The Magician's Wife by James M. Cain

 

The Magician’s Wife by James M. Cain

(pb;1965)

From the back cover

“CLAY LOCKWOOD.

“He was a powerful business executive with a brilliant career ahead of him—until he met Sally.

 

“SALLY ALEXIS.

“She was a magician’s beautiful wife, but it was her own sensuous magic that drew Clay to what he knew would mean trouble.

 

“GRACE SIMONE.

“Clay was her idea of everything a man should be—and she didn’t intend to share Clay with Sally.”

 

Review

Fans of Cain’s heady brew of firebrand men and women, lust, suspense and murder are likely to enjoy wholesale-meat salesman (and manly man) Clay Lockwood’s dizzying, quick-twists journey down a rabbit hole of character-based success, desire and death (in this case the latter is likely to be Alec Gorsuch, aka the Great Alexis, husband of Sally, one of Lockwood’s lovers). Like much of Cain’s other headlong-into-trouble works, this one is chatty at times (though it doesn’t feel like filler), with a variety of engaging characters—some of them honest, like Edith “Buster” Conlon, a feisty, friendly stripper, and her lawyer (and Lockwood’s friend), Nat Pender! For me, though, the standout character is the savvy, patient Grace Simone, Sally’s mother, who isn’t out to get her daughter, but won’t let Sally get in the way of what she wants. The ending has its own stark brand of honesty and personal responsibility, admirable in a weird and dangerous way. Entertaining, good read by a great genre author, one worth seeking out and settling into for an afternoon or two.

Jealous Woman by James M. Cain

 

(pb; 1950: loosely linked sequel to Double Indemnity)

From the back cover

“James M. Cain. . . pairs Jane Delevan and Ed Horner as new lovers in this sizzling divorce novel set in Reno. Cain’s famous insurance investigator, Keyes, straight out of Double Indemnity, puts in a surprising appearance, seven years after solving the earlier murder. When Jane Delevan’s estranged husband Tom shows up, with his first wife, Lady Sperry, in tow, who sets her sights on Ed Horner, Cain serves up a generous helping of Hollywood-ized sloppy behavior. This is Cain’s only true ‘mystery’ novel.”

 

Review

Seven years after the happenings of Double Indemnity, Barton Keyes, often unlikeable insurance investigator for General Pan-Pacific of California (“Gen-Pan for short”), finds himself attracted to his own possible femme fatale (Constance Sperry) while he works with another Gen-Pan agent, the grudgingly honest and promotion-obsessed Ed Horner who’s in love with another dangerous woman, Jane Delevan (whose husband just took a header over the roof of a building). Things are complicated, fast-moving when another corpse turns up, both tied to the two women as well as Harriet Jenkins, Richard Sperry’s British secretary.

Jealous is not as fun to read as Double, nor is it as easy to follow. Keeping voice-true to its chatty, run-on sentence-spouting narrator (Ed Horner), it moves quickly (with sometimes awkward transition-twist sentences) and piles on the red herrings and twists. A breathless, adrenaline-charged read, it’s a sometimes solid, often dizzying work, one worth checking out if you’re fine with its borderline stream-of-consciousness “voice” and/or a die-hard Cain fan.

Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

 

(pb; 1936: loosely linked prequel to Jealous Woman)

From the back cover

“Walter Huff is an insurance investigator like any other—until the day he meets the beautiful and dangerous Phyllis Nirdlinger and falls under her spell. Together they plot the perfect murder. . . Double Indemnity is the classic tale of an evil woman motivated by greed, who corrupts a weak man motivated by lust.”

 

Review

Double Indemnity is one of my all-time favorite pulp novels, with its quotable (often edgy and ripe-with-innuendo) dialogue, action and lead characters, barebones writing and sharp editing, fast pace, effective Master Class twists and haunting, hair-raising/eerie finish. Excellent, timeless novel for those readers willing to walk on the oh-so-dark and unsettling side. Only a few writers I’ve read match the stripped-down (yet effective and disturbing) tone, delivery and editing of Double.

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Double Indemnity has been filmed twice.

The first theatrical version (there’s the inevitable theatrical remake) with the same title was released stateside on July 6, 1944. Billy Wilder directed and co-scripted it. Raymond Chandler Jr. is listed as a co-screenwriter.

Fred MacMurray played Walter Neff. Barbara Stanwyck played Phyllis Dietrichson (cinematic counterpart to Phyllis Nirdlinger). Edward G. Robinson played Barton Keyes.

Tom Powers played Mr. Dietrichson (cinematic counterpart to Mr. Nirdlinger). Jean Heather played Lola Dietrichson (counterpart to Lola Nirdlinger). Byron Barr played Nino Zarchetti (Beniamino “Nino” Sachetti in the book). Richard Gaines played Mr. Norton.

