Created by Alan Trustman VICKI ANDERSON is the hotshot insurance dick called in to investigate a high-stakes Boston bank heist in Norman Jewison's über-stylish romantic suspense thriller The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 ). She soon finds herself pitted, both romantically and professionally, against the caper's mastermind, successful but bored multi-millionaire Thomas Crown, played by Steve … Continue reading Vicki Anderson/Catherine Banning
Tag: Insurance Investigator
Nick Acropolis
Created by Jack Clark In Westerfield's Chain (2002), an impressive (and Shamus-nominated debut), NICK ACROPOLIS is an former Chicago Homicide cop now working as private eye, taking on low-level insurance cases. Nothing special, nothing too dangerous. But looking into a routine traffic incident involving an off-duty cop, Nick stumbles upon more than he bargained for, … Continue reading Nick Acropolis
Jackson Kratz (Eruption)
Created by Justin Welton What the world needs now is... A "porn remake" of Double Indemnity? Yes, that's exactly how A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Film Noir describes Eruption, an X-rated 1977 cinematic offering that "borrows" the set-up and even lifts some of the dialogue from the 1944 film noir classic, directed by Billy Wilder from … Continue reading Jackson Kratz (Eruption)
Abby Kaplan
Created by Michael Koryta Former stunt driver ABBY KAPLAN knows all about car wrecks — it was a joy ride that cost her her career in Hollywood. So now she works as an insurance investigator in Maine, in Michael Koryta's potential new series, which is already generating some significant buzz. Michael Koryta, a former private investigator … Continue reading Abby Kaplan
Mike Longstreet
Developed for television by Stirling Silliphant From a character created by Baynard Kendricks The seventies were truly the Golden Age of the TV Dick, when the airwaves were saturated with private eyes and cops of all sizes and shapes. There were so many of them that the nightly barrage of murder and mayhem began to … Continue reading Mike Longstreet
Johnny Dollar
Created by Jack Johnstone Everyone has a favorite radio series. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is the one that got me into OTR collecting and was the original reason I joined The Radio Historical Association of Colorado. I probably have more episodes of this show in my collection than any other single series. For over 12 … Continue reading Johnny Dollar
Bud Cooper (Suburbicon)
Created by Joel Cohen and Ethan Coen Revised by George Clooney and Grant Heslov "It starts out like a Disney film, and by the end it feels like an acid trip." -- George Clooney, in Entertainment Weekly In the 2017 blood-splattered black comedy Suburbicon (2017, Paramount), Matt Damon, Julianne Moore and Noah Jupe are the squeaky clean … Continue reading Bud Cooper (Suburbicon)
Barton Keyes (Double Indemnity)
Created by James M. Cain (1892–1977) “From the moment they met, it was murder!” — the film's original tagline "I don't often like somebody. At my trade, you can't afford to. The whole human race looks--a little bit crooked." — Keyes in Double Indemnity BARTON KEYES is the dogged, determined investigator for General Fidelity of California who … Continue reading Barton Keyes (Double Indemnity)
Jack Wade
Created by Don Winslow "As a fire investigator, Bentley makes a good fisherman." --not everyone's as good as Jack... To be honest, Don Winslow's standalone California Fire and Life (1999), featuring JACK WADE, a disgraced cop/slacker surfer dude/hotdog insurance claims adjuster specializing in arson, just blew me away. It's a dizzying, circular ride that begins and … Continue reading Jack Wade
Thomas Banacek
Created by Anthony Wilson Oh-so-smug THOMAS BANACEK was a Boston-based Polish/American freelance insurance investigator whom insurance companies turned to when their own investigations have failed, in an engaging series of made-for-TV movies back in the seventies. His cockiness didn't exactly endear him to big shot insurance executive types, since calling in Banacek usually meant their … Continue reading Thomas Banacek