It’s hard to pinpoint precisely when film noir began and ended. Its antecedents lie in the silent era, in German Expressionism and in the Warner Brothers crime dramas of the 30’s. Our teacher Elliot Lavine offers a specific starting point – 1940’s Stranger on the Third Floor (which I discussed here) – and will rattle off a title or … Continue reading THE EVIL THAT MEN DO: Kiss Me Deadly and The Big Combo
Author: Brad
THE ELLERY QUEEN POLL: The Results!
It is always gratifying to put something up for a vote and then see a mad rush to the polls. Tens of thousands of eager fans showed up to choose the best episode of the Ellery Queen mystery series, and I was all set to post the results yesterday. But then someone who had hacked … Continue reading THE ELLERY QUEEN POLL: The Results!
TWO Bs OR NOT TWO Bs: 99 River Street and Crime Wave
There’s a moment toward the climax of 99 River Street when Evelyn Keyes dances up to psychopath Victor Rawlins (Brad Dexter) and lights her cigarette with his. It’s the dirtiest moment in a 50’s film I can remember, and I wondered how it got past the censors. The New York Times reviewer latched onto moments like this … Continue reading TWO Bs OR NOT TWO Bs: 99 River Street and Crime Wave
DEATH – AGAIN – ON THE NILE
Christie purists, we’ve had our day! Actually, that day lasted for quite a few years, through most of the 1980’s right into the millennium. You got your Warwick/Annis Tommy and Tuppence adventures and Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. You got your Poirot . . . well, most of him. And now it’s time to face the fact … Continue reading DEATH – AGAIN – ON THE NILE
WHO YOU GONNA CALL . . . ? POIROT!
Well, hellooooo, Agatha! How are you, Mrs. Christie? I haven’t seen you in my dreams written about you in the longest time – since December 13th actually, when I offered up Twelve Christies for Christmas. Keeping the “dozens” theme in mind, I would like to offer up twelve cases that Christie wrote and then gathered together in … Continue reading WHO YOU GONNA CALL . . . ? POIROT!
NE PLUS ULTRA-VIOLENT: Two Noirs from 1953
Revenge is sweet! Just ask Liam Neeson as he plows down the mobster clan/spy organization/terrorist cell when his cousin’s great niece’s best friend’s neighbor is . . . TAKEN! But do you remember when revenge was not sweet? When it was more sweet and sour? Ask Antigone. Ask Hamlet. And, by all means, ask Fritz Lang. In … Continue reading NE PLUS ULTRA-VIOLENT: Two Noirs from 1953
ELLERY QUEEN: The Adventure of the Dubious Pollster
If you've been following along with me this past six weeks - or even if you haven't - you've received my take on the twenty-three episodes (including the pilot) of the all-too short-lived mystery series, Ellery Queen. Now it's your chance to be a part of history in the first (and probably only) fan poll … Continue reading ELLERY QUEEN: The Adventure of the Dubious Pollster
GOD SAVE THE QUEENS (THE NETWORK WON’T): Ellery Queen Episodes 21 and 22
And so it ends, not with a bang but . . . not with a whimper either (although the penultimate episode edges a little close). It’s impossible to believe that Link and Levinson could not have sustained the puzzle plots for at least one more season, and yet what we have here is most pleasurable … Continue reading GOD SAVE THE QUEENS (THE NETWORK WON’T): Ellery Queen Episodes 21 and 22
LAUGHING MATTER? Two New Netflix Mystery-Comedies
On an especially bleak day last December, I made my mom laugh. (This is my job: middle brother helps her with her finances, baby bro handles all technical and medical matters . . . I crack the jokes.) I said, “Oh, Mom, you’re always complaining that there’s nothing to watch on TV, but I just … Continue reading LAUGHING MATTER? Two New Netflix Mystery-Comedies
QUEENS CHOICE: Ellery Queen Episodes 19 and 20
Given a choice between a show-biz centered story featuring Simon Brimmer and centered around an Irving Berlin-type composer and a testosterone-laden “let’s hide the witness before he testifies against the mob boss” story, you think you’d know which episode I preferred. Well, you’d be wrong. Presenting the last truly great episode in the series! But … Continue reading QUEENS CHOICE: Ellery Queen Episodes 19 and 20
Ah Sweet Mystery! 