History Literature / TheBonfireOfTheVanities

New York City. Sherman [=McCoy=] is a married investment banker and self-proclaimed "Master of the Universe" who carries on an affair with socialite Maria Ruskin. One night, they take a wrong turn in the Bronx and encounter two (supposedly) threatening black youths. In their confusion Ruskin, who was driving, accidentally runs over one of them; he is left in a coma. When word of this breaks out, all hell breaks loose for [=McCoy=]. Meanwhile, an AmoralAttorney, a tabloid reporter, a StrawmanPolitical religious leader from the Bronx, an ambitious district attorney, and...well, the bulk of characters that the book follows decide to use the racially and socially-charged case to further their own agendas.

In 1990 the book was filmed. Directed by Creator/BrianDePalma and starring Creator/TomHanks, Creator/BruceWillis, and Creator/MelanieGriffith, it was a critical and commercial disaster. Writer Julie Salamon was granted full access during the TroubledProduction and her book, ''The Devil's Candy'', explains what went wrong.

* AllStarCast: In a weird way, this may have actually contributed to the film's failure. The characters in the novel are almost uniformly self-serving, amoral, and unsympathetic. The filmmakers chose to cast actors like Creator/TomHanks, Creator/MorganFreeman, and Creator/BruceWillis, whom audiences then found some of the most likable actors in Hollywood.

* YourCheatingHeart: Sherman [=McCoy=] and Detective Goldberg. It is more or less taken for granted that a man will stray once his wife gains weight or ages.

* TheMistress: Maria to Sherman, and the juror with brown lipstick to Detective Goldberg.

In 1990 the book was filmed. Directed by Creator/BrianDePalma and starring Creator/TomHanks, Creator/BruceWillis, and Creator/MelanieGriffith, it was a critical and commercial disaster. Writer Julie Salamon was granted full access during the TroubledProduction and her book ''The Devil's Candy'' explains what went wrong.

--> '''Peter Fallow'''

* RaceLift: Alan Arkin was originally cast as the Judge, but when the producers decided to change the character from Jewish to African-American, he was replaced by MorganFreeman. The change was due to complaints led by SpikeLee that, as it was, the story was racist.

* HiddenWire: Sherman wears one and tries to get Maria to admit that she was actually driving the hit-and-run vehicle. Things don't go as planned.

* UpperClassTwits: Most of the [=McCoys'=] friends and acquaintances.

* ScaryBlackGuy: Played with. This is how Sherman and Maria see the victim and his friend when they approach them after they have car trouble. The friend had asked them if they needed helped but later admits that he had planned to rob them.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney!: Very much Sherman McCoy's attitude until he's arrested.

** They're even less likable in the movie where even the few sympathetic characters such as Sherman McCoy's wife and the victim's mother are presented as completely self-serving.

In 1990 the book was filmed. Directed by Creator/BrianDePalma and starring TomHanks, BruceWillis, and Melanie Griffith, it was a critical and commercial disaster. Writer Julie Salamon was granted full access during the TroubledProduction and her book ''The Devil's Candy'' explains what went wrong.

* AllStarCast: In a weird way, this may have actually contributed to the film's failure. The characters in the novel are almost uniformly self-serving, amoral, and unsympathetic. The filmmakers chose to cast actors like TomHanks, MorganFreeman, and BruceWillis, whom audiences then found some of the most likable actors in Hollywood.

In 1990 the book was filmed. Directed by BrianDePalma and starring TomHanks, BruceWillis, and Melanie Griffith, it was a critical and commercial disaster. Writer Julie Salamon was granted full access during the TroubledProduction and her book ''The Devil's Candy'' explains what went wrong.

!!!!The novel and film feature examples of:

* TheOner: The opening sequence of the film, tracking Peter Fallow as he arrives for an awards presentation, takes the viewer from a parking garage to a hotel ballroom in one long shot.

----

''The Bonfire of the Vanities'', written by Tom Wolfe, was originally serialized in ''Rolling Stone'' in 27 installments starting in 1984. It was published in novel form in 1987 and won the Pulitzer Prize.

* WritingAroundTrademarks: In the novel, while the characters ride in real car brands like Mercedes and {{BMW}}, they also eat at "Texas Fried Chicken" and use their "Global Express" card to buy things.

* ShaggyDogStory: The film version.

* AllStarCast

''TheBonfireOfTheVanities'', written by Tom Wolfe, was originally serialized in ''Rolling Stone'' in 27 installments starting in 1984. It was published in novel form in 1987 and won the Pulitzer Prize.