Book or Film Adaptation: Classic Thriller: Night of the Fox by Jack Higgins

This post is a recommendation of three (3) books written by British author Jack Higgins (1929 - ), who is aptly described as "...one of the best-selling authors of popular thrillers and espionage novels."  I thought the excerpt from one of those books was a great way to pique your interest. 

“Rommel.” Hitler smiled a ghastly smile that was almost one of triumph.

“So, the Desert Fox wishes to play games.”

“I’m almost certain of it.”

“The people’s hero,” Hitler said. “We must handle him carefully, wouldn’t you say?”

“Or outfox him, my Fuhrer,” Himmler said softly.

“Outfox him. Outfox the Desert Fox.” Hitler smiled delightfully.“Yes, I like that, Reichsfuhrer. I like that very much indeed.”

♦ The dialogue above is extracted from “Night of the Fox”, a novel by Jack Higgins.


Almost everybody knows Harry Patterson better known as Jack Higgins. He is an international bestselling suspense thrilling author who is among the world’s most popular writers. He is remembered by many for his novel, “The Eagle Has Landed” (1975); but his book “Night of the Fox” (1986) is equally as impressive. Though his books are a work of fiction, the writer’s efforts to research the historical events on which the plots are based were painstakingly real. For example, part of his research involved actually meeting with and reviewing the diaries of a woman who was trapped in Jersey during World War II.

The book, “The Eagle Has Landed”, was adapted to film (1976) which also starred a few of my favorite actors: Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, and Donald Sutherland disguised as Polish airmen. It was a plot to kidnap Sir Winston Churchill.  Intense!

“Night of the Fox”, was also made into a movie (1990) which starred two of my favorite actors, George Peppard (as American officer, Col. Harry Martineau) and Michael York (as high-ranking German officer, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox”).

The book “The Eagle Has Flown” is a sequel to “The Eagle Has Landed”. Fans of novels by Higgins consider it worthy as a classic thriller, however, it was not adapted to film.

Nevertheless, if you are compiling a private library of WWII suspense thrillers, this 3-in-1 would be a great addition!

Jack Higgins: Three Complete Novels: The Eagle Has Landed (1975); The Eagle Has Flown (1991); Night of the Fox (1986)

• More books by Jack Higgins

Image credits: Photos found at Wikipedia. General Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in December 1943; and Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1977-119-08, Erwin Rommel with Adolf Hitler. Book cover at Amazon.



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Vintage Romantic-Comedy: Three Coins in a Fountain (1954)

If you are physically unable to travel, you can always watch a movie that will take you to your dream destination. Italy has always been on my travel bucket list. And who wouldn't want to go to Rome, Italy?

When I was a kid, I watched a romantic movie called “Three Coins in a Fountain” (1954). There were numerous wonderful scenes of various sites in Italy. But I will never forget the scene where they were throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain.

The movie is about 3 American secretaries who are visiting Rome and their love affairs. The movie's memorable theme song was sung by none other than Old Blue-Eyes, Frank Sinatra.

Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. That's probably because the reviewers don't know how to appreciate a vintage classic film. In my humble opinion, this movie earned 3 stars just filming on location in Rome, Venice, and Merano; and the other 2 stars for the acting. That's 5 out of 5 stars. LOL. ☺

Anyway! Ted Turner certainly appreciated it and that's why he preserved it in his TCM collection (Turner Classic Movies).

Image credit:  IMDb

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MOVIE TRIVIA:

1. This movie is known by alternate titles “There's No Place Like Rome” and “We Believe in Love”.

2. The film is based on the novel by the same name written by John H. Secondari (Philadelphia, 1952).

3. It was nominated in 3 different categories for the 1955 Oscar Awards: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Song.

4. Even though the film title mentions 3 coins in the title, in that Trevi Fountain scene, only 2 coins were thrown into the fountain.

 

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‘The Secret Garden’ Review: It’s as Lovely as You Remember | NYT (Reblog)

Are you in the mood to watch a delightful family movie?  

This is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett that has been adapted to film several times and I have watched various versions at one time or another, from my childhood to my adulthood. I know the main character in the story is the little girl but I am inclined to recommend you watch the film adaptation which stars Colin Firth because I am a huge fan.  Any movie with him is worth watching.  Here is the link to a wonderful movie review published via the New York Times (NYT).  "This version, featuring Colin Firth as the haunted uncle, hits the same notes as the 1911 novel and previous films, and that’s fine for this uncertain moment."

‘The Secret Garden’ Review: It’s as Lovely as You Remember

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Related or Similar Links:

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Books for Children: The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence

Think you might like reading a historical mystery book series set in ancient Rome?  (Written for young readers but nobody has to know you’re an adult. One of my guilty pleasures is reading children's books.)  Here is a recommendation. This series has won awards. It’s called The Roman Mysteries and was written by Caroline Lawrence. Her goal for undertaking this task was to entertain children while reading and educate them about this ancient civilization. She succeeded. In fact, her books received praise from teachers and parents, as well as awards and recognition. This is not the only mystery series she has written but since it deals with life in ancient Rome which is one of my favorite topics, it is being suggested for mystery lovers who also have an interest in the Roman Empire.

