The story in Detective Stories is "Butch Minds the Baby" and Pullman admits that it is not really a detective story. Three hoodlums tried to steal a company payroll but the plan did not succeed and the payroll was transferred to an office safe temporarily. The three hoodlums are from Brooklyn and their names are Harry the Horse, Little Isadore, and Spanish John.
They need someone who can open a safe. Big Butch has these skills but he doesn't want to participate because he has already been in Sing Sing three times, but mostly because he is minding his baby. However, they talk Butch into bringing the baby along so that he can open the safe for him.
I realized later that the story was written in first person, present tense, which surprised me because I usually don't enjoy stories in present tense.
"Butch Minds the Baby" was made into a 1942 American comedy of the same name. The film stars Virginia Bruce, Broderick Crawford, and Shemp Howard.
We decided to purchase Guys and Dolls and Other Writings by Damon Runyon. I have read the first two stories in that book, both from The Broadway Stories section ("Romance in the Roaring Forties" and "A Very Honorable Guy"). I enjoyed both of those stories also.
I love Runyon's writing style. It is engaging and very humorous. Too bad I did not discover him earlier.
22 comments:
Hi Tracy, Damon Runyon, I know of him but never read him which I should do because his stories have been made into so many noteworthy films. He epitomized the roaring twenties. Another great writer from that period is Dashiell Hammett and his Continental Op stories. He is the master of hard boiled fiction.
And I have never read him either despite hearing about him my whole life.
His name has legendary sound to it. I've seen the movies. Now it's probly time to read him!
Damon Runyon stories are like potato chips: I can't stop at one! I tend to binge on Runyon's stories. Love his wacky characters!
This is a real discovery....I never heard of Damon Runyon.
So curious how a man born in Manhattan Kansas ends up writing
stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. He even had his cremated ashes sprinkeled out of a plane about NYC!
I have to investigate this guy! Thanks for the heads-up, Tracy.
Kathy, I did not know that much about Damon Runyon at all. And until recently I read mystery and some science fiction and fantasy almost exclusively, so never considered trying his stories. I am glad I did.
I have read some of Hammett's books but have not tried the Continental Op stories, but I do have a book of them so I should do that.
Yep, you're reading Runyan all right, you're not using any contractions. Or rather: Yes, you are reading Runtan, you are not using contractions. It is certain that is a sign or a Runyan reader, and there is not a doubt. I like very much his writing, and the film Guys and Dolls, it is certainly one that some people will not much care for but many will like. I did like the film when I watched it recently though Barbara was not a fan of it. Harry The Horse is a character who appears in more than one of his stories.
Patti, I am just amazed that it took me this long to read any of Runyon's stories. But now I have a lot of them to read.
Mathew, it has been a while since I have seen any of those films, and not sure that I ever saw Lady for a Day. I would like to see it because I like Warren William.
George, I agree, his characters are really wacky. I imagine I will be reading through Guys and Dolls and Other Writings more quickly than I expected.
I've heard of Damon Runyon, Tracy, and seen some of the films. But I've never read his writing. I really should!
Tracy, I just realized, reading yours and Jerry House's reviews today, that SSW's supposed to be for reviews of individual stories. I've been bring up from my blog's archives reviews of collections. Mea culpa. No wonder Patti left mine out this week. D'oh! Maybe I'll give it a try next week, altho, I'm pretty bogged down with a new novel, the fifth in my Blow Stone series. It seems the older I get the more I know and the longer it takes to get the scenes and dialogue to work. I might even drop reviewing completely, as my reading has veered away from crime fiction altogether--even tho that's the genre I write in. Oh, well. Life goes on. I trust you and the family are riding out this COVID storm safely.
Mathew, I have covered a collection of short stories (I think) but I usually do try to focus on one story. I can certainly see that reviewing could impact your time to write fiction.
We are doing fine so far during the Covid pandemic. It is all very scary, we do try to be careful and stay home as much as possible. It is good to hear from you.
Nancy, it looks like you did a lot of research on Damon Runyon. I looked him up in a few places too, and he was a fascinating man. I have enjoyed what I have read so far.
Rick, I look forward to hearing more about Harry The Horse in future stories. It has been so long since I saw Guys and Dolls that I don't remember whether I liked it or not. So glad that I discovered Damon Runyon's short stories.
Margot, you should definitely read something by Damon Runyon. I think you would appreciate the stories.
I really enjoyed Guys and Dolls when I read it some years ago, so funny. I got the book when I was helping to clear the house of an elderly relative by marriage whom I had never known. It made me rethink everything I ever heard about him as he obviously had a good sense of humour.
Katrina, based on the stories I have read so far, he had a good sense of humor and a way with words. I don't know what I expected, but I never guessed I would be so entertained.
I love Damon Runyon, I went through a phase of reading him and went through all the stories. I absolutely loved them, and remember this one really well. He isn't mentioned much these days is he?
Moira, I have not seen much about Runyon, and it is surprising. The stories are almost addictive, at least the few I read, so I think it will be easy to read through the rest of the Guys and Dolls collection soon.
Tracy, I have a collection of stories by Runyon that has never seen the light of day since I bought it. I seem to do that with a lot of books and authors.
Me too, Col. I have so many story collections or anthologies around the house in various places. I am reading short stories more regularly now so maybe I will get to more of them this year.
Post a Comment