Category: Z-View

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) starring Lana Turner & John Garfield / Z-View

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The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

Director: Tay Garnett

Screenplay: Harry Ruskin Niven and Busch;  based on THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE by James M. Cain

Stars: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, Audrey Totter and Alan Reed.

Tagline: Their Love was a Flame that Destroyed!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Frank Chambers, a drifter stops at a diner and is offered a job by the middle-aged owner, Nick Smith.  As Frank begins to turn down the work, he spots Cora, a very attractive waitress and changes his mind.

Soon enough Frank learns that Cora is Frank’s wife.  Frank would be ready to move on except that Cora seems interested in him.  Although both Frank and Cora attempt to fight the attraction, it’s strong and won’t be denied.  It doesn’t take long until Frank and Cora are planning Nick’s demise.

And we all know how those things work out, don’t we?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Garfield and Turner definitely had chemistry.  I love how each of them fights the attraction.  

James M. Cain, who wrote the novel that the movie was based on, was so impressed with Lana Turner that he gave her a leather-bound copy of the book inscribed, “For my dear Lana, thank you for giving a performance that was even finer than I expected.”

The Postman Always Rings Twice has a couple of great twists.  The cast and direction are top notch.

A classic.

Rating:

Double Indemnity (1944)

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Double Indemnity (1944)

Director: Billy Wilder

Screenplay: Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler from the novel by James M. Cain

Stars: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson and Walter Huston


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s turn James Cain’s Double Indemnity into a movie!”

Tagline: From the Moment they met it was Murder!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Walter Neff [MacMurray], an insurance salesman, meets and falls hard for the wife [Stanwyck] of one of his clients.  Before too long they’re plotting his murder to cash in on an insurance policy that Neff tricked him into buying.  Because Neff is in the business he believes they can pull off the murder and make it look like an accident so they can collect on the double indemnity clause.

The only thing between them and the cash is to commit the murder and pull it off without a hitch or Neff’s partner figuring out it wasn’t an accident.

If you like noir, you’ll love Double Indemnity.  Directed by Billy Wilder with snappy dialogue and mounting tension.  If you only know MacMurray from My Three Sons or Stanwyck from The Big Valley, prepare to be shocked!

A classic.

Rating:

Robert B. Parker’s Kickback (A Spenser Novel) by Ace Atkins

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Robert B. Parker’s Kickback (A Spenser Novel) by Ace Atkins

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Putnam

First sentence…

Maybe he shouldn’t have gone out and celebrated.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Spenser faces one of his greatest challenges when he goes against a corrupt judge with organized crime ties.  Spenser takes on the case of a 17 year old kid, denied a lawyer and sentenced to a year in a youth prison that is run by a corporation with ties to, you guessed it, the judge.

Spenser won’t back down in his quest to right this wrong and finds himself up against cops with think they’re backing a zero-tolerance judge, and thugs who know the true score.

Not just another excellent Spenser tale by Ace Atkins but one of the best Spenser novels.

Rating:

The Naked Edge by David Morrell

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The Naked Edge by David Morrell

Hardcover: 396 pages
Publisher: Morrell Enterprises, Incorporated

First sentence…

The sniper had a partner.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Cavanaugh is a retired Special Forces vet, and Security expert.  Now living the quiet life on an isolated Wyoming ranch with his wife, Jamie, their world is literally blown apart when an old friend and fellow vet shows up with a team to kill them.

Cavanaugh and his wife barely survive thanks to Cavanaugh’s training.  Cavanaugh learns that other operatives across the country have been killed.  When Cavanaugh and his wife are attacked again while under police protection, Cavanaugh realizes that the killers will stop at nothing to eliminate him.  Before it is over Cavanaugh discovers that his old friend is leading a group set on a terrorist act that will kill thousands.

David Morrell is the king of thrillers and Naked Edge is another great example of how he earned that title.

 

Rating:

Robert B. Parkers Cheap Shot (A Spenser Novel) by Ace Atkins

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Robert B. Parkers Cheap Shot (A Spenser Novel) by Ace Atkins

Hardcover: 308 pages
Publisher: Putnam

First sentence…

I had dressed for Chestnut HillL a button-down tattersall shirt that Susan had bought me, a crisp dress khakis, a navy blazer with gold buttons, and a par of well-broken in loafers worn without socks.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Spenser is hired by super star New England Patriots linebacker Kinjo Heywood’s sports agent.  Kinjo has had some shady characters following him and although Kinjo fells he can handle it, Spenser is given the task of looking into it.  Before Spenser can make a determination, Kinjo’s son is kidnapped.

