At the recent Thrillerfest Convention, today’s leading thrill masters, R.L. Stine, Ken Follett and David Morrell, discussed their work and were asked about the work of those authors who came before that they admired. One of these writers was Ira Levin , a man responsible for creating an extraordinary amount of chills and thrills
A native New Yorker, Mr. Levin started writing at the age of 15. He attended the prestigious Horace Mann School and graduated from New York University where he majored in philosophy and English .
From his first novel, A KISS BEFORE DYING, the 1954 Edgar Award Winner, to his most famous, ROSEMARY’S BABY, Mr. Levin set the thrill bar high
Scary. Eerie. Spine-tingling. These words hardly begin to describe the feelings reading his books elicit. Poor Rosemary, literally living next door to, and being ensnared by, the neighbors from hell. And, honestly, it was just as scary as a movie. Watching Mia Farrow as the innocent young housewife and Ruth Gordon as the devil’s agent gave me nightmare for weeks.
Then there was THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL. Imagine a cadre of Hitler clones roaming around trying to recreate the Third Reich? Shudder.
He wrote for Broadway, too starting at age 25 with an adaptation of Mac Hyman’s NO TIME FOR SARGEANTS and later, the Tony Nominated DEATHTRAP, which holds the record for the longest running comedy-thriller on Broadway.
Mr. Levin may be gone. But when it comes to creating more thrills than a body can handle, he’s certainly not forgotten.
Let's be friends on Facebook and follow me on Twitter @cathicopy
Posts
11 comments:
Loved Rosemary's Baby, but I really didn't find it or The Stepford Wives scary.I read them when I was young, 11 and 16 if memory serves, and maybe that's why. I probably didn't get them properly. I think I may have to give them another go.
I think he's a pretty good writer. I've always enjoyed what I've read by him, although I wouldn't say I necessarily loved it.
Leah, Charles thanks for your comments.
Leah, Maybe things are scarier in a different way when we're older because we understand that evil is real and not just in someone's imagination. I read these when I was younger, as well and did like them.
Rosemary's Baby and The Boys from Brazil were two of my favorite (and scariest) books from my high school years. I can still vividly remember them today. I went to see the movie "Rosemary's Baby" on a first date. Not too smart. We stayed together, though, but it was an awkward evening. Thanks for the reminder about a great writer.
Ira Levin's books are more my idea of horror, rather than thriller. I haven't revisited his books post Rosemary's Baby, which caused a couple of sleepless nights.
I usually avoid scary movies, but, like Leigh, I loved Rosemary's Baby and The Boys From Brazil. Terrifying, yes, but also very smart and interesting character studies. Does anyone make intelligent scary movies anymore?
A KISS BEFORE DYING is a landmark in crime fiction. And the movie version, equally good, is pretty darn close to its source material. I'm still stunned that Levin wrote such varied work from the ingenious, utterly original horror idea and satire in ROSEMARY'S BABY to the jack-in-the-box machinations in his clever play DEATHTRAP, my favorite stage thriller of all time. I've found something to admire in everything he wrote. Plus he was wickedly funny. His satiric jibes in all of books are spot on. Especially in THE STEPFORD WIVES which gave us an eponym in popular culture when we want to deride the bland homogenization of suburban life. I can't imagine a more flattering way to have your work live on than to have it become part of conversation and American idioms.
Leigh & Anita, Wasn't Ruth Gordon just the worst (but in a really good way)? I think some of Roman Polanski's films are scary and intelligent.
Lois, The idea of a Stepford wife or a Hitler clone is pretty horrible, but I think of these books as spine-tinglers, as well.
John, I really like DEATHTRAP, too. I think it really is surprising. And, how true about STEPFORD WIVES becoming part of the popular culture.
A great choice!
The Boys from Brazil is the one that has made the strongest impression on me; I think I watched "Rosemary´s Baby" far too late - the video seemed rather dated, and the effects a bit funny rather than scary.
Awesome post, Cathi! Great choice to write about Ira Levin...didn't realize he was behind so many of these masterpieces.
Read all his books and liked every one. Very few writers have such versatility. My favorite: A KISS BEFORE DYING.
Post a Comment