Who is James M Cain Steamy Fiction Writer
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James M. Cain His Books Were Movies
I read the book Double Indemnity by James M. Cain a long time ago. After reading the book I wanted to see the much talked about movie by the same name. I was hooked with that first book. There is a pretty good collection of his novels in the house now.
Since the mini series "Mildred Pierce", book owners have been putting their vintage James M Cain novels up for sale on Ebay. Buy them now before those books go in hiding again. See a sampling below.
James M. Cain became famous with his first book "The Postman Always Rings Twice" written in 1934. The movies made from his books are the film noir type. Stay tuned because....
"It Can Be Done."
Even if it can be done, it's no good."
"It can be done, and it's good."
"Oh, you're telling me what's good."
"Yeah, I'm telling you."
Serenade by James M. Cain 1937
"Just drive" isn't a line from Cain but it is his type of short and sweet, to the point, statements that his characters use. It is said that he acquired his dialog style from a bricklayer named Ike.
Many writers are better known, such as Chandler, Steinbeck and Faulkner, but according to William Preston Robertson, Cain has not got his due. Reading his article I had to agree. I just bet a few people reading this page have never heard of him.
Here is a portion of what Robertson has to say.
"..very few films of any era bear a resemblance to the spirit of Cain's writing, the best of which was penned long before film noir existed. Somewhere in the shadows of film noir, James M. Cain the writer has got lost. No one would rate Cain a Nobel-worthy man of letters - except maybe Albert Camus, who admitted basing his existentialist work The Outsider on the Cain template. Nevertheless, at the very least Cain deserves a seat alongside the other major fiction-writers of his day. He deserves to be taken seriously, not as some kind of a miner hammering out rough ore for the Hollywood refinery, but for what he was: a first-rate writer of fiction."
Read the whole article about James Cain called "Prince of Darkness".
Short But Sweet Bio of Cain by Me.
Cain was no layabout. He completed college with a B.A. at the age eighteen and later earned a masters. After college he tried several jobs including selling insurance, teaching and inspecting roads. In 1917 he landed a newspaper job. These years were spent with drinking, infidelities and finally divorcing and remarrying.1931 took him and his second family to Hollywood. In 1934 "The Postman Always Rings Twice", plot plucked from an actual trial in NY, made him highly demanded.
After "Mildred Pierce" in 1941 his popularity faded, he married again and finally in 1947 married and finally settled for Florence McBeth, an opera singer like his mother. They spent the rest of their lives in Maryland and he continued to write, study classical music and lived the retired life. He died in 1977 at 85.
A study and website by William Marling,PH.D is very good for articles, movies, authors and books about the hard-boiled and film noir genre.
Buy Vintage James M Cain Books On Ebay
New Mini Series in the News
Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce is in the news. Had you heard of James Cain before these news releases?
Books of James M. Cain Can't Beat the Used Book Prices
Here are some James M. Cain Novels
Who Should Be the New Mildred Pierce?
Someone remake Mildred Pierce.
Painting courtesy of catfunt on flickr
11/0710 I read in the LA Times that Mildred Pierce is being remade into a mini series. A feature movie would not cover all the scenes that are in the book. They can develop the daughter better and put all the scenic vistas that are a part of that era into the movie. Make it about LA and Laguna Beach and Glendale/Pasadena, as well as Mildred.
This is a most anticipated mini series.
03/28/11 Kate Winslet is the new Mildred Pierce. This should be a very good series with this excellent actress. I am very disappointed that it is not shot in Southern California. Half Cain's book is about the Los Angeles area. Mostly, Glendale, Pasadena, San Marino and with scenes in Laguna Beach.
If you want in area to open up for you read his books. He does a good job with all his scenes. One scene Mildred is driving in heavy rain from Pasadena to Glendale. I felt like I was in that car.
I like some remakes. The Postman Always Rings Twice with Jessica Lange was good. Stella was a remake with Bette Midler. Bill Murray's the Razor's Edge equals a thumbs down.
Which actress of today could play Joan Crawford's role of Mildred with all the Forties trimmings.
Add your choice if she isn't on the list. If you like Kate Winslet add her to the list.
