Created by Graham Greene Definitely not a private eye tale, or even a mystery, really (at least in the traditional sense), but Graham Greene’s 1951 novel, The End of the Affair does feature private investigator ALBERT PARKIS of the Savage Detective Agency in a pivotal, if secondary, role. In London, as World War II rages and the bombs … Continue reading Albert Parkis (The End of the Affair)
Tag: Films
Edward Mercer (Venetian Bird)
Created by Victor Canning (1911-86) Private eye EDWARD MERCER, like most of prolific British thriller writer Victor Canning's other P.I. creations (such as James Helder and Rex Carver) leans more toward the international thriller than the mean streets, but that doesn't mean they're not worth checking out. In Bird of Prey (1950; aka “The Venetian Bird"), … Continue reading Edward Mercer (Venetian Bird)
Shane Mack (I Know What You Need)
Created by Stephen King Adapted by Shawn S. Lealo "That's not love...that's rape." -- Alice has concerns Back in the late 1970s, Stephen King had the bright idea of selling the film rights to his short stories--any of his short stories--for a buck to any young filmmaker. An actual dollar, to be mailed to Stephen … Continue reading Shane Mack (I Know What You Need)
Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light
DOCUMENTARY (2006) The 2006 documentary Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light, from director and film historian Gary Leva, was originally tucked away on various DVD film noir collections from Warner Bros. (it's on Film Noir Classic Collection Vol. 3, and still shows up occasionally as a "bonus feature"), but it's also available separately. It's billed as … Continue reading Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light
Tom O’Toole (Everybody Wins)
Created by Arthur Miller Everybody hated this film, except maybe me. In his first original screenplay since The Misfits way back in 1961, Arthur Miller (The Crucible, Death of a Salesman, etc.) tackled the private eye genre in 1990's moody, cynical Everybody Wins, starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. Nolte plays TOM O'TOOLE with a … Continue reading Tom O’Toole (Everybody Wins)
The Casting Ouch!
Unlikely Private Eyes (No, Really...) What the hell were they thinking? Sometimes you just have to scratch your head. Some people should just NOT play private eyes. Some of them shouldn't even act at all. And yet, all these people, more famous for other things or other roles, have been cast at one time or another … Continue reading The Casting Ouch!
My Scrapbook: The Robe Abides…
and the Dude's Doing Okay, Too From Entertainment Weekly (April 2021) What more can I say? This tearsheet from the April 2021 issue of Entertainment Weekly, written by Sydney Bucksbaum, pretty much summarizes everything you need to know about Jeff Lebowski's bathrobe in The Big Lebowski, one of the most iconic wardrobes in the Shamus … Continue reading My Scrapbook: The Robe Abides…
Joe Peters (Roadblock)
Created by Richard Landau (1914–93) and Geoffrey Homes Pseudonym of Daniel Mainwaring (1902-77) In Roadblock (1951), a nifty little noir full of robbery, murder, sexual obsession and a bunch of other neat stuff, JOE PETERS (Charles McGraw), a Los Angeles-based insurance investigaor who sounds like he gargles with old car parts, becomes involved with Diane … Continue reading Joe Peters (Roadblock)
Rex Shepard (You Never Can Tell)
Created by Lou Breslow and David Chandler "Oh Goldie, these are humans we're dealing with. You can't just tell them the truth and expect them to believe it." -- Rex explains the inadequacies of humans. Speaking of unfortunate viewing habits, how could you not include You Never Can Tell in the list of movies on your … Continue reading Rex Shepard (You Never Can Tell)
Jeff “Red” Bailey (Out of the Past)
Created by Geoffrey Homes Pseudonym of Daniel Mainwaring (1902-77) "I was at the bottom of the barrel and I was scraping it." -- Jeff Bailey "RED" BAILEY (JEFF in the film) is the world-weary, sleepy-eyed private eye who just wants to forget, in the classic film noir Out of the Past (1947, RKO), based on … Continue reading Jeff “Red” Bailey (Out of the Past)