Characters

Lew Archer

Lew Archer is an honest and tough detective. The former cop relentless pursues justice, repeatedly putting himself in harm’s way to solve the mysteries at hand. This hardboiled detective doesn’t stop in the entire story until all that needs to be revealed is. His skills in the art of interrogation constantly lead him to the next step of solving the mystery. From being carjacked by suspected murders, being beat up by gangsters, and being in all sorts of other danger, Archer is constantly in the action.

A good choice of an actor for the portrayal of Lew Archer is Gary Oldman. Oldman has effectively played several roles that would make a strong choice as Archer, from Gordon in the Dark Knight series to Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series.

(Otto Schwartz to Archer) "Lake Tahoe is very deep. You could take a long dive, no Aqualung, concrete on the legs."
"You could sit in a hot seat, no cushion, electrodes on the bald head." (137)

John Brown Jr.

John Brown Jr., also known as Theo Fredricks and John Lindsay, plays a key role in the novel as he is the heir to the Galton fortune that Archer was attempting to find. Brown was raised in Canada by his birthmother and stepfather, before running away to Michigan with Peter Culligan after being told that his stepfather killed his actual father. There he studied acting at the University of Michigan, where after graduating Culligan informed him in the opportunity of impersonating Anthony Galton’s son in order to claim the inheritance (which was in fact his). The tale of Brown is that of claiming what is actually his and figuring out who he actually is. At the end of the novel, he forgives his mother for marrying the man who killed his father to keep him alive.

An ideal choice for John Brown Jr. is James Franco. Just as John Brown Jr. was an accomplished actor in college, so too was Franco, with Franco even teaching acting classes now at USC and UCLA.

“I don’t hate you. I’m sorry for you, Mother. And I’m sorry for what I said.” (241)

Mrs. Galton

Mrs. Galton hires Archer to find her son who left years before. Mrs. Galton just wanted to see Anthony before she passed, and rewards Archer handsomely for bringing her grandson and heir to her.

Helen Mirren would be a strong choice to play Mrs. Galton because he poise and grace would allow her to make an extremely effective portrayal of the Galton family’s aging matriarch.

“Is this the man who is going to find my prodigal son for me?” (19)

Peter Culligan

Peter Culligan proves to be a crucial character in the novel, despite only being alive for the first four chapters of the book.  In the beginning of the story, we only know of Culligan as the Sable’s servant. Culligan’s murder is investigated by Archer, in the correct belief that it is connected to the missing Galtons.  This investigation leads Archer all over the country and Canada before it revealed that Culligan and then Theo Fredricks were conspiring to steal the Galton fortune. It is also revealed that Mrs. Sable and Culligan had a romantic relationship, and that it was in fact Mr. Sable who killed Culligan.

Jackie Earle Haley would be a good choice to portray Peter Culligan. Culligan is very mysterious, and there are few actors in Hollywood better at playing strange and mysterious characters then Haley.

(Referring to Culligan) “I noticed the blue anchor tattoo on the back of his hand and wondered if he was a sailor. Nobody would mistake him for a trained servant.”  (8)

Gordon Sable

Mr. Sable is the lawyer through whom Mrs. Galton acts through to hire Archer. Sable’s servant is Peter Culligan, but Sable denies any knowledge of his previous life. Sable is extremely protective of his wife, although it is evident that his wife has many issues. It is revealed that Sable was the one who actually killed Culligan, not his wife as he led everyone to believe (including her). Sable in fact had orchestrated the whole scheme for Culligan and Brown to get the money.

Gary Sinise would a strong actor to play the role of Mr. Sable. Sinise’s talents would certainly lend themselves nicely to portraying a character with a couple big secrets.

“I have no friends. I know why you are here, why you want to talk to Alice. And I’m not going to let you.” (216)

Alice Sable

Mrs. Sable is the wife of Mr. Sable. Mrs. Sable seems to be mentally unstable throughout the story, especially after the death of Culligan. It is revealed that she was romantically involved with Culligan earlier, which is why he was working for the Sable family at the time of his death. Mr. Sable convinces her that she is the one who committed the murder her, although it is later revealed what he did and she comes to her senses.

Mrs. Sable would be portrayed well by Uma Thurman. Thurman’s characters always seem to be a little crazy, and that little bit of crazy would be well used in portraying Mrs. Sable.

“I didn’t kill him. It wasn’t me out there. It was Gordon, and I watched it from the window. He picked up Peter’s knife and pushed it into his stomach.” (219)

Dr. Howell

Dr. Howell is a friend of both the Galton and Sable family. His daughter, Sheila, and John Brown Jr. begin a romantic relationship which Howell does not approve of. He has Archer reinvestigate Brown’s story due to his skepticism of his legitimacy. He also goes with Archer at the end of the novel to confront the Sable family.

James Caan would be a great choice to portray Dr. Howell, as his versatility an actor proves. His loving relationship with his daughter would be able to be portrayed brilliantly by someone of Caan’s talents.

“I haven’t meant to bring this up, but my daughter Sheila is –ah- interested on the boy. If hes a criminal, as I suspect-“ (160)

Sheila Howell

Sheila Howell is Dr. Howell’s daughter. John Brown Jr. and her run away to Canada to make a new life for themselves, much to her father’s displeasure.

Jennifer Lawrence would be a great choice to portray Sheila Howell, because she possesses the spunk that a young woman rebelling against her father wants needs.

“You have us.” (241)

Mrs. Fredricks

Mrs. Fredicks owns a hotel in Canada with her husband. It is revealed that she was married to John Brown before he was killed, and is John Brown Jr.’s mother. It was shown that she essentially sacrificed living her own life to ensure that her son lived and grew up, which was an incredibly selfless act. John Brown Jr. forgives her for marrying his father’s murderer as the last event in the book.

Diane Keaton would be a great choice for Mrs. Fredicks due to the quiet sort of pride that she regularly displays is her roles.

“You have no right to judge me for doing that. It was to save your life that I married him…. He said that if I ever told a living soul, that he would kill you, too.” (241)

Mr. Fredicks

Mr. Fredick’s owns the Canadian hotel with Mrs. Fredricks, who accuses him of being an alcoholic. It is revealed that it is he who killed John Brown, and ran away with Brown’s wife and child. He is stabbed by John Brown Jr. before he runs away to Michigan. Fredick’s hangs himself at the end of novel.

Mr. Fredicks would be portrayed well by Robert De Niro, due to the violent nature that is contained in many of De Niro’s characters.

“You’re not going to order me around, treat me like a has-been. It aint my fault I can’t work, with a hole in my belly. It aint my fault I can’t go to bed without a drink to ease the pain.” (196)