What: In Cornell Woolrich's noir thriller, two pregnant women meet on a train. One is poor, abandoned, and desperate. The other is traveling with her husband to meet his wealthy family for the first time. When the happy married couple dies in a train crash, desperate Helen sees her chance. She builds a comfortable life for herself with the unsuspecting "in-laws" --- until her blackmailing ex-lover shows up. Because blackmailing ex-lovers always show up.
(Bizarrely, someone in the mid-'90s read this book and thought, "This is perfect for a romantic comedy with Ricki Lake, Brendan Fraser, and Shirley MacLaine!" I have no explanation for this.)
Comparable to: Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, other noir authors. Also, several of Woolrich's novels have been adapted into films that you might have seen, including The Bride Wore Black and a little picture called Rear Window.
Representative quote: "The door was closed. It had a look of pitiless finality about it, as though it would always be closed like this from now on. As though nothing in the world could ever make it open again."
You might not like it if: You think you'd actually prefer the romantic comedy version of this story.
How to get it:The book is out of print, but you can get it from a library, a used bookstore, etc. Also! An actual noir adaptation, starring Barbara Stanwyck, is available to watch instantly on Netflix (under the title No Man of Her Own).
Comparable to: Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain, other noir authors. Also, several of Woolrich's novels have been adapted into films that you might have seen, including The Bride Wore Black and a little picture called Rear Window.
Representative quote: "The door was closed. It had a look of pitiless finality about it, as though it would always be closed like this from now on. As though nothing in the world could ever make it open again."
You might not like it if: You think you'd actually prefer the romantic comedy version of this story.
How to get it:
[Edit: In a thrilling turn of events, this book is now back in print, with a kicky cover --- see below. The Barbara Stanwyck film adaption, No Man of Her Own, however, is not currently available to stream on Netflix.]
Connection to previous Wreckage: Like Cornell Woolrich, Frederick Knott had his work adapted into a popular Hitchcock film starring Grace Kelly (Dial M for Murder). One of Knott's other plays is Wait Until Dark, which is Rec. #26.
[Originally posted 2/15/11.]
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