STEPHEN KING'S CHRISTINE
WORDSLINGER'S NOTE: I've been a bit lax of late in regards to posting. Sorry about that. I've been otherwise occupied in editing the manuscript and getting it ready for ... you know what? Let's just see how this plays out -- some verrrrry interesting things are a'brew. Meanwhile, how about another Halloween related post?
By the early 80s, Stephen King was already a brand name author -- due in no small part to the cinematic kick start Brian DePalma gave him in 1976 with his adaptation of Carrie. King's name, soon after, was a genre unto itself. Carrie the movie was quickly followed by Tobe Hooper's telefilm 'Salem's Lot, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and David Cronenberg's The Dead Zone. But perhaps the fastest trip from book to screen was King's 1983 novel, Christine.
Taking place in 1978 Pittsburgh (one of the few King novels to not be set in Maine or Colorado), the tale spun is about woefully nerdy Arnie Cunningham and his redemption, transformation and ultimate damnation from a gone-to-seed 1958 Plymouth Fury which he buys, fixes and is finally possessed by. "Christine," as the original owner has christened her, is much more than just a hunk of metal with four wheels -- pour enough love and devotion into her and she will return that love in spades. However, she does have a bit of a jealous streak -- to put it mildly -- as Arnie's best friend Dennis and new girlfriend, Leigh, quickly discover.
When asked why he chose the '58 Plymouth Fury for his novel, King explained, "Because they are almost totally forgotten cars. It was the most mundane 1950s car that I could remember and it's not a car that already had a legend attached to it -- like the 50's Thunderbird or Ford Galaxies." King further explained, "An audience can relate, to a certain degreee, to something like a haunted house -- traditional horrors like ghosts, vampires and things like that. You give them a car, or any inanimate object, and you're suggesting something that is either along the pulpy lines of EC Comics, or else obviously symbolic. The car is a symbol for the technological age or for the end of innocence, when it plays such a part in adolescence and growing up. When you do that, you're really starting to take a risk -- but that's where the excitement is. If you can make somebody go along with that concept, that's really wonderful."
EVIL ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE
Producer Richard Kobritz ('Salem's Lot) purchased the rights to Christine for $500,000 after reading it in galley form. After hiring director John Carpenter to helm the film, the $10 million independent production began shooting in April 1983, only days before King's novel made the hardback bestseller list. Twenty-three identical Plymouth Furies were acquired and made over, most coming from vintage car collectors. Carpenter also composed the very effective soundtrack, along with selecting the countless 'oldies' which play from Christine's radio. King did the same thing -- every chapter in the book opens with lyrics from a fifties or sixties classic. Music plays such an integral role in this story, the book is divided up into three parts: Teenage Love Songs, Teenage Car Songs and Teenage Death Songs. The film starred Keith Gordon (Dressed To Kill) as Arnie, John Stockwell as Dennis and Alexandra Paul (who would go on to star in Baywatch) as Leigh.
While it was a box-office disappointment in its day, the film has since gone on to achieve a cult status, not only among King and Carpenter fans, but those who just appreciate a good story, well told. This is very much a romantic triangle with a horrific twist -- very entertaining.
CHRISTINE SPECIAL EDITION DVD
In 2004, a Special Edition DVD was released by Columbia Pictures. Infinitely better than the previous release, this one came packed with excellent bonus features including:
-- Commentary by John Carpenter and Keith Gordon
-- 20 deleted and alternate scenes
-- Three exclusive Making Of features by Laurent Bouzereau
-- Cast biographies
Well worth the upgrade.
MOVIE: B+
BONUS CONTENT: B+
Christine, both the novel and the film, each belong in the Top 10 of their respective categories (King books, and King film adaptations). if you've never read or seen it, this is definitely one to seek out.
CHRISTINE THEATRICAL TEASER
How do you kill something that can't possibly be alive?
By the early 80s, Stephen King was already a brand name author -- due in no small part to the cinematic kick start Brian DePalma gave him in 1976 with his adaptation of Carrie. King's name, soon after, was a genre unto itself. Carrie the movie was quickly followed by Tobe Hooper's telefilm 'Salem's Lot, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and David Cronenberg's The Dead Zone. But perhaps the fastest trip from book to screen was King's 1983 novel, Christine.
Taking place in 1978 Pittsburgh (one of the few King novels to not be set in Maine or Colorado), the tale spun is about woefully nerdy Arnie Cunningham and his redemption, transformation and ultimate damnation from a gone-to-seed 1958 Plymouth Fury which he buys, fixes and is finally possessed by. "Christine," as the original owner has christened her, is much more than just a hunk of metal with four wheels -- pour enough love and devotion into her and she will return that love in spades. However, she does have a bit of a jealous streak -- to put it mildly -- as Arnie's best friend Dennis and new girlfriend, Leigh, quickly discover.
When asked why he chose the '58 Plymouth Fury for his novel, King explained, "Because they are almost totally forgotten cars. It was the most mundane 1950s car that I could remember and it's not a car that already had a legend attached to it -- like the 50's Thunderbird or Ford Galaxies." King further explained, "An audience can relate, to a certain degreee, to something like a haunted house -- traditional horrors like ghosts, vampires and things like that. You give them a car, or any inanimate object, and you're suggesting something that is either along the pulpy lines of EC Comics, or else obviously symbolic. The car is a symbol for the technological age or for the end of innocence, when it plays such a part in adolescence and growing up. When you do that, you're really starting to take a risk -- but that's where the excitement is. If you can make somebody go along with that concept, that's really wonderful."
EVIL ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE
Producer Richard Kobritz ('Salem's Lot) purchased the rights to Christine for $500,000 after reading it in galley form. After hiring director John Carpenter to helm the film, the $10 million independent production began shooting in April 1983, only days before King's novel made the hardback bestseller list. Twenty-three identical Plymouth Furies were acquired and made over, most coming from vintage car collectors. Carpenter also composed the very effective soundtrack, along with selecting the countless 'oldies' which play from Christine's radio. King did the same thing -- every chapter in the book opens with lyrics from a fifties or sixties classic. Music plays such an integral role in this story, the book is divided up into three parts: Teenage Love Songs, Teenage Car Songs and Teenage Death Songs. The film starred Keith Gordon (Dressed To Kill) as Arnie, John Stockwell as Dennis and Alexandra Paul (who would go on to star in Baywatch) as Leigh.
While it was a box-office disappointment in its day, the film has since gone on to achieve a cult status, not only among King and Carpenter fans, but those who just appreciate a good story, well told. This is very much a romantic triangle with a horrific twist -- very entertaining.
CHRISTINE SPECIAL EDITION DVD
In 2004, a Special Edition DVD was released by Columbia Pictures. Infinitely better than the previous release, this one came packed with excellent bonus features including:
-- Commentary by John Carpenter and Keith Gordon
-- 20 deleted and alternate scenes
-- Three exclusive Making Of features by Laurent Bouzereau
-- Cast biographies
Well worth the upgrade.
MOVIE: B+
BONUS CONTENT: B+
Christine, both the novel and the film, each belong in the Top 10 of their respective categories (King books, and King film adaptations). if you've never read or seen it, this is definitely one to seek out.
CHRISTINE THEATRICAL TEASER
How do you kill something that can't possibly be alive?
Post made: Wed, Oct 22 2008 - 12:12 PM
Category: Stephen King
vem said:
I wasn't really sure this was a book I wanted to read. Now I'm intrigued. It's moving up my reading list, following another certain book ... of course.
Wed, Oct 22 2008 - 14:01 PM