A few years ago, I saw a theatrical screening of a documentary about Nelson Algren. While the film version of "The Man With the Golden Arm" figured prominently in the documentary, Algren and Preminger did not get along well. Hollywood really revised and sanitized the plot in significant ways. Algren picked up his check and walked away angry.

Of course, Frankie Machine earned his living as a dealer at illicit poker games, but the film emphasized that more than the novel. The supporting character of "Vi" is an old woman in the movie. In the book she is an adulterous young tart.

"Never Come Morning" is another terrific Algren book. I am unaware of the book ever being adapted.

As a Chicagoan, Algren is quite interesting because he sets scenes in specific locations that are recognizable to city residents. When Frankie is being hunted by the cops, he escapes by taking refuge in a majority African American ghetto neighborhood on West Lake Street. None of the bulls thought of searching for him there. None of this material figured in the screenplay.

The documentary on Algren featured a photo of the author outside of a movie theater where "House of Dracula" was being shown.