Sunday Story Ratings #28: Fruit Tramp

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Fruit Tramp by Daniel Mainwaring

Originally published July 1934 in Harper's; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

 

M

(D, V, L)

Drug references (PG) {Suggestion someone's sons may have been smoking; Cigarette-rolling + smoking}

Violence (M) {Sibling tussling; people showing up with black eyes; a brawl}

Mild Coarse Language (PG)

 

Representations

Gender:

Predominantly male characters, only men move the plot.

Sex:

No direct sexuality, families presented only in monogamous heterosexual format.

Race & Ethnicity:

One off-screen character possibly Japanese (based on being consistently referred to by the narrator as "the Jap"). Anti-Russian / communist sentiment as a trouble-stirrer. Everyone else unmarked US-dweller.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Typhoid fever mentioned as a thing that happens. One character who incites trouble described as a hunchback.

 

 

Notes

This one didn't feel like a crime story at all. I suppose the violence at the end is against the law... perhaps it does count. The story is about, so far as I can tell, the crushing circumstances of the Great Depression in the US pitting people against each other.

Sunday Story Ratings #29: Brush Fire

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Brush Fire by James M. Cain

Originally published 1936; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

 

M

(S, D, V)

Minor Sexual Activity {G} {Kissing}

Drug Use {PG}

Violence {M}

 

Representations

Gender:

Most characters including viewpoint male. Some women as visitors.

Sex:

Some heterosexual kissing. An abusive, separated marriage is a plot driver.

Race & Ethnicity:

At least one character white, the rest unmarked US.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Smoke inhalation is, of course, a danger.

Sunday Story Ratings #30: Human Interest Stuff

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

Human Interest Stuff by Brett Halliday

Originally published September 1938 in Adventure; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

 

PG

(D, V, L)

Drug Use {PG}

Some Violence {PG}

Coarse Language {PG}

 

Representations

Gender:

A single reference to the existence of women, off-screen.

Sex:

No sexuality noticed as present.

Race & Ethnicity:

Story set in Mexico, starring two USAians explicitly described as white. Mexican men depicted as violent in response to familial insult. Plenty of stereotyping, e.g. 'works well under direction, but lacks initiative'.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

A character off-screened by convenient dysentery.

 

Notes

Might be the first since the first story in the collection to feature a twist ending at the very finish. Rereading to put the rating together, it was obvious at least with foreknowledge, but I managed to overlook most of the "it doesn't make sense if [first impression] but does if [what is actually the case]" held out in plain sight. So I think that is complimentary.