WSJ Profiles Six Crime Novel Characters Portrayed in Film

Speaking of Jason Bourne — see our previous post — The Wall Street Journal has an entertaining look at six crime novel characters that have appeared in film and have also been portrayed by multiple actors. In addition to a description of the character, there is a summary of their appearance in print and in film, and a famous "quirk" of the character.

Listed are Sherlock Holmes ("Dozens of actors have played him in more than 200 films and TV shows."); Jason Bourne ("After an injury, Bourne can't remember anything, including his own identity. Hint: Bourne isn't his real name."); James Bond ("He is very good-looking. He reminds me rather of Hoagy Carmichael …"); Philip Marlowe ("A way with metaphor: It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window."); Jack Ryan ("[P]ortrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck."); and Lisbeth Salander ("A penchant for revenge.").

(Related article: The Wall Street Journal.)