The stakes have been raised and Spenser knows that the boy’s life may rest in Spenser discovering the kidnapper(s) identity.

Another excellent Spenser tale by Ace Atkins.

Rating:

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

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The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Director: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley

Screenplay: Norman Reilly Raine and Seton I. Miller based upon the legends of Robin Hood

Stars: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Melville Cooper and Ian Hunter.

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make the definitive Robin Hood movie…”

Tagline: Excitement…Danger…Suspense…as this classic adventure story sweeps across the screen!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

 

Sometimes lightning strikes and a perfect movie gets made.  The Adventures of Robin Hood is such a film.

Perfectly cast with each supporting character getting a chance to shine, Errol Flynn was born to play Robin Hood.  He is everything you’d want in a hero.  Brave, dashing, handsome and humble.  The Adventures of Robin Hood hits all the right marks in telling the tale of Robin Hood and his merry men – meeting Little John, bringing Friar Tuck into the fold, going to the archery contest with a price on his head and winning – and leading his band of Merry Men in revolt against the King’s brother who is attempting to take over the kingdom.

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a classic.

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The Brides of Dracula (1960)

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The Brides of Dracula (1960)

Director: Terrence Fisher

Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster & Peter Bryan & Edward Percy and Anthony Hinds (uncredited)

Stars: Peter Cushing, Martita Hunt, Yvonne Monlaur and David Peel.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a Dracula movie without Dracula…”

Tagline: The most evil Dracula of all!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

If you come to this movie looking for Dracula or even a focus on the Brides of Dracula you’re in for a let down.

Instead you get…

  • A vampire who is kept chained up by his mother.  Yes, his mother.
  • A vampire hunter who always arrives right before the vampire is to rise for the evening — even though he knows vampires are powerless during the day.
  • A vampire who isn’t smart enough or cunning enough or strong enough to escape from the chain around his ankle put there by his mother.  Yes, his mother.
  • A supposedly intelligent woman who releases the vampire (not knowing he’s a vampire — Hey! But maybe he’s chained up by his mother for a reason) and falls in love with him after one meeting.
  • A vampire hunter bitten by a vampire who takes a hot metal branding iron and places it on the bites on his neck and then pours Holy water on the wound… and fully recovers! [Who knew he had that cure in his back pocket.]
  • A vampire who has blonde hair and is supposed to be good-looking and scary but isn’t much of either.
  • A vampire hunter who kills vampires with a shadow.
  • A movie that only die hard vampire or Peter Cushing fans should seek out.

 

 

Rating:

Holy Death (A Billy Lafitte novel) by Anthony Neil Smith

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Holy Death (A Billy Lafitte novel) by Anthony Neil Smith

Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Down & Out Books

First sentence…

One-thirty in the morning in a truck stop outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Holy Death is the fourth yarn in Anthony Neil Smith’s Billy Lafitte series.  If you’re not familiar with it and you like crime stories, then you’re in for a treat.

Billy Lafitte is an ex-cop, an ex-con and is on the run from a prison escape.  Lafitte’s in bad shape from steroid abuse and the wear and tear of escaping from the joint during a prison riot.  Lafitte wants to make it back to his one true love to give her the merciful death she wants and then he hopes to disappear.

As luck [at least Lafitte’s luck] would have it, he crosses paths with DeVaughn Lagrenade, a professional gambler, ex-gang banger and brother of a kid that Lafitte killed.  Now in addition to all the cops looking for him, Lafitte has Lagrenade, his psycho girlfriend and members of Lagrenade’s gang hunting him down.  As they close in on him, Lafitte knows it’s his last chance to make it right [or as right as he can] for the love of his life and his dead child’s mother.

Holy Death is not for the faint of heart of the sqeemish, but if you like a gritty, modern crime story, then this may be for you.  Holy Death is the fourth in the Billy Lafitte series and I’m hoping there’s more.

Rating:

The Devil Doesn’t Want Me by Eric Beetner

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The Devil Doesn’t Want Me (A Lars and Shaine Novel Book 1) by Eric Beetner

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: 280 Steps

First sentence…

Seventeen years is a long damn time.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is the first in Eric Beetner’s Lars and Shaine series.  Lars is a semi-retired hitman living on the west coast.  His boss, Nikki Senior, is one of the old guard mobsters who finds himself being pushed out by his son, Nikki Junior.

In an effort to clear the books and show his pop he can run things, Nikki sends a young hitman out to find Mitch the Snitch — a job given to Lars seventeen years prior.  Although Mitch was in government protection and killing him could cause more problems than it would solve, Nikki wants it done.

