As the Tuesday Night Bloggers devote the month of October to the subject of Costume in Crime, it would be remiss of me not to discuss some of the great costumed characters in the world of cinematic mysteries, many of them based on literary heroes and villains. I mentioned last week how unbelievable it might … Continue reading COSTUME IN CRIME: The Cinema Version
Films
THIRTEEN BY HITCHCOCK: A Fan Pays Homage to the Master
For the August 13 post of her fine blog, Confessions of a Mystery Novelist, Margot Kinberg did something that still makes me hang my head in shame: she remembered Alfred Hitchcock’s birthday! More than that, she honored him with a salutary post. one which you can – and should – read here. Although it accounted … Continue reading THIRTEEN BY HITCHCOCK: A Fan Pays Homage to the Master
A PORTRAIT OF “LAURA”
“I shall never forget the weekend Laura died . . . “ Otto Preminger’s Laura was one of the top films of 1944 (the year being celebrated all month over at Rich Westwood’s blog Past Offenses). It centers around a lovely girl named Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) who, at the start, has been horribly murdered … Continue reading A PORTRAIT OF “LAURA”
MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD: Hildegarde Withers on Page and Screen
In switching from a monthly author to theme-based posts, I fear the Tuesday Night Bloggers got it a little backward. You see, in May we explored travel and vacations , all whilst I was still slaving away at my teacher’s desk. Now it’s June, when summer vacation starts for haggard educators (oh, and kids, too!), … Continue reading MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD: Hildegarde Withers on Page and Screen
THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GORY: Christie and Hitchcock Ride the Rails
I recently read an article about what a boon the self-driving car will be to all of us who like to multi-task as we travel. “Driving is the biggest waste of time,” the proposers of this dubious technology cry, “because the only thing you accomplish is getting from one point to another!” I only hope … Continue reading THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GORY: Christie and Hitchcock Ride the Rails
EVOLUTION OF A COURTROOM MYSTERY: Witness for the Prosecution
They’re celebrating all mysterious things from 1957 over at Rich’s wonderful blog, Past Offenses, so I thought I’d join the party with some thoughts on Witness for the Prosecution, Billy Wilder’s film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s short story. Discussion will follow which necessitates spoiling the central gimmick of the story. Now, I can’t really imagine anyone … Continue reading EVOLUTION OF A COURTROOM MYSTERY: Witness for the Prosecution
FUGUE FOR TEN BODIES: Thoughts on Directing And Then There Were None
Last night was opening night for And Then There Were None, which I directed at the high school where I have been teaching drama for the past twenty-four years. I have been living with this production in my head for the past twelve months, and I approached it with mixed feelings of excitement and concern. … Continue reading FUGUE FOR TEN BODIES: Thoughts on Directing And Then There Were None
AGATHA CHRISTIE AS FEMINIST: Appointment With Death
In 1926, Agatha Christie’s husband Archie asked her for a divorce, having fallen in love with another woman. Her subsequent actions could be looked on as both revenge and empowerment: first, the famous “disappearance” which led to suspicions that Colonel Christie might have done away with his wife, and then a series of characterizations throughout … Continue reading AGATHA CHRISTIE AS FEMINIST: Appointment With Death
VINTAGE NOIR: Three Films from 1947
Every month at Past Offences, Rich picks a year and invites bloggers everywhere to celebrate the mystery offerings the particular year produced in literature and film. (Check out the results for 1933 here.) For March, Rich allowed regular contributor Santosh to pick the year just because Santosh solved a mystery Rich had posted. (My answer, … Continue reading VINTAGE NOIR: Three Films from 1947
THE BBC’S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE GETS IT RIGHT
My relationship with Agatha Christie – now a half-century old – began with And Then There Were None. Why not start with the best: the best classic mystery writer, the best of her novels. Oh, I have other favorite Christies, too, culled for a list of Poirots and Marples. But ATTWN stands apart from … Continue reading THE BBC’S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE GETS IT RIGHT
Ah Sweet Mystery! 