This was a fun piece; I loved it! What a fascinating dive into the retelling of stories.
Story lineages have fascinated me since learning (clicks away to verify on Wikipedia...) that A Fistful of Dollars (directed by Sergio Leone, 1964) was an unofficial remake of Yojimbo (directed by Akira Kurosawa, 1961), itself apparently* inspired by the movie The Glass Key (directed by Stuart Heisler, 1942) that is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett (1931).
* Before going to Wikipedia, I had thought Yojimbo was inspired by another Hammett book called Red Harvest (1929). (I went through a Hammett phase.) Apparently it wasn't, but maybe Hammett was working through similar themes, story structures, or something in The Glass Key, which I read but can't remember. (Back to Wikipedia.) Oh no. Apparently, in addition to the Yojimbo-Dollars lineage, The Glass Key was made into TWO movies, an Orson Welles radio play, and influenced the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing (1990). There might be more, but I need to get out of this rabbit hole before I lose the day.
Thanks for reading, and for sharing this deep dive of your own! I had no idea Kurosawa was adapting a Hammett story! I also went through a Hammett phase, and should really check out Yojimbo, and rewatch Miller's Crossing, which I haven't seen probably since it came out but remember loving.
This was a fun piece; I loved it! What a fascinating dive into the retelling of stories.
Story lineages have fascinated me since learning (clicks away to verify on Wikipedia...) that A Fistful of Dollars (directed by Sergio Leone, 1964) was an unofficial remake of Yojimbo (directed by Akira Kurosawa, 1961), itself apparently* inspired by the movie The Glass Key (directed by Stuart Heisler, 1942) that is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett (1931).
* Before going to Wikipedia, I had thought Yojimbo was inspired by another Hammett book called Red Harvest (1929). (I went through a Hammett phase.) Apparently it wasn't, but maybe Hammett was working through similar themes, story structures, or something in The Glass Key, which I read but can't remember. (Back to Wikipedia.) Oh no. Apparently, in addition to the Yojimbo-Dollars lineage, The Glass Key was made into TWO movies, an Orson Welles radio play, and influenced the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing (1990). There might be more, but I need to get out of this rabbit hole before I lose the day.
All of that to say, great, fascinating post!
Thanks for reading, and for sharing this deep dive of your own! I had no idea Kurosawa was adapting a Hammett story! I also went through a Hammett phase, and should really check out Yojimbo, and rewatch Miller's Crossing, which I haven't seen probably since it came out but remember loving.
This sounds great, & not only because you mention the great Murder by Death. I must look it up.
It doesn't reach the heights of MbD, but I think it's definitely playing in the same league!