SAY IT WITH BULLETS headed for big screen
Hard Case Crime has announced that Richard Powell’s SAY IT WITH BULLETS – written in 1953 and just recently reissued (read our review here) – has been optioned for the movies, with veteran filmmaker Blaine Novak to serve as screenwriter and producer.
Novak, who penned Peter Bogdanovich’s THEY ALL LAUGHED, said that BULLETS “combines the best elements of great comedy and great suspense storytelling. It’s got an irresistible plot, characters you just love, fantastic dialogue and a breathtaking climax at Yosemite National Park that’s just begging to be put on film. This is one hell of a book and I’m very excited to work on bringing it to the screen.”
“We’re proud to have played a role in bringing this book, and Richard Powell’s work in general, back into the spotlight where it belongs,” said Charles Ardai, founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, who also will serve as an executive producer on the film. “How often does a book written more than 50 years ago make you laugh out loud? If the book in question is SAY IT WITH BULLETS, the answer is many, many times.”
Previously, Powell’s books have been adapted into THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS, starring Paul Newman; the Elvis vehicle FOLLOW THAT DREAM; and Woody Allen’s BANANAS.
You know, when I was reading that book I kept thinking that it FELT like a movie (in a good way) so this sounds good… so long as the movie’s still set in the 50’s.
[...] MONDAY >> 5.15.06 Rod Lott continued his quest to be removed from the Hard Case Crime hit list by giving plenty of publicity to the movie deal for Richard Powell’s SAY IT WITH BULLETS. Much like a young Bob Dylan, Hard Case founder Charles Ardai also asked one of life’s eternal questions: “How often does a book written more than 50 years ago make you laugh out loud?” [...]