Set in 1^st century A.D., Book 1 of the series is titled “The Thieves of Ostia”. The last of the series, Book 17 is “Man from Pomegranate Street”. The reading material targets ages 10 through 14 and the novels are available in various formats: hard copy, audio, digital, etc.
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The books were adapted to film and you can watch the episode on YouTube.  Below is the complete Roman Mysteries book series:

The Thieves of Ostia (1)

The Secrets Of Vesuvius (2)

The Pirates Of Pompeii (3)

The Assassins Of Rome (4)

The Dolphins Of Laurentum (5)

The Twelve Tasks Of Flavia Gemina (6)

The Enemies Of Jupiter (7)

The Gladiators From Capua (8)

The Colossus Of Rhodes (9)

The Fugitive From Corinth (10)

The Sirens Of Surrentum (11)

The Charioteer Of Delphi (12)

The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem (13)

The Beggar Of Volubilis (14)

The Scribes From Alexandria (15)

The Prophet From Ephesus (16)

The Man From Pomegranate Street (17)

The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem

This exciting adventure recreates the siege at Masada.

Caroline Lawrence has also written other historical mysteries. View Her Author's Page.

Source:  Webnuggetz.com

In Memory of: Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959) | Jazz and Blues Lovers Will Always Love Lady Day

My late mother loved gardening. She had a way of arranging flowers in the front yard of our home, based on the season of the year. Do you remember back in the day when neighbors used to visit each other and sit outside and talk?  Well, I have a memory of one evening when my mom and some of her friends were sitting outside talking.  I don't know what season of the year it was, but when I came outside there was a wonderful scent in the air. I had to interrupt the adult conversation and ask my mom what was that delightful odor I was smelling. She told me it was the gardenias she had planted and that in the evening was the best time to smell their fragrance.

Image credit:  Amazon.com

Later on in life (in my teens), I learned about a jazz singer named Billie Holiday and she loved using gardenias to adorn her hair. I must say that she looked quite stylish. I wanted to copy her style so I bought fake flower hair ornaments. Sharing an image of the late Billie Holiday.  She was a great jazz vocalist but she had a really sad life. They did a movie about her life and Diana Ross played her part.  The movie was called “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972).  Some say a lot of the bio details are not accurate.  But don't most movies about famous people change details in the name of “artistic license”?  The film was adapted from a book, her autobiography by the same name, published by Doubleday in 1956.  Anyway!  Entertainment-wise, it was a really good film.  It's listed at TCM (Turner Classic Movies).  Even if you don't watch the movie, you should listen to music.  The soundtrack is pretty awesome!

• In Memory Of:  Eleanora Fagan Gough (1915-1959).  She chose the stage name “Billie Holiday” and was nicknamed “Lady Day” by Lester Young, a saxophonist in the Count Basie Orchestra.  The two worked together in nightclubs on New York's 52nd St.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Billie Holiday: the highs and lows of Lady Day | Jazzwise

Lady Sings the Blues (1972) - Turner Classic Movies

‘Lady Sings The Blues’: Diana Ross Plays Billie Holiday | uDiscover

100 facts about Billie Holiday's life and legacy | USAToday

Why Do Gardenias Smell More at Night? | Home Guides | SF Gate

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In Memory of Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) 

TV Miniseries Based on a Book by Anne Rice: The Feast of All Saints (2001)

When you hear the name Anne Rice, if you’re like most people you think of vampires. So I was rather surprised several years back when a miniseries was aired on television called the “The Feast of All Saints”.  This miniseries is an adaptation of a book with the same title by Ms. Rice, published in 1979. It is historical fiction about people of color, not slaves but free, who lived in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 19th century.  The series included many celebrated African-American actors whose work in the entertainment industry is well-known, such as Eartha Kitt, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Ben Vereen.  The series also introduced other not so well-known actors of color like Gloria Reuben, Robert Ri’chard, and Nicole Lynn.

I have yet to read the book, but the televised series was excellent from start to finish and very educational. It shed light on a part of American history that is practically unknown.

♦

Books by Anne Rice ~ https://t.co/abqbln0axq ~ Ms. Rice has written 30+ #books, Her 1st novel, "Interview with the Vampire", published 1976 and another novel “Feast of All Saints” about the free people of color of ante-bellum New Orleans, published 1979, were adapted to film. pic.twitter.com/VL15YFGfYV

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) September 4, 2018

In Memory of Anne Rice (1941 - 2021)

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BOOKS ADAPTED TO FILM: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

You know what they say about classic novels?  They are the books that everybody has on their book shelf at home, but nobody reads them.☺ This post has a couple of apologies.

FIRST APOLOGY:  I apologize to Victor Hugo.  I have never read any of his novels.  But I do know that they must have been really really good, because a few of Hugo's novels were adapted to film.  As an adult I've watched a few of those movies.  But as a child I only remember one film based on Victor Hugo's iconic 1831 novel:  "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", released in 1939. 

