J.D. Salinger's Death and the rights to his work...

Astronomer · 01-28-2010, 10:35 PM

Sadly, a couple of days ago novelist J.D. Salinger passed away at age 91. For those of you who are unfamiliar with him, Salinger was the author of The Catcher in the Rye, and after his sudden fame he became a recluse. He continued to write, however refused to ever publish anything ever again, insisting that he wrote purely for himself. He also refused to ever give away rights for The Catcher in the Rye to become a movie.

The controversy now is whether his unpublished works will be sought after and published - the market for any posthumous Salinger writings would likely be highly lucrative.

There is also a particular intense interest in making a film of 'Catcher.' In the past, repeated attempts were made to film the novel and portray protagonist Holden Caulfield. But each time they were rebuffed by Salinger.

What happens now will remain unclear, but no doubt his passing will be taken advantage of and the opportunity to make millions out of posthumous publishings and a movie adaptation will be snatched. What are your thoughts and opinions?

Personally, I don't think I'd like to see a movie of The Catcher in the Rye. I love the book to bits and I don't think I'd be satisfied with any kind of adaptation of it. I wouldn't want to watch something that Salinger openly objected either.

duga · 01-28-2010, 10:39 PM

a movie would totally desecrate that book. catcher in the rye has an almost holy and mysterious type of aura about it. a movie would cheapen it and it would become just another one of those books you have to read in high school for the next generation. i really feel like his wishes should be respected...but i know it won't happen.

we will have his unpublished works, his daily journal, and a doodle book he used to jot down in whilst on the phone. it just can't be stopped...

boo boo · 01-28-2010, 10:48 PM

I haven't read Catcher in the Rye but I know it has inspired so many movies and overall has a very significant place in popular culture, and it will continue to so I don't think making a movie out of it is necessary, in fact it's a really bad idea.

Arya Stark · 01-28-2010, 10:53 PM

I think his wishes should be respected, the movie shouldn't be made.
Nor should another book.

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 01-29-2010, 02:43 AM

This is depressing as ****, I loved Salinger; my cat is even named Holden Caulfield

But they probs won't respect his wishes, eventually his vault of **** will be published by some *******

adidasss · 01-29-2010, 05:42 AM

I'd like to see his work published.

NumberNineDream · 01-29-2010, 07:34 AM

^Ditto.

Plus Catcher in the Rye was never made into a movie, because no film-maker was ever able to. As a film student I'd really love to see who's going to finally succeed. I know the works are most of the times ruined by the directors, but I can never say I'm against adaptations. That's a great challenge, and for the sake of film-making, it must be done.

If Orson Wells was able to astoundingly adapt Kafka's The Trial, I don't see anything impossible in term of adaptations.

Mojo · 01-29-2010, 09:38 AM

I love Catcher in the Rye and had been thinking about reading again lately, over the last week. I'd watch the film if it was made but i have to say that i hope it never is. Ideally i would like to say that if it was never made in his lifetime, it shouldnt be made after his death. It could be unavoidable though.

Arya Stark · 01-29-2010, 11:29 AM

The bookstore gave me Catcher in the Rye by accident.
I'm keeping it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NumberNineDream

^Ditto.

Plus Catcher in the Rye was never made into a movie, because no film-maker was ever able to. As a film student I'd really love to see who's going to finally succeed. I know the works are most of the times ruined by the directors, but I can never say I'm against adaptations. That's a great challenge, and for the sake of film-making, it must be done.

If Orson Wells was able to astoundingly adapt Kafka's The Trial, I don't see anything impossible in term of adaptations.

I read that he had this lawsuit against people trying to make a movie out of it he was suing for his rights but never showed up to court.

Astronomer · 01-29-2010, 10:43 PM

I don't think his work should be published, nor do I think a film should be made of it.

As intriguing and interesting as it would be to see Catcher come to life, it just seems very wrong to take advantage of the man's death. He didn't allow anybody to make a movie out it because he didn't want to - he didn't want his art to be changed or compromised. I don't think we should have the attitude of, "He's dead now, awesome - now I get to see a film adaptation come to life!" or "He's dead, now I can finally made an adaptation of his work because he won't be there to stop me ha!"

01-28-2010, 10:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	J.D. Salinger's Death and the rights to his work... Sadly, a couple of days ago novelist J.D. Salinger passed away at age 91. For those of you who are unfamiliar with him, Salinger was the author of The Catcher in the Rye, and after his sudden fame he became a recluse. He continued to write, however refused to ever publish anything ever again, insisting that he wrote purely for himself. He also refused to ever give away rights for The Catcher in the Rye to become a movie. The controversy now is whether his unpublished works will be sought after and published - the market for any posthumous Salinger writings would likely be highly lucrative. There is also a particular intense interest in making a film of 'Catcher.' In the past, repeated attempts were made to film the novel and portray protagonist Holden Caulfield. But each time they were rebuffed by Salinger. What happens now will remain unclear, but no doubt his passing will be taken advantage of and the opportunity to make millions out of posthumous publishings and a movie adaptation will be snatched. What are your thoughts and opinions? Personally, I don't think I'd like to see a movie of The Catcher in the Rye. I love the book to bits and I don't think I'd be satisfied with any kind of adaptation of it. I wouldn't want to watch something that Salinger openly objected either. __________________

01-28-2010, 10:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	a movie would totally desecrate that book. catcher in the rye has an almost holy and mysterious type of aura about it. a movie would cheapen it and it would become just another one of those books you have to read in high school for the next generation. i really feel like his wishes should be respected...but i know it won't happen. we will have his unpublished works, his daily journal, and a doodle book he used to jot down in whilst on the phone. it just can't be stopped... __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

01-29-2010, 05:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	I'd like to see his work published. __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

01-29-2010, 07:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
NumberNineDream Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The land of the largest wine glass (aka Lebanon) Posts: 2,200	^Ditto. Plus Catcher in the Rye was never made into a movie, because no film-maker was ever able to. As a film student I'd really love to see who's going to finally succeed. I know the works are most of the times ruined by the directors, but I can never say I'm against adaptations. That's a great challenge, and for the sake of film-making, it must be done. If Orson Wells was able to astoundingly adapt Kafka's The Trial, I don't see anything impossible in term of adaptations. __________________ Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats?Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Do bats eat cats? Welcome to the Black Lodge

01-29-2010, 09:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I love Catcher in the Rye and had been thinking about reading again lately, over the last week. I'd watch the film if it was made but i have to say that i hope it never is. Ideally i would like to say that if it was never made in his lifetime, it shouldnt be made after his death. It could be unavoidable though. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

01-29-2010, 02:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	This is depressing as **, I loved Salinger; my cat is even named Holden Caulfield But they probs won't respect his wishes, eventually his vault of will be published by some *****

01-29-2010, 10:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	I don't think his work should be published, nor do I think a film should be made of it. As intriguing and interesting as it would be to see Catcher come to life, it just seems very wrong to take advantage of the man's death. He didn't allow anybody to make a movie out it because he didn't want to - he didn't want his art to be changed or compromised. I don't think we should have the attitude of, "He's dead now, awesome - now I get to see a film adaptation come to life!" or "He's dead, now I can finally made an adaptation of his work because he won't be there to stop me ha!" __________________