Book Vs. Movie "Three Days of the Condor"

Book Vs. Movie: Three Days of the Condor

The James Grady Book Vs. the Robert Redford-Starring Movie

(Book Vs. Movie: Three Days of the Condor by James Grady)

(Listen here!)

The Margos talk about the paranoia-soaked 70s with a discussion about the novel & film Three Days of the Condor starring a dreamy Robert Redford and a luminous Faye Dunaway. The story is about a man who loves to read and works for the CIA and gets sucked into a life-threatening chase between himself and outside forces of the government.

Published in 1974 (the same year Richard Nixon resigned from office), author James Grady used his experience working in politics in his native Montana to weave a tale around everyman Malcolm Ronald, who reads mystery and spy novels and analyzes the plots for the U.S. government. When his entire office is killed in one fell swoop--he goes on the run with his code name, “Condor,” to find a faithful ally to spare his life.

The 1975 movie directed by Sydney Pollack stars a fantastic cast and takes a few liberties with the screenplay (by Lorenzo Semple, Jr. and David Rafiel.)

What are the main differences between the short story and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen!

In this ep, the Margos discuss:

The original “Sausage Fest” novel
The politics and news of the 1970s (paranoia aplenty!)
The differences between the novel and film
The cast of the 1975 film: Robert Redford (Joe Turner “The Condor,”) Faye Dunaway (Kathy Hale,) Cliff Robertson (Higgins,) Max von Sydow (Joubert,) John Housman (Wabash,) Addison Powell (Leonard Atwood,) Walter McGinn (Sam Barber,) Tina Chen (Janice Chong,) Jess Osuna (The Major,) Helen Stenborg (Mrs. Russell,) Patrick Gorman (Martin,) and Hansford Rowe as Jennings.