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The second adaptation, a telepic, aired as an ABC Movie of the Week on October 13, 1973. Directed by Jack Smight from Steven Bochco’s based-on-the-1944-screenplay teleplay, it starred Richard Crenna as Walter Neff. Samantha Eggar played Phyllis Dietrichson. Arch Johnson played Mr. Dietrichson. Lee J. Cobb played Barton Keyes.

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain

 

(hb; 1934)

Review

Postman is an excellent, no-words-wasted, twisted tale of raw sexuality, adultery and murder, with two main characters who, in spite of the seeming amorality, are relatable (at least for this reader), who aren’t evil just unhappy, and willing to do what they need to do to achieve it. Simple (but not simple-minded), entertaining and darkly clever, this is one of the best pulp novels I’ve read. Worth owning, this.

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Two film versions of Postman resulted.

The first version was released stateside on May 2, 1946. Tay Garnett directed it, from a screenplay by Harry Ruskin and Niven Busch.

John Garfield played Frank Chambers. Lana Turner played Cora Smith (in the book her married surname was Papadakis). Cecil Kellaway played Nick Smith.

Hume Cronyn played Arthur Keats. Leon Ames played Kyle Sackett. Audrey Totter played Madge Gorland. Alan Reed (who later voiced an animated Fred Flintstone) played Ezra Liam Kennedy. Jeff York played Blair.

The second version, directed by Bob Rafelson from a script by David Mamet, was released stateside on March 20, 1981.

Jack Nicholson played Frank Chambers. Jessica Lange played Cora Papadakis. John Colicos played Nick Papadakis.

Michael Lerner played Mr. Katz. John P. Ryan played Kennedy. William Traylor played Sackett. Anjelica Huston played Madge. Thomas Hill, billed as Tom Hill, played Barlow.

Martian Quest: The Early Brackett by Leigh Brackett

(hb; 2002: science fiction story anthology. "Introduction" by Michael Moorcock.)

From the inside flap

“Martian Quest: The Early Brackett is a long-overdue collection of the twenty earliest stories by the undisputed ‘Queen of Space-Opera.’

“On a Venus that never was, on a Mars that can never be (but should have been), Leigh Brackett’s early stories laid the foundation for her later classic adventures, The Sword of Rhiannon, The Nemesis from Terra, and the 'Eric John Stark' series.

“Other stories in this collection draw inspiration from such diverse sources as the lost-race novels of H. Rider Haggard, the lush fantasies of A. Merritt, and the planetary romances of Edgar Rice Burroughs. With an appreciation for Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, Brackett’s prose is a unique display of vigorous swashbuckling adventure tempered with a harsh, hard-boiled economy.”

Overall review

Brackett’s Forties-era science fiction adventure stories largely stuck to a few basic western genre-born templates: a man of action with a troubling or mysterious past finds himself in dire, violent situations with aliens and (usually) a female romantic interest who may or may not be true to him or his aims. While the female characters are firmly envisioned in the male gaze, Brackett keeps them palatable with knowing winks.

Brackett, an excellent, cut-to-it author, keeps it lean, sometimes twisty─depending on the length of the work─and genre-true. Springing from these early, formulaic beginnings, she would go on to write expanded, more complex works, earning her reputation as a stellar science fiction writer.

Stories

“Martian Quest” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1940]: A young Earthling (Martin Drake), poor and further saddled with self-doubt, uses his knowledge of chemicals to fend off Khom, giant creatures that devour impoverished Martian settlers’ homes.

“The Treasure of Pkatuth” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1942]: On Mars, competing adventurerers (Terence Shane, Thaldrek of Ved) seek a legendary, forbidden city (Pkatuth) while contending with a barbaric tribe (the Shunni) and their beautiful leader (Zenda Challoner)─who may be the daughter of a wise, mad god. This is an excellent retelling of the Fountain of Youth story.

“The Tapestry Gate” [Strange Stories, August 1940]: A supernatural tapestry preys on a couple’s mutual loathing.

“The Stellar Legion” [Planet Stories, Winter 1940]: A military group made up of mixed aliens fend off a horde of Nahali (“six-foot, scarlet-eyed swamp dwellers”) while a traitor schemes within their ranks.

“The Demons of Darkside” [Startling Stories, June 1941]: A murder suspect (Barry Garth) steals a ship to Mercury in order to save his girlfriend (Alice Webster) from state execution. This thinly plotted story is especially action oriented.

“Water Pirate” [Super Science Stories, January 1941]: In 2418, a man (Jaffa Gray) and a girl (Lhara) go after whoever is hijacking life-giving water transports, in order to stop them.

“Interplanetary Reporter” [Startling Stories, May 1941]: When Jupiter declares war on Venus, cynical reporter Chris Barton is compelled by a beautiful, hard woman (Kei Volhan) and her idealistic fiancé (Bobby Lance) to further investigate what’s going on─which means that all is not as it seems. Especially exciting, romantic standout work.

