Six great films that influenced Man in a Zen Ambulance

·          The Killers (1946 & 1964)

   Seven Samurai (1954)

·                       Once upon a Time in the West (1968)

       The Loveless (1982)

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                                                      A Colt Is My Passport (1967)

·    Natural Born Killers (1994)

Cowboys, Teddy Boys and samurai

The One Hand Clapping novels are all about fusing East and West to create an exciting new crime genre of 'pulp Zen.' While Zen City, Iso is all 1940s noir, Man in a Zen Ambulance draws on 1950s music and styles, Westerns and samurai. 

One memorable group of characters in Ambulance are the Four Noble Truths, the samurai hit men who shoot it out with the monk in an extended gunfight across the burning town-with-no-name. 'Four Noble Truths' is taken from the four fundamental truths underlying Buddhist teaching. The Truths dress in the style of classic British Teddy Boys from the 1950s; the dramatic opening of the story sets out their violent credentials as well as their retro sartorial finery.

Left is a photo of real-life Teddy Boys, some wearing western string ties, along with drape jackets and waistcoats. The look certainly owes as much to the classic cowboy gunfighter as to Edwardian gentlemen. Walking down the street in search of a gunfight – or a duel if you’re a samurai.

Compare them with the Burt Lancaster and co in an iconic scene from The Gunfight at the OK Corral:

Also compare these more contemporary Teds with Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter, note the tattoos on the hands:

 

Cowboys and samurai rockabilly

With Man in a Zen Ambulance I wanted to try and fuse 1950s music and fashion with Serge Leone’s spaghetti Westerns and the samurai films that inspired them. The setting a surreal retro Thailand. Even some of the narrative construction is designed to be a little like a Zen haiku poem.

 

Hong Kong Rockabilly 

So does it work?

Well, I’m going to post a brief extract from the novel which has the hero heading into the railroad station for the violent showdown. You be the judge: 

“I reckon we’ll be there in about nineteen minutes,” said White.

     Milo felt nauseous at hearing that, trying to clear the rum-shit-muddle out of his head. Way out of practice.

     Black checked his wristwatch. “Yeah, about nineteen max.”

     White turned to the Kid. “You reckon you got a plan, son?”

     “Yes, mister, I have.”

     “Well, you better get on and sort it ’cos you and Milo don’t have much time left.”

     “Mister, I am on it.”

              

“I can see the station,” said White.

     Black nodded. He took out a record and chose the red Dansette Major. He adjusted the speed setting from 45 to 78rpm. Then he placed the record on the deck, brought the arm over until it clicked into position and then gently let the needle down. He flicked the switch. A split-second later, nine giant chrome-finned speakers jumped into life and rose out of the bow of the train in perfect unison like holy nagas.

     Johnny Izu’s 'Kamikaze Boogie' blasted out ahead.

   

The train roared down the line.

    And into the station. 

 

Zen train in the Atomic Age...?