Two strangers on the train
Strangers on a train (Engl. Strangers on a Train ) is a psychological thriller of the American writer Patricia Highsmith . It appeared for the first time in 1950. The piece became known through the film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock . The novel was published in 1967 in Germany by Rowohlt Verlag, initially under the title Alibi for two ; In 1974 he was published by Diogenes Verlag as Two Strangers on a Train .
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While on a train ride, the American Guy Haines, an architect, meets a man named Charles Anthony Bruno on the train. Guy is still married to Miriam, but wants to divorce her and marry his lover Anne Faulkner. However, Miriam takes a stand against the divorce and creates serious problems for Guy. Charles Anthony Bruno is a charming, eccentric dandy who engages Guy in a conversation in a very intrusive way.
To Guy's horror, Bruno suggests a deal: Both could commit the “perfect crime”. Bruno is ready to kill Guy's wife Miriam if this in return would kill Bruno's hated father. Since the victims were completely strangers to the murderers and no one knew about the acquaintance of the two men, the police would never suspect the respective perpetrator. Guy rejects this plan on moral grounds. Both separate. When Guy is in Mexico, Bruno murders his wife Miriam. Guy returns and Bruno goes to see him. Bruno describes the murder in detail to the horrified Guy. He now demands the corresponding consideration from Guy: the murder of his, Bruno's, father. Guy refuses. However, he does not go to the police to report Bruno either. Guy has no alibi and is the only one who has a motive. He is also aware that Bruno could untruthfully claim that the two made the deal. Bruno becomes more and more demanding and begins to write anonymous letters to Guy's circle of friends. Guy is completely desperate and decides to murder Bruno's father so that Bruno disappears from his life. Bruno gives him a detailed description of the Anthony's house and Guy carries out the murder.
However, Bruno does not leave Guy. He is inspired by the delusion that the two are friends. So he dives z. B. uninvited to the Wedding Guys with Anne Faulkner. The detective Arthur Gerard is a former friend of Bruno's father who is starting to investigate independently. He immediately notices that the killer had detailed knowledge of the house, and he suspects Bruno of having commissioned and instructed the killer. Gerard discovers a bill for a bouquet for the wedding guys with Anne Faulkner. When he asks Bruno how he met Guy, the latter begins to get tangled up in contradictions. Gerard learns from the press that Guy's wife was murdered, which puzzles him. After talking to Guy and after speaking to witnesses, he uncovers the diabolical plan.
When Bruno falls into the water in a boat accident, Guy feels so responsible for Bruno that he risks his life to save him. Bruno dies anyway. Guy is plagued with guilt. When the detective confronts him with his investigation, he confesses the crime.
people
- Guy Haines, architect
- Charles Anthony Bruno, dandy
- Anne Faulkner, lover, fiancé and future wife of Haines
- Miriam Joyce Haines, still-wife Haines
- Mrs. Anthony, Bruno's mother
- Mr. Anthony, Bruno's father
- Detective Arthur Gerard, a friend of Bruno's father
Adaptations
The material was filmed in 1951 by Alfred Hitchcock under the title Der Fremde im Zug . The film critic Roger Ebert counts the film adaptation as one of Hitchcock's strongest works. However, the script differs from the novel in important ways; mainly because Guy Haines did not murder Bruno's father.
The play by Craig Warner ran from November 19, 2013 to February 22, 2014 at the Gielgud Theater in London's West End. In Germany, the play, also in English, was performed from September 12 to November 1, 2014 at The English Theater in Frankfurt .
literature
- 1974 Two strangers on the train ; Diogenes-WA 2001, translated by Melanie Walz, ISBN 3-257-06401-2
Web links
- Ron Collins, "Strangers on a Page: Highsmith & Camus"
- Strangers on a Train at ChooseYourHighsmith.com