively weak, a "Hollywood ending" the audience would expect: after Lime's funeral Martins/Cotton & Schmidt/Valli walk off together. Greene and the producer, David Selznick, argued for that ending. The director, Carol Reed, argued for the now famous, Anti-Romantic ending.
All is explained in Greene's preface -- I'm eager to finish to get to the films!
Films watched! I may be the only person who thinks this, but sometimes the music didn't fit the scene in The Third Man, and it was like an episode of cognitive dissonance when that happened.
Nancy wrote: "Films watched! I may be the only person who thinks this, but sometimes the music didn't fit the scene in The Third Man, and it was like an episode of cognitive dissonance when that happened."Well, maybe, in a few scenes.;) But from what I've read, Anton Karas's zither music was improvised, making the score unique, and for the most part I think very atmospheric and effective. I certainly enjoy it every time I watch the film. And The Third Man Theme was a big hit back in the early 1950's.
Gary wrote: "Nancy wrote:" Films watched! I may be the only person who thinks this, but sometimes the music didn't fit the scene in The Third Man, and it was like an episode of cognitive dissonance when that ha... "Atmospheric at times, but I had to agree with Mr. Film Critic who every so often bluntly said "the music is wrong for this scene." I think the story was way better than the movie - but I loved the film.
Agreed. His novels are fine works of art. The Quiet American is one to be recommended to someone new to his work.
Christopher wrote: "Agreed. His novels are fine works of art. The Quiet American is one to be recommended to someone new to his work."I lovedThe Quiet American-- it's one of my favorite books.
One more thing re: The Third Man (the film). There's a scene where Martins has to appear before a group of readers who don't know who he is, and have no idea what he writes (Pulp Westerns). They pepper him with questions about James Joyce, stream of consciousness, etc. A writer's nightmare! I cringe every time I see it.;)
Gary wrote: "One more thing re: The Third Man (the film). There's a scene where Martins has to appear before a group of readers who don't know who he is, and have no idea what he writes (Pulp Westerns). They pe..."That's in the book too. It was cringeworthy for me in the movie as well (and I'm not even a writer!!) and I was actually feeling sorry for Martins as the audience started walking out of his talk.