WOW!  What a movie!  Loved that scene where Quasimodo, the hunchback (Charles Laughton), lifts the gypsy girl Esmeralda (Maureen O’Hara) into the air and shouts “Sanctuary! Sanctuary!!”  Made quite an impression on my young mind. ☺

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) | | Ffilms.org.” N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2017.

SECOND APOLOGY:  I have to apologize to those who decided on a remake of this classic which was released in 1997. When this movie was first released I did not watch it because I thought it would not measure up to the 1939 movie I had watched as a child. But one night I was looking for something to watch on YouTube and found it.  I was so wrong! This remake is actually quite good.  Salma Hayek stars as Esmeralda, the gypsy woman. Mandy Patinkin is Quasimodo; and Richard Harris is Dom Claude Frollo. The supporting actors were excellent; and the scenery was awesome!

Fun Fact:
The filming locations were Budapest, Hungary; Prague, Czech Republic; and Rouen, France.

I give this 1997 film 4.5 our of 5 stars. Watch it on YouTube.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1997)

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For Fans of Marlon Brando: "The Ugly American" (1963)

If you told fans of Marlon Brando to summarize his acting career of 6 decades with one word, they would probably say: Stella!

If you told fans of Marlon Brando to summarize his career with one line, it depends on the generation of fans you're asking. 

• One group might say: "I could have been a contender". 
• Another group might say: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."

If you were to ask any Brando fan to name their favorite Brando movies, I seriously doubt that "The Ugly American" would be on anybody's list. Nevertheless, I'm recommending this movie. Why? Because ...

The novel “The Ugly American” was published in 1958 and in 1963, the book was adapted to film by Universal Pictures. Marlon Brando (1924 – 2004) played the part of Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite. Many critics gave Brando great reviews for his acting; however other critics did not have praise for either the movie or Brando. If you're a fan, you can watch this movie on YouTube, in English, with Spanish subtitles and decide for yourself.

The Ugly American 1963 Marlon Brando ...

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Vintage Classic Movie vs Modern Remake: “The Manchurian Candidate”

“The Manchurian Candidate” which was released in 1962 and which starred Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, along with Angela Lansbury, is now a vintage classic movie.

♦ Lifting a description from Wikipedia, this movie is a "Cold War neo-noir suspense thriller".

In 2004, "The Manchurian Candidate” was given an extreme make-over. It was updated - from Cold War to Gulf War - and the remake which starred Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep actually had the blessings of Tina Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra.

♦ By contrast, the description supplied by Wikipedia for the remake is "science fiction political-thriller film".

The movies were film adaptations based on a 1959 novel, written by Richard Condon.

Both films are worth watching. But only one of them is the best!

In my opinion the 1962 version is the best! I love Frank Sinatra.

♦

In Memory Of:
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973)
Frank Sinatra (1915–1998)

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Books: American Literature: Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888)

In Memory Of Louisa May Alcott (Nov 29, 1832 – Mar 6, 1888).

Image credit: Amazon.com

This blog post is in celebration of her birthday. Most people know her as the author of "Little Women", which was adapted for film several times. The film adaptation I remember starred Elizabeth Taylor, released in 1949. There was a much later remake with Winona Rider, { Little Women (Collector's Series) }.  Of course, Ms. Alcott wrote many more novels and poetry; and she also did other interesting things in her life during a time when the movements, actions, and decisions of women were restricted or limited.  She is worthy of double honor.

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania and she had three sisters. Her father made sure that they were all educated. Louisa began her writing career publising poetry and short stories. She used a pen name, Flora Fairfield. Before she became famous she also published Gothic thrillers under the pseudonym A.M. Barnard. At the age of 35, in 1868, she published “Little Women”, an autobiography, which was an overnight success and has become a classic. Her company of friends included successful authors Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

Her life was far from glamorous and sophisticated, but she lived a life worthy of admiration. She volunteered as a nurse to serve during the Civil War; however contracted typhoid fever and was sent home. She was a suffragette and in 1879 when the laws were passed allowing women to vote in Concord, Massachusetts, she was the first woman who registered to vote. She never married and her health was very poor. Nevertheless she took care of her parents when they were ill until their deaths, and adopted and cared for her niece when her sister died. Louis May Alcott died of a stroke, two days after her father's death. She was 55 years old.

• LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150+ Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, ... The Abbot's Ghost, A Garland for Girls...

• A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories (Penguin Christmas Classics)  A treasury of treasured holiday tales written by Louisa May Alcott, painting a vivid picture of Christmas in America during the 19th century.

glitter-graphics.com

Favorite Childhood Movie: National Velvet (1944)

One of my favorite films as a kid was “National Velvet” which starred a 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor, along side Mickey Rooney. This child had a horse that she believed could win a race, if only she could ride him to victory. She entered the race and her horse won. But they disqualified her as the champion. Why? Because she was a girl and girls were not allowed to compete. Her spirit was not broken. She beamed with pride and joy. She was so proud of her horse because she proved that he could win the race and that together, they could be "the best that they could be". I loved that movie!!

For those who enjoying reading the book and watching the movie, this film was adapted from a book by the same name, written by Enid Bagnold.

In my humble opinion this movie is a timeless classic that children of every generation would enjoy; especially young girls.

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