The Switch
Elmore Leonard , who was one of the iconic crime - fabrication writing style novelist and a premiere literary storyteller during the second half of the 20th C , has snuff it away at years 87 . Leonard had been working on his forty - sixth novel , before he suffered a stroke last month ( then - trust to be non - life threatening ) . The prolific author / film writer passed away due to complicatedness from the stroke at his rest home in Detroit this sunup ( Tuesday , August 20th , 2013 , at the time of writing this ) , but is survived by his five tyke - all from his first in a line of three different marriages , to the late Beverly Cline .
Hollywood has been adapting Leonard ’s many novels and short stories into movies for decade , going back to the late 1950s . However , the writer ’s literature - in special his crime tales - enjoyed an uptick in popularity in the mid-1990s , after Quentin Tarantino’sPulp Fictionhelped to re - popularize the sort of elements find in Leonard ’s study ( sharp and poetical dialogue , multiple narrative togs centered around blue - neckband characters , etc . ) . Indeed , from 1995 - 98 , no fewer than eight Leonard story made the leap to either the small or large screen , with films likeGet Shorty , Last Stand at Saber River(made for TV),Out of SightandJackie Brown(which is Tarantino ’s version of the Leonard novel " Rum Punch " ) .
Over the past decade , Leonard ’s novelsThe Big Bounce , Be CoolandFreak Deakywere accommodate to the big screen , while the3:10 to Yumaremake and FX ’s acclaimed video seriesJustifiedwere base upon the writer ’s original western short stories ( note : the source textile forJustifiedis the forgetful story " Fire in the Hole " ) . TheJackie Brown / Rum Punchprequel storyLife of Crime- found on the Leonard novel " The Switch " - will strike the fete circuit after this class , featuring a cast that include Mos Def , Isla Fisher and Tim Robbins , among other name actor and actress .
Elmore Leonard was born as Elmore John Leonard Jr. in New Orleans , Louisiana , on October 11th , 1925 , some nine years before his crime syndicate end up settling down in Detroit , where Leonard would spend the vast legal age of the difference of his life . During the 1930s , Leonard grow his womb-to-tomb fascination with gangsters and sports , thanks to the literal - life crime and fierceness put by multitude like Bonnie and Clyde - in gain to the Detroit Tigers baseball squad ride on a spicy stripe , culminate with a World Series win in 1935 .
After he graduate from high-pitched school , Leonard served in the Navy for three years during WWII , before he enter at the University of Detroit in 1946 with the intent of pursuing a career writing about his personal interests and obsessions for a living . Leonard received degrees in English and Philosophy in 1950 , which pass to him taking a job as a transcript author for the Campbell - Ewald Advertising Agency while he compose on the side .
This led to his first professional written material credit ( the poor story " Trail of the Apache " ) , followed by his first publish novel " The Bounty Hunters " in 1953 . Over the next forty class , Leonard would indite several novels that ended up being turn into movies , includingThe magniloquent T , Hombre , Valdez is Comingand52 Pick - Up ; in addition , he was regard with scripting picture likeJoe Kidd , Mr. Majestyk , StickandThe Rosary Murders . Moreover , it was during that time frame that Hollywood released the first adjustment of hisBig Bounceand3:10 to Yumasource fabric , decades before the stories - turned films were yield a 21st Century makeover .
The fibber - know as " the Dickens of Detroit " - famously summed up his rules for good writing ( especially with respect to realistic dialogue ) as"If it sounds like writing , I rewrite it . “His esthetic output was highly influential and was essential in paving the route for the numerous dear flick and television shows - about flawed friend - turned crook and working - class crooks with moral codes - that’ve been produced in late memory board ( array from a ripe chunk of Tarantino ’s filmography to decisive darling cable’s length telecasting series likeBreaking Bad ) . Suffice it to say , his shock as an artist will be felt long after his passing play .
TheScreen Rantstaff would wish to verbalise their solemn condolence to the friends and family of Elmore Leonard in this unmanageable meter .
R.I.P. Elmore John Leonard Jr. : October 11th , 1925 - August 20th , 2013 .
Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens from the FX TV series ‘Justified’
Christian Bale in the ‘3:10 to Yuma’ remake (released in 2007)