1
Gillian Anderson
2 points
2
Angelina Jolie
0 points
Did You Watch the Milred Pierce Miniseries?
No need to be a Squidoo member to put down your take on this series.
Was the new Milred Pierce a thumbs up?
Yes, I liked the miniseries on HBO.
No or lukewarm about the miniseries, Mildred Pierce.
paperfacets says:
This TV series was just like Cain's stories. I saw the whole five installments in one sitting. The ending was changed. They probably wanted an average family ending. A calculating daughter and a hard working mother that forgives her too many times.
I was glued to the TV till 3AM but I think it came up short for excitement. The characters emotions were reined in a little too much. I would of liked to have seen more romanticized look to the filming so it had a bit more old film touch. Most of all, I wanted more Southern California atmosphere of the film noir era: more cars, bungalow shadows, neon and city street scenes and more coast line.
To end, I wanted a little more drama.
Quick, what do you think of James M Cain?
After visting this lens would you be interested in a Cain book? Vote this poll and let's compare responses.
James M Cain in Film
Link List to James M Cain
- James M Cain in the New York Times
- Get all the lowdown on Cain from the New York Times through the years.
- List of James M Cain Published Writings
- List of novels and published dates.
- James M Cain Prince of Darkness
- Article by Preston Robertson
- The Movie Algiers
- Cain did some dialogue for this film. His first published writings were dialogue vignettes of a few pages for H.L Mencken's magazine American Mercury.
The entire film can be downloaded for free. Stars Charles Boyer and Heddie Lamar. 1938 - IMDb listing page of James M Cain
- Film listing.
- James M Cain Exhibit
- University of Maryland Specials Collections. Cain was born in Maryland and moved back to Maryland in his later years.
- The Road to Double Indemnity
- Insight to the process of making the original film.
- Cain's Lipstick Murderers
- About The Postman Always Rings Twice
- NY times Review on The Baby in the Icebox and Other Short Fiction
- Roy Hoopes collection of early Cain short ficton. The Baby in the Icebox, Brush Fire, The Girl in the Storm and Money and the Woman are memorable. The dialogue vignettes are interesting, as well as, the biographical introductions to the three sections of the book.
This book I recently bought on ebay. There has been a serge of used books there since the TV serial Mildred Pierce. - Cain Short Story "Taking of Montfaucon"
- The short story by Cain on this website is illustrated with authentic photos taken during the offensive. Excellent. This story received good reviews when it was written.
The story is of Cain's experience during the offensive, but he choose it write it in fictional first person.
Find Authors Writing in the Thirties and Forties.
Books About Film Noir
James M Cain on Flickr
Check Out Film Noir on DVD
Well. Say That Then.
Share your stories, sightings, thoughts, rants, raves about James Cain.
You do not have to be a Squidoo member. Just put your moniker
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davespeed
Dec 18, 2011 @ 2:50 pm | delete
- You taught me something today! I have seen Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce and The Postman Always Rings Twice. I didn't know that any of the three were based on a book...much less knowing anything about the author. Thanks for the lens.
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sousababy
Aug 25, 2011 @ 7:23 pm | delete
- I only knew a bit about James Cain. Thanks for the education. Take good care, Rose
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kimmanleyort
Apr 6, 2011 @ 12:51 pm | delete
- Wonderfully written and I love your titles and sub-titles. ** Blessed **
I had not heard of James Cain but have seen The Postman Always Rings Twice.
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JaguarJulie Aug 19, 2010 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- Well, I got to tell you that I never really heard of him -- but will be making more TIME in my life in the not too distant future and I'll try to check him out!
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Hairdresser007
Jan 17, 2010 @ 12:38 am | delete
- I love film noir. Many night watching the late night theater snacking on cookies and milk!
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by paperfacets
James Cain is in the news lately, because his Mildred Pierce novel of 1941 has been made into an HBO mini series.
Can't wait to see it.
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1941 Novel Is Getting News
Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain
Mildred Pierce (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)
Amazon Price: $4.93 (as of 06/01/2012)
Many of the Amazon customer reviews mention how they could not put the book down. It is good.