“The Dragon-Queen of Venus” [Planet Stories, Summer 1941]: Desperate, starving soldiers try to hold back swamp people and life-draining serpents from their alien outpost fort. If they do not succeed in defeating the invasive creatures, their efforts to colonize Venus means the death of their home-planet people.

“Lord of the Earthquake” [Science Fiction, June 1941]: In this ambitious, tightly plotted Robert E. Howard-esque tale, two submariners travel 12,000 years into the past, just before an ancient civilization (Mu) is shaken into ruins by tremblors, music and treachery.

“No Man’s Land in Space” [Amazing Stories, July 1941]: Monsters and stalk and kill the citizens of Sark, an outlaw town on fragile asteroid. Wartime intrigue, a rogue scientist, Lunar creatures and cynical humor highlight this fast-moving work.

“A World is Born” [Comet Stories, July 1941]: On Mercury, a civilization-building prisoner plots his escape, a scheme hastened when an opportunistic capitalist (Caron of Mars) arrives to use the planet and its inhabitants for his own ends.

Like many of the lead characters in preceding stories, Mel Gray─”World” protagonist─is a hard, cynical antihero with a sense of decency, honor. Fun tale.

“Retreat to the Stars” [Astonishing Stories, November 1941]: A spy for the State is torn between his lust for a rebel soldier (Marika) and fulfilling his cold-hearted mission. Okay read, would’ve been better at a shorter length.

“Child of the Green Light” [Super Science Stories, February 1942]: Son, an energy-born creature with telepathic powers, fends off space-suited invaders who are trying to kill the source light that not only made him, but is slowly killing them. Especially good read.

“The Sorcerer of Rhiannon” [Astounding Science Fiction, February 1942]: A treasure hunter (Max Brandon) is caught between two warring aliens with superior technology (Tobul, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Kymra). His professional rival, a deadly Venusian named Dhu Kar, also complicates Brandon’s trek through a Martian desert. Lots of action in this one.

“Child of the Sun” [Planet Stories, Spring 1942]: On-the-run outlaws land on a planet where an illuminated alien life form holds power. Good, character-twisty read.

“Out of the Sea” [Planet Stories, Spring 1942]:The Japanese use science to direct giant sea creatures to attack US beaches, and it’s up to Webb Fallon (an alcoholic reporter) and Einer Bjarnsseon (a scientist with a submarine) to save the day.

Fun storyline and setup for this, with a parodic tone (making fun of tough guys and sexism).

“Cube from Space” [Super Science Stories, August 1942]: An outlaw is trapped by parasitic aliens (the Rakshi) and forced to help them find new bodies─until he is able to break free and help his fellow humans fight back. Good read.

“Outpost on Io” [Planet Stories, Winter 1942]: On an alien moon, a prisoner (MacVickers) tries to foment revolt among his fellow alien prisoners against their Europan guards.

“The Halfling” [Astonishing Stories, February 1943]: Jade Greene, a carny boss-man, hires a new performer (Laura) who brings dangerous secrets and violent problems into Greene’s traveling show.

“The Citadel of Lost Ships” [Planet Stories, March 1943]: A man (Roy Campbell) helps a Venusian tribe evade the Government patrols who mean them harm.

The Butterfly by James M. Cain

(pb; 1946)

From the back cover

“In this story of incest and mistaken identity set in the coal-mining hills of Appalachia, a man estranged from his family for many years finds himself fatally attracted to his daughter when he meets her for the first time as a grown woman.”

Review

Butterfly is a tautly penned, immediately gripping work, with its characters’ emotions and actions starkly stated, its pace and descriptions masterful and its taboo theme effectively flavored with mystery and story-altering twists. Those who might shy away─like I did─from reading this because of possible incest ickiness should consider letting go of their reservations, because Cain tastefully keeps Butterfly within acceptable thriller/mainstream guidelines, while flirting with familial perversion. This is one of the few books I have read where the word perfect is applicable, given its balance of elements and no-words-wasted delivery.

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The resulting film, Butterfly, was released stateside on February 5, 1982. Director Matt Cimber co-authored its screenplay with John F. Goff (billed as John Goff).

Stacy Keach played Jess Tyler. Pia Zadora played Kady. Lois Nettleton played Belle Morgan. James Franciscus played Moke Blue. Anne Dane played Janey.

Edward Albert played Wash Gillespie. June Lockhart played Mrs. Gillespie. Ed McMahon played Mr. Gillespie. George “Buck” Flowers (billed as Buck Flowers) played Ed Lamey. 

Stuart Whitman played Rev. Rivers. Orson Welles played Judge Rauch. Paul Hampton played Norton.