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Summary: A uniquely pure example of Stephen King the Storyteller
Review: Most of the time when you read the original script of a movie you have seen, what will strike you are the additions, deletions and alterations that define the difference between the script and the film. However, with Stephen King's original screenplay for "Storm of the Century," what will most catch you attention is the depth of detail. Early on in writing this screenplay and knowing that the Hollywood producers may well declare his story too expensive to film, King decided to hedge his bet. If Hollywood did not want "Storm of the Century" he would simply turn it into a book. However, this script was produced and that is why we have ended up with this interesting hybrid. As King observes in his introduction to the screenplay, at its heart "Storm of the Century" is the dark counterpart to "The Green Mile," with each centered on the mystery of the man in the jail cell. Andre Linoge has come to Little Tall Island just as the fiercest winter storm in recorded history is about to hit. After murdering one of the residents, Linoge waits calmly to be taken into police custody by Constable Mike Anderson. But once in his cell he tells the townsfolk, "If you give me what I want, I'll go away." Then things start to happen, secrets are revealed and more people die, and suddenly the citizens of Long Tall Island are ready to agree to Linoge's proposition even before they know exactly what it is he wants. King has always been a moralist, knowing full well that most people are not inclined to do the right thing, and always striving to come up with a story that might actually inspire some people to listen to the better angels of their nature. His success has always been based on his ability to put his fantastic tales into the people, images and words of everyday life. With this book more than most tales by King, you have the sense of at the end of "There, but for the grace of God..." Ultimately what makes this screenplay worth reading is that it is perhaps the purest example of Stephen King's storytelling. The script reads more like he was telling you the story rather than you were reading it, that he was telling you what was going on, with nudges and winks from time to time to help you pass the time. On that level it is certainly a more compelling read than you would be inclined to think, but I would clarify that I think it is to be read after having seen the mini-series, not as a substitute. So pick up a copy, put it on your bookshelf, and wait for a really heavy snowstorm to take it down and start reading.
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Summary: Teenage Opinon
Review: Stephen King has made another novel full of horror and suspense. The biggest storm ever is about to hit a town called Little Tall Island in Maine. While this storm is occuring a strange gentleman named Andre Linoge stops to visit. He walks up to a home owned by an old woman Martha Clarendon. Linoge charges in the old womans home and brutily murders her. Later, he purposly lets the police department arrest him.
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Summary: Master of horror strikes again in Storm of Century....
Review: Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" screenplay is further proof, if anyone doubts it, that he's not only adept at writing a horror story that gives one the creeps, but that he is not limited to writing in one format. Most novelists are content with sticking to one literary branch, letting other writers adapt their work to screenplay form. Tom Clancy and John Grisham sell the film rights to producers such as Mace Neufeld and screenwriters (Donald Stewart and John Milius, for instance) rework their basic plots into adapted screenplays. King, too, has allowed others to adapt his works for Hollywood, but he has also learned the demanding format of the screenplay and written quite a few (Creepshow, Silver Bullet, and The Stand, just to name a few). For the ABC-TV miniseries "Storm of the Century," King conjured up one of his darkest tales yet. As a severe winter storm of unprecedented fury approaches Maine's Little Tall Island, Martha Clarendon is murdered in an unspeakably violent manner. But instead of fleeing the scene of the crime as most killers do, Andre Linoge parks himself on his victim's easy chair and waits, his silver-wolf-head's cane in his hands, for the authorities to pick him up. But with Linoge's arrest, Little Tall Island's woes do not end; they are only beginning. For Linoge is one of those not-quite-human fiends Stephen King often creates to create havoc in small Maine communities like Little Tall Island, Derry, Jerusalem's Lot, and Castle Rock. He can destroy people simply by revealing their darkest secrets and manipulating them from afar. And by the time the Storm of the Century passes, the citizens of Little Tall Island will be horrified when they discover the meaning of Linoge's simple request: "Give me what I want, and I'll go away." The introduction to this published screenplay of "Storm of the Century" allows King to explain why he sometimes writes original teleplays rather than starting by writing a novel then adapting it. He also reveals why he sells his miniseries to a broadcast network with its stricter Standards and Practices staff (censors) instead of the more liberal cable networks (HBO, Showtime), and much more. I saw the original miniseries when it aired a few years back, and I am sure (okay, I know for a fact) that there is a DVD version of "Storm of the Century." This book reminded me of how effective the three-part "Novel for Television" was, and it is a fascinating read.
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Summary: WARNING!!!
Review: This book is not a novel. It is the actual screenplay for which the mini-series was written. Finally a King masterpiece that translates well to the screen, even if he had to leave it in manuscript form. It was done so well that I bought the book solely for my collection. The story comes across as another straight good vs. evil tale. In Maine, in winter, real characters with real lives and of course real problems! **** Don't read this if you haven't read/seen the story **** The devil made him do it!!
