Famous Movie Detectives

A sequel to the 1979 offering investigates such celluloid gumshoes as Mike Hammer, Miss Jane Marple, Philip Marlowe, Perry Mason, The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, and The Whistler, as well as those with brief careers, including Kitty O'Day, Tony Rome, and Lord Peter Whimsey. Reveals the characters, the actors, the films, and the literary works that set off the whole chain of events. Includes dozens of movie stills and corrections to the base volume. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Pitts looks at the celluloid careers of more than three dozen sleuths, including Arsene Lupin, Hercule Poirot, Mike Hammer, Miss Jane Marple, Perry Mason, Philip Marlowe, The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, and The Whistler, and a number of screen gumshoes with brief movie careers and TV detectives. Each chapter highlights a different detective, covering the character's films, the performers who played him or her, the character's image in other media (stage, radio, television, recordings, etc.), plus a detailed filmography and a bibliography of the fictional works about each detective. With additions and corrections to the base volume and scores of photographs.

This book not only includes chapters on more than twenty new screen sleuths but also updates information on several detectives included in the first two volumes of Famous Movie Detectives. Author Michael Pitts also provides new material on sleuths in silent films and serials, as well as a listing of radio and television detective programs.

Providing an overview of the entire thriller genre, this book examines over 160 movies from classic Hollywood and British studios, including such essential film noir entries as "Murder, My Sweet," "The Dark Corner," "The Maltese Falcon" and "Afraid To Talk." Great cinema detectives are represented by William Powell (all six of his Thin Man pictures are detailed and discussed), Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes), Warner Oland (Charlie Chan), Sidney Toler (Charlie Chan), Peter Ustinov (Hercule Poirot), Margaret Rutherford (all four of her Miss Marple films are covered), and others including the Saint, the Falcon, Bulldog Drummond and Philo Vance. From director Alfred Hitchock comes "Notorious," "Saboteur," "Number 17" and "Rich and Strange." A few comedies and spoofs, such as "Satan Met a Lady" (an amazing re-make of the original "Maltese Falcon" with Bette Davis and Warren William) and "Who Done It?" (with Abbott and Costello) round out the survey.

Pitts looks at the celluloid careers of more than three dozen sleuths, including Arsene Lupin, Hercule Poirot, Mike Hammer, Miss Jane Marple, Perry Mason, Philip Marlowe, The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, and The Whistler, and a number of screen gumshoes with brief movie careers and TV detectives. Each chapter highlights a different detective, covering the character's films, the performers who played him or her, the character's image in other media (stage, radio, television, recordings, etc.), plus a detailed filmography and a bibliography of the fictional works about each detective. With additions and corrections to the base volume and scores of photographs.

In this book the author examines how women detectives are portrayed in film, in literature and on TV. Chapters examine the portrayal of female investigators in each of these four genres: the Gothic novel, the lesbian detective novel, television and film.

"To understand the history and spirit of America, one must know its wars, its laws, and its presidents. To really understand it, however, one must also know its cheeseburgers, its love songs, and its lawn ornaments. The long-awaited Guide to the United States Popular Culture provides a single-volume guide to the landscape of everyday life in the United States. Scholars, students, and researchers will find in it a valuable tool with which to fill in the gaps left by traditional history. All American readers will find in it, one entry at a time, the story of their lives."--Robert Thompson, President, Popular Culture Association. "At long last popular culture may indeed be given its due within the humanities with the publication of The Guide to United States Popular Culture. With its nearly 1600 entries, it promises to be the most comprehensive single-volume source of information about popular culture. The range of subjects and diversity of opinions represented will make this an almost indispensable resource for humanities and popular culture scholars and enthusiasts alike."--Timothy E. Scheurer, President, American Culture Association "The popular culture of the United States is as free-wheeling and complex as the society it animates. To understand it, one needs assistance. Now that explanatory road map is provided in this Guide which charts the movements and people involved and provides a light at the end of the rainbow of dreams and expectations."--Marshall W. Fishwick, Past President, Popular Culture Association Features of The Guide to United States Popular Culture: 1,010 pages 1,600 entries 500 contributors Alphabetic entries Entries range from general topics (golf, film) to specific individuals, items, and events Articles are supplemented by bibliographies and cross references Comprehensive index

A pictorial treasury of the screen sleuth from 1903 to the present.