tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660090614793277371.post8983027207850768245..comments2024-02-11T12:24:26.294-08:00Comments on The Compass Rose: The Talented Mr. Ripley - The Romance of Europe in the FiftiesCurtis Favillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213075853354387634noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660090614793277371.post-42113357906782848662009-08-07T19:44:36.170-07:002009-08-07T19:44:36.170-07:00I've read all of the Ripley's. In R's...I've read all of the Ripley's. In R's game he deliberately kills Dickey -- hitting him repeatedly with the oar, because he already has figured out how to fake his signature, and has nothing to lose. His life is horrible, and he at least wants to dine out, and wear good clothes.<br /><br />You get only a few instances of Ripley's childhood in the books. His parents died in a car crash, and left him with an aunt. The aunt was sadistic, and often made him run behind the car while the car remained just out of reach, as he ran and ran, crying, to catch up.<br /><br />Part of the story is that he is tired of the humiliations he's had to suffer and wants the money Dickey Greenleaf has in order to prevent any such future humiliations. Even the slightest hint of a humiliation kicks off a vicious vengefulness, but if you know this little tidbit aboiut his childhood it makes his quickfire temper, and clever plotting make more sense?<br /><br />My favorite film of all time is another Ripley by the German director whose name starts with a W. Spent the whole day at the shore and got pulled out to sea by the current, and had to swim for a half hour against the current to get back in. Wiped out, I guess, though never in any serious trouble.<br /><br />It has Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper in it. Oh, if you love Ripley, you got to see that one! Maybe you've seen both. It's taking place later in ripley's life. He's a fraud, but believes that everyone else is a fraud, too. He's running a gallery that specializes in selling fakes. <br /><br />Wim Wenders' film (it just came back) is actually better than the book. It's very stylish and much better than any of his subsequent films.Kirby Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05952289700191142943noreply@blogger.com