-[ Quoting Fred Runk , to Maureen Goldman ]-
 MG> Newman starred as Ross McDonald's hero, Harper.
 FR> Was that set in Florida?  It's been many years since I saw it, so even
 FR> that may be as fictional as "Harper" himself.  Don't think I've ever
 FR> read anything by Ross McDonald.
Ross MacDonald's hard-boiled detective, Lew Harper, was California based.
The author, himself, best looked the part of his literary creation; Newman,
in my opinion, did not.  Still, the movie was okay.  If you like the Philip
Marlowe style of writing, MacDonald is a master of the genre.  His Harper
series is comprised of some 20 books, of which some contain short stories!
For myself, I always pictured Robert Conrad for the role of Travis McGee in
T.V./film.  Perhaps he's somewhat height challenged for the part, but Holly-
wood has a way of making shorter fellas look taller on celluloid.  My reason
for Conrad as McGee?  The description by MacDonald of his creation as having
those cold blue eyes and a "deep water tan."  There were 21 T.McGee books in
total; I have them, and have read them, all ... a highly enjoyable series.
Although I've enjoyed Sam Elliott in several of his movies, I simply can't
imagine him as a credible Travis McGee.
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