Get Along liddle’ Doggy, Rah, Rah!
Recently, I “read”, Err listened to Tracy
Daugherty’s Larry McMurtry: A Life Biography, which weighs in at 560 pages, and
was 16 discs long.
As I hadn’t planned on scribblin’ a story about
this initially, thus not taking copious notes when listening to the book,
albeit noting some portions that caught my Attenzione. For which I’ll now try
to “Stitch” together, as this expression of what McMurtry did with His prolific
prose is my new favourite expression…
For which all I can say is that He must have
been one Helluva typer! Initially cranking out five pages per day of
narratives, which ultimately became ten pages a day! For which I can hardly get
to three full pages in an entire day’s “work”, and only when a story’s freely
flowing thru my head! As reportedly McMurtry did this seven days a week without
taking any time off for Holidays, Aye Karumba!
As His grandson
Curtis says He can remember hearing Him typing at 7AM in the morning…
The only reason I stumbled onto this fairly
interesting Biography was due to my local librarian Kevin, and His excellent
memory. As I’d tried checking out Lonesome Dove on Audiobook, for which sadly,
my library’s system doesn’t have, Sigh! Which seems odd, since after all
McMurtry won a Pulitzer prize for it in 1985.
And the first time Kevin went to retrieve this
book from the shelve, it wasn’t there. Before Kevin said we’ve got your
biography a few months later after I’d totally forgotten about it…
Larry McMurtry was born in Wichita Falls, Texas
on June 3, 1936. The nearest hospital to His parent’s ranch in Archer City,
upon what was called Idiot’s Hill. And died in Tucson, Arizona on March 25,
2021 at age 84. Just a skosh’ over two months before His 85th birthday.
Larry’s son James McMurtry was born on March
18, 1962 in forth Worth, Texas. His mother being Jo Scott, who Larry supported
thru Her college degree. As She would go onto become an English Professor and
author five books of Her own. As I believe they divorced in 1966?
James attended U of A (University of Arizona)
for four years, but not sure if He graduated? Since He was more interested in
music vs. school. Although He did take a few Creative writing classes. With His
father giving him His first guitar at age seven.
Both James and His son Curtis, Larry’s grandson
are Singer/Songwriters who play guitar, both frequenting Austin. James is
currently age 63, and Curtis 35.
Johnny Cougar Mellencamp and Larry McMurtry
worked on a screenplay over ten years, eventually known as Falling from Grace.
As Mellencamp kept in touch the whole time.
James gave His Dad a four track demo tape to
pass along to Mellencamp, who initially frowned over the prospect of listening
to it for three months before trying it. Then immediately called Larry after
listening to less than half of it, saying the Kid can play. Asking James if He
could have enough material for an album by February? And the rest is history.
Cougar’ produced Too Long in the Wasteland in 1989 for Columbia
Records, which peaked at #125 of the Billboard 200 Albums. Painted by Numbers
was the first single.
McMurtry’s first published novel was Horseman,
Pass By, published in 1961. Followed by Leaving Cheyenne. (1962) Then The Last
Picture Show in 1966, which became a 1971 movie with the same title. Directed
by Peter Dogdanovich and filmed in Archer city, it stars a 20yr old named
Cybill Sheppard, Her debut film, along with Jeff Bridges.
Apparently He had a knack for writing long
books, with His fourth novel titled Moving On, (1970) weighing in at a hefty 794
pages! With the main character being Patsy Carpenter, in the first of three
novels about “Urbanites”.
Moving On was followed by All My Friends Are
going to BE Strangers. (1972) Where the character Danny wades into river with
manuscript saying He’d rather see the water than black ink blobs on pages as He
drowns the manuscript one page at a time!
Fairly certain this is the novel with
Skyckcrapper typo throughout, i.e.; Skyscraper should have been the word. Which
was mis-edited by the book’s third editor, after the first two refused the
novel due to its salty Texas language.
Never
knew that He’d written Terms of Endearment, (1975) which was the third novel of
His Urbanite trilogy. Although I’ve heard about it over the year, but only in
reference to the award winning movie.
Funny
part about the making of the movie, as apparently Debra Winger didn’t get on
with Shirley MacLaine. And during one scene tried telling MacLaine where Her
marks were. To which Shirley shot back I know my Marks! To which reportedly
Debra in a mini skirt and combat boots said oh yeah? Lifted Her skirt, turned
Her head and proceeded to fart in MacLaine’s face, saying how’s that for a
mark!
As
this tension apparently is part of what makes their Mother-Daughter roles so
good on screen.
The
1983 movie was the second highest grossing movie that year at $165 million,
exceeded only by Return of the Jedi. And would be nominated for eleven Oscars
and win five. Including Shirley MacLaine winning Best Actress, with Jack
Nicholson winning Best supporting Actor. Along with Best Picture, Best Director
and Best Adaptive Screenplay.
Also
didn’t know that He’d written what would become Hud, with the 1963 movie starring
‘Ol blue Eyes, aka Paul Newman. For which I’ve forgotten what small town
America the film crew was staying at?
But
One policeman mused it was amazing how many women were cruising the Hotel,
hoping to catch a peak of Newman on the pool’s diving board, or poolside.
Saying He’d grown up in that town, and couldn’t ever remember there being that
many women. And we’re not talking teenagers!
Having scribbled
profusely my massive four parts, or was it five? Trilogy about Newman in the
following No Fenders tome…
Paul
Newman’s A Life Book review
As
Hud was the movie adaptation of His debut novel Horseman, pass By. And was
produced by director Martin Ritt and Paul Newman’s newly formed movie company Salem
Productions.
Another
funny moment is when Larry attends a State Dinner at the White House
in November, 1985, with the onoured guests being the Prince and Princess of
Wales. As Larry reckons His father would have been much disappointed with the
Sad, ‘Ol Cowboy in the Whitehouse, who was a faux John Wayne! As His father was
a real Cowboy who worked the family’s farm His entire life before dying at age
77, all broke up physically…
Larry notes that President Regan was apparently
80% “On”, which seemed appropriate for the evening. Although in one momentous
gaff, Regan made a celebratory toast to Princess David, cymbal crash please!
As McMurtry felt totally out of place with the likes of Clint Eastwood and John Travolta, fresh off of Saturday Night Fever in attendance. With Travolta garnering the most dance time with Princess Diana. While McMurtry noted Her eyes were the deepest, “electric” blue, reminding Him of Paul Newman’s.
