Blood Meridian - "Glanton and the Campfire" - Cormac McCarthy

[jagovRUS]

"The leaves shifted in a million spangles down the pale corridors and Glanton took one and turned it like a tiny fan by its stem and held it and let it fall and its perfection was not lost on him.”

My favorite quote regarding Glanton. He's a bit overshadowed by the Judge in the book, but the above quote and the campfire passage show he has a depth to him that surpasses the men he associates with. And his last line is badass :)

[hanshotfirst1138]

Peckinpah or Huston would have been perfect for this, but of course those options are closed now. I don't know who else could do it. Terence Malick, maybe?

[hanshotfirst1138]

RIP Recorded Books Inc. They'll be missed.

[msmyers15]

@floppykid Couldn't agree more.

[FoxbouldProductions]

I'm not so sure it would be ruined by the constraints of film. Novels like Blood Meridian & The Road are based on the seemingly disconnected nature of each scene, which is used to allude to a deeper and more ambiguous point, in the same way that Conrad's Heart of Darkness does for example. To cut it down may exclude some brilliant scenes but wouldn't be as much in danger of compromising the overall story. The Road did it brilliantly, and in the right hands I have faith it could be done justice.

[REDDRAKON]

post more chapters!!!

[Topsiscute]

my name's Glanton, he's my great great great anscestror who scalped native americans..don't know how i feel about that

[McBrannon1000]

@Topsiscute, it was a job, and it was viewed as acceptable. You're viewing it through a modern lens. Don't. It just IS.

[msa1985]

such a beautiful passage. thousands of pages could be written about it

[xpennock]

Considering the Glanton quote and its importance within the context of the book, I think it encapsulates the tremendous and uncompromising power of Glanton's drive and vision. Let's not forget that the Judge installed himself as second in command of the gang, a distinction hardly nominal. I believe it is the Judge that honors and recognizes the power and resonance of Glanton's near perfect willpower and that represents his fundamental impetus for joining and assisting the group in the novel.

[xpennock]

James Franco has been attached to the production as the director. I read some brief article a month ago from an interview in which he described Blood Meridian and McCarthy himself (I'm paraphrasing) " I think he's been heavily influenced by Faulkner"...in response to his assertion that he'd direct back-to-back adaptations of As I Lay Dying and Blood Meridian. That comment smacks of juvenile over-ambition and dilettantish confidence. I suppose that's the egoistic onanism of Hollywood for you.

[jagovRUS]

@xpennock a lot of assumption on your part. Franco might have (or know the people with) just the right mind to do BM justice on the screen.

[Pilkie101]

I think we should just forget about the movie. The book conjures images so vivid, nightmarish and surreal that rendering them on film can only take from them. It is perfect as it is.

[MrPGaff]

Blood Meridian needs a zillionaire who doesn't give a fuck about money to bank roll the - 6 hour long - film and release it straight to internet. Then we can really see Glanton and co. shooting Indian's faces off in glorious DIVX.

But seriously, putting a story like BM in front of illiterate popcorn munchers is demoting one of the greatest pieces of fiction ever, to '67%' on Rotten Tomatoes.

[REDDRAKON]

two part movie could work part 1 could end with them being treated like heroes in the Mexican city.... part 2 being the downward spiral. each movie 3 hours long. they would be epic... there are soo many good parts to this book though that no matter what ill be disappointed cause some things will be left out.

[msa1985]

@REDDRAKON  HBO 2 month mini series.

[xpennock]

I'd honestly rather the novel not be adapted. It took me forever to warm up to No Country and that was a very faithful and finely crafted film...Let the novel stand alone. It'll be fine.

[HannahUmerus]

This novel should be an HBO series. Less concern with censorship or critical response. It can be a dozen hours long. They could expand upon things in the work rather than rush through the matter, slicing the novel down to fit within the 110 minute timeframe. It's the greatest composition of our generation and it's renditioning hinges upon the whim of an editing board. Love this quote. Thank you for posting it.

[dontleademsomuch]

@HannahUmerus don't know if HBO's politics would allow it. they are clearly liberal and like to tick boxes.

[itsmedude1020]

@HannahUmerus Genius!!!

Seriously I hope someone sees this and takes the advice.

[crazybaby74]

@HannahUmerus I 100% agree with you on this. Trying to fit such an incredible story into a 2 hour movie would be impossible without ruining it.

[floppykid]

@HannahUmerus

I think they should just leave it as a book. Not everything has to be made for the screen.

[StarshipKoyote]

@HannahUmerus Totally agree. While the HBO route at first seems unworthy, it would play itself out properly, and there'd be less restrictions on content. The pace could also be better encapsulated, with each episode being 2 or so chapters. Look at Deadwood or Rome. Both shows are vivid, sweeping productions that instill that sense of grandeur while preserving an intimacy with its characters. This could also open the door for more CM series. CoG and OD would be amazing in this format as well.

[Gnargonaut]

@HannahUmerus

Ive thought the very same,

a miniseries seems the only format

that could come slose to doing it justice.

[xpennock]

@thereinliestherib

Thanks...I loved that line too, love the novel in general. I've read it cover to cover perhaps a dozen times over the past few years. Recently, I downloaded the audiobook on btjunkie (from which this quote is excerpted) and have probably listened to it another dozen times in a much shorter period. I have to say that listening to it is fucking great and increased my appreciation for the craftsmanship. McCarthy's baroque eloquence is even more evident when spoken aloud...

[xpennock]

@jeffreyorich

At least Zombie wouldn't shy away from depicting the violence...I have to admit.

[jeffreyorich]

Hey, Jean Cockbleau, anyone that thinks that Zombie couldn"t do a great job is about as intelligent as the little retard that trotted along with the judge in the desert

[xpennock]

It's not about arrogance, that's only a very small part of Glanton's ineffable drive and beautiful clarity of purpose. He's like a diamond. Also, Rob Zombie directing Blood Meridian is an extremely poor idea. He couldn't even handle the original Halloween as source material.

[thereinliestherib]

@xpennock Well said. His eyes like "burning centroids of murder," to me was one of the most powerful phrases in the book.

[JeanCocteau777]

@jeffreyorich

Anyone who thinks that Rob Zombie should direct this movie deserves to share the Kid's fate in the final scene.

[xpennock]

This...

[gatoradeee]

@JeanCocteau777 bahahahaa

[MalaTemporaCurrunt]

@JeanCocteau777 getting hugged in a restroom by the judge?

[ABUDHABICOMBATCLUBOA]

@JeanCocteau777 shhh! don't tell me i haven't finished it yet !!

[barakHobama]

This expresses the arrogance of man perfectly.

[Blackhardt72]

Favorite character. One of my favorite passages.

[telswood]

Oh boy, I hated Glanton almost as much as I hated Holden. But I guess if you're talking about the depth of the character and not his moral standing, I agree with you.