ElCid

Watched second episode and will probably finish the series. But so far not really impressed. Seems to be just stretching it out to get more episodes. Of course, that gives them more time for their lengthy commercials, mostly bout TNT's other shows. It is much easier to follow than third season of True Detective on HBO.

Just finished Turn on the Heat (1940) by Erle Stanley Gardner. One of his Cool and Lam detective series. Much more entertaining than his Perry Mason books, but then for me that is probably because I prefer the Raymond Burr TV series.

I watched the first episode and found it interesting, but did not really tie in to the Black Dahlia case that I saw. Appears they are going to take a good story and stretch it out. Will probably watch it, but not a must see series. I wondered if the actress was related to Anthony Eisley and now I know.

I purchased the regular DVD several years ago. Not impressed. Just seems to drag a lot.

Ooops, just realized this is a Netflix production, so 99.9% chance I'll never see it.

I exchanged a few emails with an author re: a TV series made based on his book series. Apparently some "studios" or producers get a lot more leeway in changing characters, plots and just about everything. Drastically different than the books - and not in a positive way in my opinion.

Money talks.

One of the things that I find disconcerting is to read a book and visualize the characters and then see a movie based on the book and the actors are totally wrong from my perception. Sometimes it is not a problem as in One for The Money with Katherine Heigl, whereas I refuse to watch any of the Jack Reacher movies with Tom Cruise as he does not match the character at all. How many authors actually describe their main characters in their images?

I actually grew up in same county where Mickey Spillane lived. All I remember is that he and his wife were judges at a beauty contest one year while I was in high school early 60's). As I remember he was short and unimpressive, but she was very attractive (maybe more but memory is dull). He really did not get a lot of local publicity for an area with a very small population.

I read I The Jury about 40 years ago. Just recently picked up a set of three of Spillane's books. Boring. He goes on and on pontificating and endlessly setting the scenes and characters. I don't remember that from Jury. The movies and TV shows were much better. One of them is Kiss Me Deadly, but I haven't got to it yet - may never. Have seen the movie, but was not all that impressed. As for In a Lonely Place, have seen it a couple of times, but here again not really impressed. I like Bogart, Gloria Graham, Frank Lovejoy and Jeff (Jean Marie) Donald (Lovejoy's wife). Would like to have heard Eddie's commentary on both movies, but not enough to record them. Watched Shameless also.

But the Dodge Charger was actually the superior car.

I just watched A walk Among the Tombstones (2014) with Liam Neeson. I postponed watching it until after I read the book by Lawrence Block. As normal, the book was much better than the movie and has received some above average ratings. If I had not read the book I would have found it hard to follow. Some characters/scenes from the book were briefly introduced for sensationalism whereas in the book they were integral to how the mystery was solved. Also as usual there were changes made for no apparent reason and lessened the story in the book. I give it a 2/4 - at best.

I don't dress for it and avoid alcohol in the mornings. However, I am in my study and my wife has a collection of stuffed bears on top of a bookshelf. One of them wears one of my father's ties that was probably purchased in the 30's. Hand painted, very wide at the bottom and has horses in green, white and red on a blue background. Also has colored areas in a mix of green, white and red.

One of the problems with trying to identify cars from this period is how they were actually made. The customer would select the chassis, drive train, etc. from a company such as Cadillac, Dusenberg, etc. Then select a body to be installed by the selling company. There were usually catalogs of different style bodies and possible alterations/additions. Also, the customer may even want a unique design and work with the seller on that. So the final car would be totally different from the cars coming from the car companies themselves. Even Dusenberg offered different body styles and treatments.

I have read some of those books. Not bad, but a mix of short stories in each volume so some are good and some are not so good. The publishers do periodically change the mix in the books so you may find ones you have already read in a volume with a different title.

Actually I do think of Body Heat as Noir, but a lot of people would not - at least on this site. As for Kathleen Turner, absoultely fantastic in Body Heat. And then she could turn around and do Romancing the Stone and Crimes of Passion in the same year and do great jobs in both. And a whole host of other movies very well done, not the least of which is where she takes on and equals Michael Douglas in War of the Roses.

Like you I find this interesting since Eddie Muller knows we are here. However, do we really want to let the facebook and twitter people know about us? Just saying.

From what I recall, you will probably like it. Darker than the TV series with George Kennedy.

More on Murder My Sweet vs. Farewell My Lovely. Why did they change Jules Anthor to a madam running a bordello in FML? Character and occupation were same in MMS and the book. Of course, Helen Grayle had a much darker secret in FML. Eddie referenced Lloyd Nolan and he played Michael Shayne in Time to Kill (1942), but it was based on a Phillip Marlowe novel. Later remade as The Brasher Doubloon. Next Saturday, Noir Alley comes on at 8:00 PM for a double feature or at least two noirs hosted by Eddie Muller. Act of Violence and In a Lonely Place.

I still prefer Robert Mitchum in 1975's Farewell My Lovely compared to Dick Powell in Murder My Sweet. Even at 57, he could still handle the role very well. Also, since PI's never made any money and never got married, what else would Phillip Marlowe have been doing at age 57? Fred MacMurray was much better in Double Indemnity than Powell would have been. William Holden would have worked very well. Haven't seen it in a long time, but I kind of picture his acting in The Blue Knight. The others not so much. Big fan of James Garner and have seen his Marlowe, but too much Maverick/Rockford. In fact the pilot for Rockford Files sort of reminds me of his Marlowe. I found Anne Shirley to be interesting and wondered why I hadn't seen her in more movies - she retired after making MMS. Never read the book, but did read the synopsis on Wikipedia. Apparently the daughter role was written for the movie, but based on a character in the book. Of course Claire Trevor's performance predicted her later success in similar roles. As for the movie, another very good choice. Eddie Muller's intro and outro were not as interesting as some previous ones. Most interesting comment was about how Mike Mazurki got his role. Why did they change the movie's name anyway? I do like Dick Powell in Cry Danger (1951).

Speaking of nice cars, we have started watching the Dr. Blake Mysteries on PBS. It is produced in Austrailia and is set in 1959 at the beginning. Interesting old cars in it. Occasionally will see an American car, but not often.

To be technical, the Metropolitan was actually made in England and imported by Nash, later AMC. The engine was made by one company and then joined with the body by another company. It was designed by an Italian firm, but very much reflected the design of the larger Nash cars. When Nash and Hudson merged both sold it with different badges, but everything else was the same. Later it just became a Metropolitan. I actually road in the "back seat" of one once when I was probably in jr. high.

I recorded something last night and it was followed by a TCM short on Edward Dmytryk. I found it interesting that the short referred to The Falcon Strikes Back as a Noir film. I don't think so. I like this movie and watch it fairly often. There may be a few brief moments of "darkness" in it, but overall it is a fairly light mystery like all the Falcon ones.

Have never really liked movies featuring children with the exception of some Christmas movies. I especially dislike all of the Shirley Temple movies. Although The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer is fairly good, but that is really a Cary Grant and Myrna Loy movie and Temple's role is primarily as a catalyst.

I seriously doubt there is any "historical" value to it. On the other hand, entertainment value could be high.