Rod Taylor, he of the recently revived Dark of the Sun (by way of Bill Lustig, Quentin Tarantino, and the Warner Archive), starred a few years later as Travis McGee, the most famous creation of mystery scribe John D. MacDonald, in Robert Clouse's Darker Than Amber.
That brings me to the latest acquisition resulting from my movie poster addiction, which you can see below. I would have liked a more prominent image of star Rod Taylor rather than villain William Smith, but the garish colors and imagery make up for it. Interestingly, Smith's name is nowhere to be found in the billing block.
This Belgian poster features the customary bi-lingual title treatment and sources its main images from a few other posters and lobby cards for the film.
Now, if only CBS, by way of Paramount, could see to it to release this on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, it's influence on Soderbergh's Haywire is probably too oblique to have much impact.
On another positive note, there has been recent talk of another screen interpretation of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. The new adaptation, of the first McGee novel, The Deep Blue Good-by, has Leonardo DiCaprio attached as star and producer and Paul Greengrass as director. My first reaction to hearing that DiCaprio is slated to topline was far from an enthusiastic "Yow!" response, but I guess it's best to take a "wait and see" approach. That said, I know one thing...to borrow--and tweak--a line from the immortal Hank Kingsley: "One of Rod Taylor's balls is bigger than Leonardo DiCaprio."
I suppose if this thing ever gets made, CBS / Paramount would probably finally be inclined to release Darker Than Amber on a disc format, though.
This Belgian poster features the customary bi-lingual title treatment and sources its main images from a few other posters and lobby cards for the film.
Now, if only CBS, by way of Paramount, could see to it to release this on DVD or Blu-ray. Unfortunately, it's influence on Soderbergh's Haywire is probably too oblique to have much impact.
On another positive note, there has been recent talk of another screen interpretation of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee. The new adaptation, of the first McGee novel, The Deep Blue Good-by, has Leonardo DiCaprio attached as star and producer and Paul Greengrass as director. My first reaction to hearing that DiCaprio is slated to topline was far from an enthusiastic "Yow!" response, but I guess it's best to take a "wait and see" approach. That said, I know one thing...to borrow--and tweak--a line from the immortal Hank Kingsley: "One of Rod Taylor's balls is bigger than Leonardo DiCaprio."
I suppose if this thing ever gets made, CBS / Paramount would probably finally be inclined to release Darker Than Amber on a disc format, though.
5 comments:
what new adaptation? or more importantly...by who?
Producer Amy Robinson, she of MEAN STREETS, CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, BABY IT'S YOU, and AFTER HOURS, is developing. Details in the link I provided.
What horrible casting! I guess Verne Troyer will be Meyer...
Don't forget the Sam Elliott adaptation of The Empty Copper Sea named Travis McGee.
Not as action-filled as Amber, but it has it's moments.
I had a similiar reaction when hearing Leo was going to play Travis, who undoubtedly is one of my all-time favorite fictional characters, but, you know, the guy is an amazing actor and he could pull it off if everyone just holds back their negativity and gives him a shot.
Thanks, David. Yes, I'm aware of the Sam Elliott film, but have not seen it. It is a tv movie, of course, as opposed to DARKER THAN AMBER and the proposed DiCaprio project. I would agree that the fair thing would be to wait to see what Leo does with it, though I don't find him to be an amazing actor. He'll do it if he wants to, regardless of fan negativity.
Post a Comment