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Summary: Very Unique Indeed
Review: This is one of Stephen King's work at its most uniquely presented style. First of all, the movie itself is quite good, as I recall seeing it a few weeks ago, and I must say that Stephen King has upheld his reputation as a wonderful writer because I think the plot, while quite simple, really gets you thinking. The children touching the wolf's head was kind of confusing though, and quite dramatic, since I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to restrain a child from a stick. Nevertheless, a powerful message is that it is naive and stupid to think that when you have done something wrong, or hidden from light, you can not simply walk away with it. And that is probably one of human's most difficult obstacles- to be able to come face to face with their own mistakes, and the consequences that follow them. This book is scary, it's terrifying, and it will certainly send some chills down your spine. I know mine was.
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Summary: Modern Convention Blows Out the Window
Review: Well, after seeing the movie and reading the book I can honestly say that it is one of the most interesting plots in King's library of creativity. He loves to show the dark side of things, and when he does, he does it most effectively. I think the reason a lot of people dislike the story is because it IS disturbing and unsatisfying in the end. But that's just it-- it is supposed to be. King mixes a nice blend of story elements from his most recent works of Bag of Bones (let's rearrange some letters) to Needful Things (them townsfolk is something else...) to The Stand (a small group of people against one evil, evil man) all the way back to Cujo (is it me, or did the wolf's head actually turn into a Saint Bernard when the kids were petting it). And as far as the ending goes-- I say King is the master at making us squeal with terror and horror when we learn that we aren't getting what we want (as an audience). I know that I stayed drawn up in a tight knot for about an hour after finishing it. Way to Go Stephen King for delivering something worth viewing on television that might just make us think.
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Summary: Exiting Screenplay!
Review: This is the first screenplay that I read of S.King., it is so well written that you can imagine it as if you were actually seen the movie. The story is so good that it keeps you interested at all times, without a clue about what is going to happen at the end.
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Summary: Storm of the Century - Killer in the Keys
Review: In the summer of 1935, hundreds of World War 1 Veterans were in the Florida Keys to build the bridges linking the islands to the mainland. Many were curious and most unafraid when they heard a hurricane was coming. What was some wind and rain compared to bullets? Alas the Labor Day hurricane was perhaps the most powerful to ever assualt the U.S. mainland, moving across the Keys with 200-mph winds and a 20-foot storm surge.
More than 400 people died, including many of the verterans in their makeshift work camps. Drye's well-researched narrative provides not only an hour-by-hour account of the storm track, but also chronicles the political fallout in it's aftermath. Note: This refers to the version by Willie Drye.
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Summary: Great plot!
Review: I bought this book a few months ago not realizing it was a screenplay. I tried to read it then, but lost interest, because it was a screenplay. I picked it up again last night and just now put it down! Very well written. Once you get past the fact that it is a screenplay you get totally lost in the characters. The ending was surprising, because I thought the townspeople would make a different choice. King seems to know how people would react to certain situations. We all like to think we are basically good, but deep down we are selfish. This isn't up there with THE SHINING or 'SALEM's LOT, but it is very well written, and I highly recommend it.
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Summary: As good As It Is...
Review: Author Stephen King's Storm Of The Century, started out as a novel, then morphed into an ABC television mini series, and then ended up as a book after all. I must say right off the bat that I liked the television movie very much...As a massive snow storm heads for the town of Little Tall island, and as the residents start to prepare, one of the town's citizens is murdered by a mysterious stranger. Even as the town constable. Mike Anderson, arrives to take one Andre`Linoge` into custody, the visitor makes a proposition. He promises to leave as quickly as he came, if the townspeople give him the one thing he wants from them. As a t.v. movie, the story worked because of its cast and high production values, the book works too--just not quite as well. First, though, I liked reading the story in its original script format, beause of my film background and all. There's nothing like reading a cool script, even if you have already seen the film. However, I have to say that, I was a bit disappointed in the book version. As much as the story works, I was expecting King to include scenes that did not make it into the finished film, as is the case with most fare created for film, there is always stuff that is cut out. This is to accomodate time constraints and all that. Since the DVD release of the film contains no deleted material, I thought perhaps the screenplay would have had some of that. After all, when movies are adapted in novel form, there are no limits, bcause time and other factors are eliminated In his introduction on page Xi King makes the point that he wrote "Storm" the same way he would if it were a novel. I just didn't "read" the script that way. It felt like I was reading it the way it was written--as a script. Not that I wanted him to write Storm Of The Century as a novel, mind you: But scenes providing a few more layers to the already very creepy tale would have made the book even better, instead of a mere retread of something I already watched. I still recommend this 395 page book (including the introduction) to any King fan. It's still good for lots of shivers and goosebumps
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