Any idea if anyone making this movie ever read the book???????????
I'm going to have to dig up my copy as it's been a few years since I read it, but as best I remember nothing I've seen related to this movie has anything to do with the book.
The names use don't ring a bell and the story line is totally different. The only thing that I've seen that resembles anything from the book is the title.
Better re-read it. I'm about halfway through the novel and this adaptation is very faithful to the source, so far.
shareThe book is in the public domain, which means you can read it for free at Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1300/1300-h/1300-h.htm
Riders of the purple sage was the second zane grey book I read. The first was west of the pecos. The movie I saw did not impress me much, the book was so much richer in its dialogue, characterizations, and story.
shareHad they tried to stay completely faithful to the book, the movie would have been three to three and a half hours long.
The movie stays faithful to the novel, and the story as told by Zane Grey. It parses several partd of the book and stays away from a lot of the dialogue not really necessary to the telling of the story.
Think of it like this. The movie is a Cliff Notes version of the novel.
For one dollar, I'll guess your weight, your height, or your sex.
I read it about six months ago and the movie here was pretty faithful to the book except for one glaring omission. The name of the religion wasn't mentioned. Hint: The locale was Utah! Yes, the book was a screed against that particular religion, but since the book was written back in 1912, times, they have changed!
shareHey folks,
I am not a Zane Grey fan, but Riders of the Purple Plain is one of the few books of his I have read. I like the story; it has been told many times, and I still like the story. My problem with Grey is his writing style which I think is difficult to read and comprehend. He certainly does come up with interesting stories, however.
This film follows Grey's story quite well, and the script was great in my opinion. I think the acting was very fine by all, and I think Charles Haid's directing made for an excellent western. The scenery from Moab was also a special joy for me to see again.
In this case, I think the film was better than reading Grey's book, but I recognize that is only my opinion. I just do not care for Grey's dialogue, but give me Louis L'Amour any day.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile