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Strictly Dishonorable and Other Lost American Plays
Strictly Dishonorable by Preston Sturges, The Racket by Bartlett Cormack, The Ghost of Yankee Doodle by Sidney Howard and A Slight Case of Murder by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 3, 2010
I read this just for Strictly Dishonorable, which is Preston Sturges' first (and only?) play. Sturges went on to create some of my favorite movies like the Lady Eve and Sullivan's Travels. This story, though, is not up to his awesome run of like 7 movies in the 1930s/40s. Basically a story about sexual politics during the speakeasy times of the 20s/30s. The comedy isn't as deep and the dialog, which is the best part about Sturges movies, isn't as sharply developed yet. Still worth the read.
July 1, 2023
- STRICTLY DISHONORABLE ⭐⭐⭐
"Life is beautiful... and its most beautiful moments are called... love. They are very rare, my Isabelle, such moments as this... to be accepted tenderly... and without fear."
adapted films:
strictly dishonorable (1931) dir. John M. Stahl.
strictly dishonorable (1951) dir. Melvin Frank.
- THE RACKET ⭐⭐
"I'm starting something myself. I'm ripe to fight. It's this country air!"
adapted films:
the racket (1928) dir. Lewis Milestone.
the racket (1951) dir. John Cromwell.
- A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER ⭐⭐⭐
"Mr. Marko, I should like to say this is an experience I'll never forget."
adapted films:
a slight case of murder (1938) dir. Lloyd Bacon.
stop, you're killing me (1952) dir. Roy Del Ruth.
- THE GHOST OF YANKEE DOODLE DANDY ⭐⭐⭐
"I've lived the life I wanted to live and liked it, and learned quite a few things you wouldn't know are important. How pleasant an evening alone can be, for example, with a book and a great deal of coffee."
"Life is beautiful... and its most beautiful moments are called... love. They are very rare, my Isabelle, such moments as this... to be accepted tenderly... and without fear."
adapted films:
strictly dishonorable (1931) dir. John M. Stahl.
strictly dishonorable (1951) dir. Melvin Frank.
- THE RACKET ⭐⭐
"I'm starting something myself. I'm ripe to fight. It's this country air!"
adapted films:
the racket (1928) dir. Lewis Milestone.
the racket (1951) dir. John Cromwell.
- A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER ⭐⭐⭐
"Mr. Marko, I should like to say this is an experience I'll never forget."
adapted films:
a slight case of murder (1938) dir. Lloyd Bacon.
stop, you're killing me (1952) dir. Roy Del Ruth.
- THE GHOST OF YANKEE DOODLE DANDY ⭐⭐⭐
"I've lived the life I wanted to live and liked it, and learned quite a few things you wouldn't know are important. How pleasant an evening alone can be, for example, with a book and a great deal of coffee."
June 13, 2022
I'm not sure this counts as "finished;" I only read it for A Slight Case of Murder, which I remember being a pretty enjoyable movie. Just checking off another Damon Runyon work!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews