MovieChat Forums > The Death of Richie (1977) Discussion > Movie vs Book

Movie vs Book

posted 14 years ago by disturbedtool68
5 replies | jump to latest

Some poignant differences

Robby Benson did a spectacular job. He really made Richie likable when he was sober, and fncked up when he was under the influence

When "Richie" in the movie went to the job interview, or was selling raffle tickets, we're on his side and we really want him to succeed. we believe he can.

But according to the book, and people who knew him, Richie wasnt nearly so engaging and he was actually a bit of a prick

He ripped off everyone he knew. He used to buy quantities of pot, then drop in some aragano or something else to make the bags weigh more

He got some empty capsules and filled them with sugar, then sold them as speed

His dad had a recording where Richie was talking about getting an ounce of pot fronted, but he wasnt sure he could sell it because he'd ripped off everyone he sold to

He was a bully in his neighborhood. he would try to get people to steal for him. sometimes he succeeded, like getting a couple of kids to steal a bunch of records for him

when a kid resisted, he would beat them up, or smack them around

he tried to rip off a pharmacy, he attacked a teacher, and threatend a teacher

did he deserve to die? according to the real Brick, Richie was in no condition to harm his father

it's true that seconal really fncks you up, and it's been described as having the same effect as alcohol has.

how many people have been killed by someone under the influence of alcohol?

Richie had an ice pick in his hand when he was shot, and he was known to get a huge burst of energy after he took seconal, his drug of choice, then he would wear down, and crash

he had massive amounts of seconal in his system when he died

on the day he died, he told his mom he had a date and wanted to borrow the car
she let him

he took off, dropped 4 seconals , went cruising around, waved to his friends and hit a park bench

then when he tried to drive home, now very much under the influence of seconal, he was driving way too fast, like a race car driver, lost control and totaled his moms car, along with another car

he was a major fnck up and I wouldnt have wanted to EVER be around someone like that

good job to Robby Benson for his portrayal, but Richie was a bit of a jerk and a parental nightmare

- unfortunately, his brother went down the same path, and as far as I can read he was last known to be a heroin junkie living in a flop house back in the 80's

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Best Movie of 2009/10: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS & WORLD'S GREATEST DAD

[–] Devans00 13 years ago

The fact that Richie Diener's little brother went down the same path makes you wonder about the parents. I wonder if the mother was a prescription pill popper or the father an alcoholic.

Or maybe the family is just pre-disposed to addition.

Interesting website about the real Richie.

The story of Richie Diener, a New York teenager whose life and death was depicted in the May 5, 1972 issue of Life Magazine, a book by Thomas Thompson, and a movie. He was murdered by his own father. Richie's life was remade into a film and a book, but his real story has never been told.
http://4richie.blogspot.com/

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] sundown1892 12 years ago

Spoilers ahead.

I read the book many years ago and just watched the movie last night. And seeing the film depiction, I had the same questions about the shooting as I did all those years ago.

I'm sure Richie was a nightmare to deal with, but he was nearly 18 and should have been kicked out of the house if he was that much of a threat to his parents and younger brother. As far as the actual shooting on the stairs goes, I’m not sure I can buy the self-defense claim. As shown in the film several times, the number of downers he was on would make him as uncoordinated as someone who was extremely intoxicated and therefore easy for a grown man to disable. His father was an expert marksman, and should have been able to shoot not to kill, if he truly felt this whacked out boy was going to be able to harm him then. But I don't think he did think that; I can't see the immediate threat given the circumstances. I think he was tired of dealing with his loser son saw an opportunity to outright kill him.

Maybe the father would get off today, and maybe he wouldn't. But I think more questions would be asked now and maybe a better forensic investigation done. As far as the book and the film go, since they are both essentially from the father's point of view, it's likely he was made into a more sympathetic character than he really was.

[–] Wuchak (8081) 6 years ago

As far as the book and the film go, since they are both essentially from the father's point of view, it's likely he was made into a more sympathetic character than he really was.

But, as the OP points out, Richie was made out to be a more sympathetic character in the movie as well (lightly edited):

But according to the book, and people who knew him, Richie wasn't nearly so engaging and he was actually a bit of a prick.

He ripped off everyone he knew. He used to buy quantities of pot, then drop in some oregano or something else to make the bags weigh more.

He got some empty capsules and filled them with sugar, then sold them as speed.

His dad had a recording where Richie was talking about getting an ounce of pot fronted, but he wasn't sure he could sell it because he'd ripped off everyone he sold to.

He was a bully in his neighborhood. he would try to get people to steal for him. sometimes he succeeded, like getting a couple of kids to steal a bunch of records for him.

when a kid resisted, he would beat them up, or smack them around

he tried to rip off a pharmacy, he attacked a teacher, and threatened a teacher

[–] Pictureshow1990 8 years ago

I 'my afraid to ask tool68, how do you know so much?

[–] Boromir (9712) 3 years ago

Learning his little brother take the same path, and became heroin user, break my heart .
So sad. :(