The Big Bounce
Encyclopedia
The Big Bounce is a crime
novel
written by Elmore Leonard
, who started offering the story to publishers and film producers in the fall of 1966. However, no one would take it. It went unpublished until 1969, when it was adapted into a film version
in 1969, directed by Alex March and scripted by Robert Dozier
, with actor Ryan O'Neal
in the lead role.
However, the first film was a box office and critical disaster, and so the book (which came out shortly after the film was released), went unnoticed until the 1990s, when Leonard gained a new generation of fans thanks to praise from filmmaker Quentin Tarantino
and a successful film adaptation of Leonard's novel Get Shorty
.
In 2004, a second film adaptation
was released, which Leonard publicly criticised. The second film, despite a cast of big-name stars like Morgan Freeman
, Owen Wilson
, Charlie Sheen
and Sara Foster
, was also a flop, receiving negative reviews from both critics and audiences.
The main reason that neither film version was successful was that the film versions didn't truly capture the essence of Leonard's novel in a way that previously successful film adaptations had in the past. Film critics also associated a number of other problems with the films' individual failures, including poor screenwriting, insufficient acting, and the filmmakers' complete lack of direction.
As with all Elmore Leonard books, The Big Bounce received harsh criticism from some readers, especially about the book's lack of a sufficient ending. Generally, the book, Leonard's first crime novel, is viewed as one of Leonard's classics.
Jack Ryan returned in the novel Unknown Man #89.
, tells the story of a young thief named Jack Ryan who gets a new shot at life with the help of a justice of the peace
named Mr. Majestyk (Leonard later wrote a novel called Mr. Majestyk
, with a title character that is completely unrelated to the character of the same name in The Big Bounce), who hires Jack to work at his beach resort. During this time, Jack gets involved with a psychotic woman named Nancy, a young seductress who got her thrills by smashing windows and breaking the hearts of married men. Nancy is the girlfriend of a millionaire, Ray Ritchie, and also cheating on him with another man, Bob Jr. She plans to have Jack steal a $50,000 payroll from Ray. But when simple housebreaking and burglary give way to the deadly pursuit of a really big score, the stakes suddenly skyrocket. Because violence and double-cross are the name of this game—and it's going to take every ounce of cunning Jack and Nancy possess to survive...each other.
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written by Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
, who started offering the story to publishers and film producers in the fall of 1966. However, no one would take it. It went unpublished until 1969, when it was adapted into a film version
The Big Bounce (1969 film)
The Big Bounce is a 1969 film directed by Alex March, based on the novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. Taylor-Young was nominated for a Laurel Award for her performance in the film...
in 1969, directed by Alex March and scripted by Robert Dozier
Robert Dozier
Robert Lorenzo Dozier, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball with the Memphis Tigers and was selected by the NBA team the Miami Heat in the 2009 NBA Draft...
, with actor Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O'Neal
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal , better known as Ryan O'Neal, is an American actor best known for his appearances in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and for his roles in such films as Paper Moon , Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon , A Bridge Too Far , and Love Story , for which he received...
in the lead role.
However, the first film was a box office and critical disaster, and so the book (which came out shortly after the film was released), went unnoticed until the 1990s, when Leonard gained a new generation of fans thanks to praise from filmmaker Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
and a successful film adaptation of Leonard's novel Get Shorty
Get Shorty
Get Shorty is a 1990 novel by American novelist Elmore Leonard. In 1995, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name.-Plot summary:...
.
In 2004, a second film adaptation
The Big Bounce (2004 film)
The Big Bounce is a 2004 comedy caper film starring Owen Wilson, Charlie Sheen, Sara Foster and Morgan Freeman. It was directed by George Armitage and based on a novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard....
was released, which Leonard publicly criticised. The second film, despite a cast of big-name stars like Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
, Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson
Owen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor and writer, known for his roles in the films The Haunting, The Royal Tenenbaums, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, You, Me and Dupree, Bottle Rocket, the Cars series, The Darjeeling Limited, Marley & Me, Midnight in Paris, Shanghai Noon,...
, Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
and Sara Foster
Sara Foster
Sara Christine Foster is an American actress. She was previously a fashion model before moving to the film industry. She is best known for her role as Jen Clark on 90210.-Career:...
, was also a flop, receiving negative reviews from both critics and audiences.
The main reason that neither film version was successful was that the film versions didn't truly capture the essence of Leonard's novel in a way that previously successful film adaptations had in the past. Film critics also associated a number of other problems with the films' individual failures, including poor screenwriting, insufficient acting, and the filmmakers' complete lack of direction.
As with all Elmore Leonard books, The Big Bounce received harsh criticism from some readers, especially about the book's lack of a sufficient ending. Generally, the book, Leonard's first crime novel, is viewed as one of Leonard's classics.
Jack Ryan returned in the novel Unknown Man #89.
Plot summary
The original novel, which is set on the bleak coast of Northern MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, tells the story of a young thief named Jack Ryan who gets a new shot at life with the help of a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
named Mr. Majestyk (Leonard later wrote a novel called Mr. Majestyk
Mr. Majestyk
Mr. Majestyk is a 1974 American action film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charles Bronson. The film is based on a novel written by Elmore Leonard.-Plot:...
, with a title character that is completely unrelated to the character of the same name in The Big Bounce), who hires Jack to work at his beach resort. During this time, Jack gets involved with a psychotic woman named Nancy, a young seductress who got her thrills by smashing windows and breaking the hearts of married men. Nancy is the girlfriend of a millionaire, Ray Ritchie, and also cheating on him with another man, Bob Jr. She plans to have Jack steal a $50,000 payroll from Ray. But when simple housebreaking and burglary give way to the deadly pursuit of a really big score, the stakes suddenly skyrocket. Because violence and double-cross are the name of this game—and it's going to take every ounce of cunning Jack and Nancy possess to survive...each other.
Characters in The Big Bounce
- Jack Ryan – thief
- Mr. Majestyk – justice of the peace and hotel owner
- Nancy – seductress
- Ray Ritchie – millionaire
External links
- The Big Bounce at Elmore Leonard.comElmore LeonardElmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...