Ep.38 Point Blank (1967) Vs. Payback (1999)

Two movies based on The Hunter by Donald E. Westlake under the pen name Richard Stark brought Westlake's most famous character, Parker, to the silver screen, but they wouldn't be actually called Parker. Westlake famously protected the character and the name Parker wouldn't be used until after his death when Jason Statham starred in a movie title after the titular character.

Point Blank (1967) with Lee Marvin starring as Walker/Parker in a very ethereal adaptation of the novel alongside Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynn, Caroll O'Connor, and John Vernon was the first to adapt the novel, although now in a contemporary late 60's setting. Near the dawn of the millennium Mel Gibson would star in another contemporary take on the novel in Payback (1999) co-starring Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Deborah Kara Unger, William Devane, Lucy Liu, Kris Kristofferson, and James Coburn.

While adapting the same material, these two films are very different. Invasion of the Remake is the only place where Lee Marvin will be fighting Mel Gibson to see which is the better Parker.

This episode is dedicated in the memory of Darwin Cooke who passed away only two days prior to the recording of this episode. He adapted many of the Parker novels into graphic novel form and did them with a passion for the character that may have only been rival to that of Westlake himself. He will be missed.

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