Mr Blue
November 3rd 2006 10:28
'Mr Blue' is the memoir (or autobiography) of Edward Bunker. Bunker was a criminal for the first forty years of his life before getting his breakthrough as a writer. Now, when I say criminal, I don't mean someone who just committed the occasional crime, I mean someone who saw themselves as a professional thief. A man who would spend roughly 18 years in and out of prison. This book details these years, and those in between, giving us a fascinating an in-depth view of 'a life of crime'.
The book is titled 'Mr. Blue' after the character Bunker played in 'Resorvoir Dogs', a film that brought him to the attention of a lot of people who probably otherwise wouldn't know who he was (like me). Bunker wrote four fiction books (ten if you count his earlier unpublished efforts) and two memoirs since he turned his back on crime and became a writer, and he has also appeared in, and been involved with, several films other than 'Resorvoir Dogs' - including the film version of his book 'Animal Factory', the latest version of 'The Longest Yard', 'The Long Riders', 'Tango and Cash', 'Straight Time' (based on one of Bunker's books), 'The Running Man' and 'Heat' (as 'technical advisor'!) Sadly Bunker died just last year, but he had a good innings, he was about 82 and he never expected to live as long as he did.
'Mr Blue' follows Bunker from his early years as juvenile delinquent, living on the streets as early as the age of 9, and gives us a great amount of detail on his years as a convict and felon. Bunker charts his journey from these early days, the various run ins with the law and other nefarious adventures, up to his vindication as a published and acclaimed writer. He remains unrepentent about his life as a criminal, offering an even-handed view of the underworld... he doesn't sensationalise nor does he ignore certain aspects of his life. He is very honest, and his writing goes a long way to endearing him to the reader - at least to a point where we can empathise with him - if not sympathise - and he brings us into his confidence with all kinds of amazing stories.
Bunker was shown to have an IQ of 151 when he was a child, and his intelligence went a long way to keeping him from doing the silly things that get a lot of people in his line of work killed. He worked mostly as a thief, and in his later days he organised and orchestrated crimes from behind the scenes. He also robbed a few banks when circumstances limited his range of choices, and he was often put in solitary whilst in prison or gaol thanks to what he calls 'Sunday punches' (where you punch someone before they can punch you) and attacks on prison officers. At times, it's harrowing - you can feel the fear that permeates the prison world, and at other times, it's quite funny.
This book is chock full of little details like the mechanics of prison poker, how one survives in prison, the moral codes that a criminal like Bunker adheres to, and various other amusing anecdotes (at one point Bunker switches some name tags at a court hearing so he will be issued with a nice suit when he leaves prison, rather than the regulation threads one is usually given). Bunker also provides the reader with a personal view of the history of Californian prisons like San Quentin and Folsom from 1950 to 1970. His unique combination of incarceration and self-education allows for the kind of inside psychological observance that one rarely has of institutions like prison. Bunker has a gift for writing and observance, and the books final chapters about the 'race wars' inside San Quentin are an indelible chronicle of the changing face of American criminal life.
A good book. A mix of true crime and behind-the-scenes Hollywood (Bunker made friends with the wife of well-known director in the 50s) and a more intelligent than usual crime autobiography. Highly recommended.
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