Enter Trent.  A cocky young hitman who immediately rubs Lars the wrong way.  Although Lars and Trent are at odds, they know they have to work together to find Mitch the Snitch.  And they do.  Without planning, Trent guns down Mitch and when the Snitch’s sixteen year old daughter stumbles in, Mitch turns to kill her as well.  Lars steps up and saves her and finds himself on the run with a sixteen year old orphan in tow.

It takes all of Lars’ skills and then some to keep himself and Shaine alive now that Nickki Junior has called out a team to kill them both.  And of course Trent killing a government protected witness has the feds on their trail as well.

Eric Beetner has never disappointed me.  I really liked  The Devil Doesn’t Want Me and have the sequel, When the Devil Comes to Call waiting in my to be read pile.

Rating:

The Prowler (1951)

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The Prowler (1951)

Director: Joseph Losey

Screenplay: Hugo Butler and Dalton Trumbo from a story by Robert Thoeren and  Hans Wilhelm 

Stars: Van Heflin, Evelyn Keyes and John Maxwell


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a cheating couple and a murdered husband…”

Tagline: She had to keep THE PROWLER from telling…

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Police officers Webb Garland [Heflin] and Bud Crocker [Maxwell] respond to a prowler call made by a woman [Keyes] waiting up for her husband to get home.  Although no evidence of a prowler is found, Garland returns later alone under the pretense of checking on her.  She invites him in and it becomes clear that he’s there for more than just a wellness visit.  One thing leads to another and her husband ends up murdered… by Garland.

The Prowler is a low-budget noir that is under-rated.  If you’re a fan of noir you owe it to yourself to check out The Prowler.

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The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

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The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

Director: W.S. Van Dyke, Howard Hawks (uncredited)

Screenplay: John Lee Mahin and John Meehan from the story by Frances Marion 

Stars: Myrna Loy, Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey and Walter Huston


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a boxing movie with real life boxers and Myrna Loy!”

Tagline: Max Bear is the new “It” Man of the screen.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Steve Morgan [Baer] is discovered working as a bouncer in a bar.  Soon enough he is fighting his way through the professional boxing ranks.  Morgan should be on top of the world angling for a fight against the Heavyweight Champion of the World.  The only things holding him back are that he’s in love with a mobster’s girl and his own womanzing ways.

Your mileage on this on may vary, but I really enjoyed seeing real-life boxers on the screen.  Also the movie has some boxing cliches but also a couple of twists that more than make up for them.

Rating:

Weird Woman (1944)

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Weird Woman (1944)

Director: Reginald Le Borg

Screenplay: W. Scott Darling and Brenda Weisberg from the Fritz Leiber novel

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Gwynne and Evelyn Ankers


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s adapt Fritz Leiber’s novel.”

Tagline: MURDER STRIKES WITH VELVET CLAWS!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

College professor Norman Reed [Changey] returns from a trip to the jungle married to a mysterious woman [Gwynne] who believes in voodoo.  Soon enough Reed is a best-selling and popular author.  But when Reed destroys some of his wife’s protective charms, things go south and people die.  Could his wife be right and evil is out to get him?

Rating:

Crashing Las Vegas (1956)

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Crashing Las Vegas (1956)

Director: Jean Yarbrough

Screenplay: Jack Townley

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s have Sach gain psychic powers again!”

Tagline: FRANTIC FUN IN FABULOUS LAS VEGAS! Stacked and Packed with LAFFS!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When Sach gains the ability to predict the future the boys head to Vegas to get rich.  As they rake in the money at roulette, crooks decide to make Sach believe he killed a man in order to squeeze his secret system of winning out of him.

Rating:

The Killer Inside Me (2010)

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The Killer Inside Me (2010)

Director:  Michael Winterbottom

Screenplay: John Curran based on the Jim Thompson novel

Stars: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s turn Jim Thompson’s noir classic into a movie.”

No Tagline

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Lou Ford [Affleck] is a mild-mannered small town Texas Deputy in the 1950’s.  Ford is also a psychopathic killer.  One murder leads to another and although the local DA begins to suspect Ford, witness keep ending up dead.

Rating:

The Night Walker (1964)

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The Night Walker (1964)

Director: William Castle

Screenplay: Robert Bloch

Stars: Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Judi Meredith and Lloyd Bochner.


The Pitch: “Hey, we’ve got a screenplay by Robert Bloch and Barbara Stanwyck!”

Tagline: Will It Dare You To Dream of Things You’re Ashamed to Admit!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Irene Trent’s blind husband, Howard is convinced she is cheating on him because of the things Irene says while sleeping.  When Howard is killed in a mysterious explosion, Irene begins to have vivid dreams and is convinced that someone is trying to drive her mad or kill her.

Rating: