News

Matthew McConaughey is returning to the screen with a vengeance. The iconic actor took a six-year break from live-action roles, and now is back with the moving true story of a hero in “The Lost Bus.”

McConaughey stars as a wayward school bus driver who partners with a dedicated school teacher (America Ferrera) to save 22 children from a terrifying inferno. Yul Vazquez, Spencer Watson, and Ashlie Atkinson also star. The logline reads: “A determined father risks everything to rescue a teacher and her students from a raging wildfire.”

Oscar-nominated “United 93” director Paul Greengrass helms the film which is inspired by real events. Greengrass and Brad Ingelsby co-wrote the feature, based on the book “Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire” by Lizzie Johnson. Ingelsby, Jason Blum, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Gregory Goodman are producing the Apple Original Film, which the studio deemed a “white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires.

True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto and season 1 star Matthew McConaughey will reunite for a new mystery movie, 11 years later. The HBO anthology detective show premiered in 2014, maintaining impressive viewership and earning Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and more. True Detective season 1 focuses on Louisiana State Police homicide investigators Rustin Cohle and Martin Hart, as a past murder case is re-examined. Pizzolatto also worked on True Detective seasons 2 and 3 but was not involved in Night Country.

According to Variety, Pizzolatto and McConaughey are now reuniting for an upcoming movie based on Mike Hammer. Skydance, which has the Mike Hammer rights, will be behind the mystery film, penned by Pizzolatto. Max Allen Collins, who contributed to Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer works, will executive produce and Jane Spillane will co-produce. Other producers include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Guymon Casady.

What This Means For The Mike Hammer Movie...

Matthew McConaughey is to play detective Mike Hammer in a new film.The 55-year-old actor is in talks to star in Skydance's upcoming movie based on the iconic book series - which inspired characters including Dirty Harry, Jack Reacher and James Bond - and his True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto has written the script for the project, Deadline reports. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce along with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner of Pendleton, and Ken F. Levin also will produce.Mike Hammer first appeared in 1947 novel I, the Jury by author Mickey Spillane and has featured in a total of 22 novels, with Max Allan Collins taking over the franchise after the original writer passed away. Baby, It's Murder was described as the final book in the series and was released earlier this year.Nic recently suggested he could reunite with Matthew...

Actor Matthew McConaughey will play author Mickey Spillane's 'misanthrope' 1940's detective "Mike Hammer", in the first of a new franchise of feature films:

The character of ‘Hammer’ was created by Spillane, debuting in the 1947 book "I, the Jury", that was adapted into a feature in 1953 and 1982.

Prior to World War II, Spillane was a writer of comic books for Timely (now Marvel) Publications.

After the war, he used what would be the plot of "I, the Jury" for a comic book character called 'Mike Danger' that eventually became 'Mike Hammer' in hard cover.

Hammer is a Marine veteran of the 'Battle of Guadalcanal'. As a private investigator he carries a .45 Colt in a shoulder holster under his left arm. His love for his secretary 'Velda' is only outweighed by his willingness to take out a killer.

While pulp detectives such as 'Sam Spade' and '...

Mike Hammeris about to look a lot like Rust Cohle — or maybe it's the other way around. The point is: Matthew McConaughey is reuniting with his True Detective creator, Nic Pizzolatto, to bring one of the most iconic, and aggressive, detectives to the big screen, with everyone's favorite Texan taking on the titular role. That's right, the prolifically-penned, pulp-y private eye, Mike Hammer, will be the focus of Pizzolatto's next scripted project.

The news, which was first reported by Deadline, comes on the heels of McConaughey's return to the screen in The Rivals of Amziah King after a six-year absence (if you don't count all the cartoon voice work he's done in the intervening years). And while the film's production house, Skydance, has yet to secure a director, with talents like McConaughey and Pizzolatto on board, it will probably only be a matter of days — rather than months — before a name is announced.

Matthew McConaughey and Nic Pizzolatto are teaming up again!

More than a decade after the 55-year-old Oscar-winning actor starred in the 49-year-old director, producer, and author’s HBO series True Detective, it has been announced that the two are reuniting for a new movie based on the iconic private investigator character Mike Hammer, according to Deadline.

Keep reading to find out more…Mike Hammer is the protagonist of the detective series, created by Mickey Spillane, starting with the 1947 novel I, the Jury.

With more than 250 million copies of Mike Hammers books sold globally, it is often recognized as the most popular American mystery/thriller series of all times.

Skydance has acquired the rights to the Mike Hammer franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series into a movie. Nic is writing the script for the new movie.

Matthew previously starred alongside longtime close friend Woody Harrelson in season one of True Detective,...

A True Detective reunion is in the works as star Matthew McConaughey joins forces with creator Nic Pizzolatto on a new big-screen project chronicling another famous investigator. The duo is attached to Skydance's upcoming film based on the acclaimed Mike Hammer book series.

According to Deadline, McConaughey is in talks to star in the Mike Hammer film adaptation, while Pizzolatto will pen the screenplay for the detective movie. This comes after Skydance acquired the rights to the Mike Hammer franchise, created by Mickey Spillane and Max Alan Collins, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger producing on behalf of the studio. Entertainment 360 will also produce alongside Collins and Mickey's widow, Jane Spillane.

The Mike Hammer franchise has been popular since the '40s, when the first novel in the beloved series, I, the Jury, debuted. Since the novel series' inception, over 250 million books have been sold worldwide,...

It’s a “True Detective” reunion! Matthew McConaughey will reunite with “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto for a film based on the iconic Mike Hammer private investigator character.

McConaughey is in talks to star in a feature film at Skydance that is based on the book series by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins, with Pizzolatto having written the screenplay, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.

Skydance acquired the rights to the many books by Spillane and Collins with the plans to develop and produce the book series into a feature. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger will produce the film along with Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner, and Ken F. Levin.

Author Max Allan Collins will executive produce with Jane Spillane serving as co-producer. Carin Sage will oversee the project for Skydance.

It’s unclear which book, if any, the Mike Hammer film will specifically be based on,...

Matthew McConaughey and Nic Pizzolatto are at it again! After joining forces for a chilling season of Pizzolatto’s True Detective, the duo will team up for a feature adaptation of Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ Mike Hammer novels. The project hails from Skydance, which plans to develop the series for the silver screen. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger will produce alongside Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner, and Ken F. Levin. Collins serves as an executive producer, and Jane Spillane co-produces.

Mike Hammer emerged from a smoke-filled alley with the 1947-published novel I, the Jury. Hardboiled crime fiction fans quickly embraced Hammer as an investigator worth turning pages for, quickly transforming him into one of the genre’s most beloved characters. You’d be a fool to underestimate Mike Hammer’s influence. The hardened detective’s exploits helped inform the creation of icons like Dirty Harry,...

It’s time for Matthew McConaughey and True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to collaborate again.

McConaughey is in talks to star in a movie centering on the detective character Mike Hammer for a project that has a script from Pizzolatto. Skydance has acquired rights to the Mike Hammer property, with the character having originated in a 1947 novel by author Mickey Spillane and continued after Spillane’s death in books by Max Allan Collins.

Producers include Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, alongside Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner and Ken F. Levin. Collins is an executive producer, while Jane Spillane co-produces. Carin Sage oversees the film for Skydance.

In the book series that kicked off with Spillane’s I, the Jury, Mike Hammer is a private investigator who plays by his own rules and carries a torch for assistant Velda. Baby, It’s Murder is billed as the final...

Matthew McConaughey is set to reunite with Nic Pizzolatto for a new detective project as the actor is in talks to star in Skydance’s adaptation of the “Mike Hammer” private investigator series, which Pizzolatto will write.

This marks another collaboration for the pair, who previously worked together on HBO’s “True Detective” in 2014, where McConaughey starred opposite Woody Harrelson.

Skydance acquired the rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ “Mike Hammer” franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film.

Mike Hammer first debuted in the 1947 novel “I, the Jury” and has since become a cornerstone of the hard-boiled detective genre through numerous novels.

With more than 250 million copies sold globally, it often is recognized as the most popular American mystery/thriller series of all time. Hammer is credited with inspiring numerous other characters including Dirty Harry, Jack Reacher and James Bond,...

Matthew McConaughey and Nic Pizzolatto are teaming up for another epic detective story. McConaughey is in talks to star in a feature film from Skydance based on the iconic private investigator character Mike Hammer, with a script by Pizzolatto.

It’s a “True Detective” reunion for the duo — McConaughey starred in the first season of Pizzolatto’s HBO crime series alongside Woody Harrelson in 2014.

Skydance acquired the rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ “Mike Hammer” franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce along with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady. Benjamin Forkner and Ken F. Levin also produce. Collins will executive produce with Jane Spillane serving as co-producer. Carin Sage will oversee the project for Skydance.

McConaughey recently returned to the screen after a six-year hiatus with “The Rivals of Amziah King,...

Exclusive: After collaborating on one of the great TV characters of the 21st Century, Matthew McConaughey and True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto have set their sights on another classic character to tackle. Sources tell Deadline, McConaughey is in talks to star in Skydance’s feature film based on the iconic character Mike Hammer from a script by Pizzolatto.

Skydance acquired the rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ Mike Hammer franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film. Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger will produce along with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady. Benjamin Forkner, and Ken F. Levin will also produce. Max Allan Collins will executive produce with Jane Spillane serving as co-producer. Carin Sage will oversee the project for Skydance.

Hammer is the protagonist of a series of hardboiled detective novels, starting with I, the Jury published...

Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons will headline The Westies, an eight-episode drama ordered by MGM+ that chronicles the Irish gang that terrorised New York’s Hell’s Kitchen in the early 1980s, the service announced this week. Created and run by Godfather of Harlem architect Chris Brancato with co-creator Michael Panes, the series starts filming in Toronto—and on New York exterior locations—in July for a 2026 debut across the United States, Europe and Latin America.

Simmons plays Eamon Sweeney, the syndicate’s ageing patriarch whose uneasy revenue pact with the Italian Mafia frays as younger lieutenants jostle for power while construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center promises windfall rackets.

MGM+ head Michael Wright hailed Brancato’s talent for “compelling characters operating in dangerous worlds” and called The Westies “him at his best”. Brancato said the project, long in gestation, explores “ambition, loyalty and power” against a city on the cusp of gentrification.

Author Mickey Spillane's 'misanthrope' 1940's comic strip detective "Mike Hammer", that spun into a series of novels, TV series and motion pictures, is being developed at Warners as a new franchise of films:

The character of Hammer was created by Spillane, debuting in the 1947 book "I, the Jury", that was adapted into a feature in 1953 and 1982.

Prior to World War II, Spillane was a writer of comic books for Timely (now Marvel) Publications. After the war, he used what would be the plot of "I, the Jury" for a comic book character called 'Mike Danger' that eventually became 'Mike Hammer' in hard cover.

Hammer was a Marine veteran of the 'Battle of Guadalcanal'. As a private investigator he carries a .45 Colt in a shoulder holster under his left arm. His love for his secretary 'Velda' is only outweighed by his willingness to kill a killer.

While pulp...

Persis Khambatta, as Lt. Ilia, was the first Deltan character in Star Trek history. Lt. Ilia met a tragic end in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, disappearing while attempting to merge with the alien entity V'Ger. Persis Khambatta's legacy as Lt. Ilia inspired future Star Trek characters like Counselor Troi in The Next Generation.

Indian actress and model Persis Khambatta portrayed Lieutenant Ilia, Star Trek's first-ever Deltan, in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Born in Bombay, Khambatta won the beauty pageant title of Femina Miss India in 1965. Persis' big break in Hollywood was when she was cast as Lt. Ilia in Star Trek: Phase II, the sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series meant as the flagship show of Paramount's planned TV network. Instead, Star Trek: Phase II was repurposed into 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, with Persis Khambatta joining the reunited Star Trek original cast.

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture,...

Infusing 1940s noir with supernatural scares, the new graphic novel Hard Bargain is now on Kickstarter as part of Humanoids' 50th anniversary celebration, and we caught up with prolific TV writer Steven S. DeKnight to discuss teaming up with artist Leno Carvalho for the new graphic novel, the inspirations behind his hard-boiled horror tale, and the ghoulish goodies readers can look forward to from supporting the Kickstarter campaign!

Below, you can check out our full Q&a with Steven S. DeKnight as well as preview pages and blurbs for Hard Bargain, and to learn more about the supernatural graphic novel, visit its official Kickstarter page!

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Steven, and congratulations on the Kickstarter launch for your new graphic novel Hard Bargain, which follows the supernatural adventures of Private Investigator Frank Harding in 1940s Los Angeles. How and when did you initially...

When screenwriter A.I. Bezzerides was asked about the complex layers of meaning running through his adaptation of Mickey Spillane‘s classic crime novel “Kiss Me Deadly,” he denied having any conscious intention of exploring the post-wwii anxieties that gave the film its jittery core. “People ask me about the hidden meanings in the script,” he told an interviewer. “About the A-bomb, about McCarthyism, what does the poetry mean, and so on. And I can only say that I didn’t think about it when I wrote it . . . I was having fun.” Bezzerides may have been just “having fun,” but in the process, he and director Robert Aldrich crafted one of the greatest noirs of all time, an apocalyptic detective story that looks into the heart of 1950s America and sees annihilation.

It’s one of several stone-cold masterpieces written by the novelist-turned-screenwriter, whose work is being properly acknowledged by the...

Monsieur Spade is a new mystery series on AMC starring Clive Owen as Sam Spade, a once-successful private detective. The show takes place in 1963 France and follows Sam Spade as he gets pulled back into a murder case after leaving his detective life behind. While the show is not based on a book, the character of Sam Spade originated in the 1930 novel "The Maltese Falcon" and was famously portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the 1941 film adaptation.

Monsieur Spade bears interesting connections to a literary work from the 1930s, as well as an iconic Hollywood movie. Starring Clive Owen as the titular character, Monsieur Spade is a new mystery series from AMC. The show follows the exploits of Sam Spade, a once-successful private detective.

Choosing 1963 France as its primary setting, Monsieur Spade season 1 tells a six-episode story that sees its main protagonist dive head-first into a murder case. In the timeframe of the story,...

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, prolific screenwriter Tracy Tormé has passed away at the age of 64. Tormé was a veteran of 1980s-era "Saturday Night Live" and wrote the TV movie "UFO Cover-Up?: Live!" in 1988, cementing his reputation among amateur ufologists everywhere. In the late '80s, Tormé was hand-picked by show creator Gene Roddenberry to contribute to the then-new "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Tormé became the show's executive story editor and creative consultant, a position he held for 24 of the show's early episodes. He is also the credited writer on 12 first-season episodes, including "Haven," "Skin of Evil," "The Arsenal of Freedom," and "The Big Goodbye."

That last episode, which aired on January 11, 1988, was notable in that it was the first holodeck-forward episode of the series. The holodeck was, of course, introduced in the show's pilot, "Encounter at Farpoint," which explained to audiences that the Enterprise-d was equipped with...

Coined by Alfred Hitchcock in the late 1930s, a MacGuffin is simply a basic plot element that filmmakers use to propel a movie's story forward. It can be a device, an event, or even a person, and while it can often lazily be employed as a crutch by a screenwriter in a time crunch, there have been a number of iconic MacGuffins in cinema over the years. You have the titular Maltese Falcon, the Ark of the Covenant from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Death Star plans from Star Wars, and Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now. But, there is one MacGuffin that stands above the rest: the briefcase from Pulp Fiction.

Aside from its snappy dialogue and expertly crafted nonlinear storyline, Quentin Tarantino's Academy Award-winning screenplay for Pulp Fiction really works because Marcellus Wallace's briefcase pretty much ties it all together. Characterized by its mysterious golden glow,...

Brutal and violent, Mike Hammer is a no-holds-barred private investigator created by Mickey Spillane and featured in novels, movies, TV shows, comics, and more. Mike Hammer is set to return to the big screen as Skydance has acquired the rights to the franchise and is planning to develop a movie based on the iconic character.

No writers, directors, or actors attached to the new Mike Hammer movie at this time, which is hardly a surprise given the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes. The rights to the character have been in dispute for quite some time. Mickey Spillane died in 2006, just one month after the death of his manager. The manager’s estate tried to claim ownership of Mike Hammer, but following years in court, those rights reverted to Spillane’s estate.

Starting with the novel I, the Jury, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer novels have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

The rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ “Mike Hammer” franchise have been acquired by Skydance, an insider with knowledge of the project said Wednesday.

Skydance intends to adapt and produce the bestselling book series into a feature film, centered around the iconic character.

At this time, the studio has not enlisted any writers, directors, or talent for the project.

The Mike Hammer franchise is an iconic and enduring series of detective novels and films created by the renowned American author Mickey Spillane.

The franchise centers around the character of Mike Hammer, a tough and hardboiled private investigator with a no-nonsense approach to solving crimes. First introduced in the 1947 novel “I, the Jury,” Mike Hammer quickly became a beloved figure in the noir fiction genre.

The franchise comprises numerous novels, short stories, and comic books, as well as several film adaptations and a television series. Throughout the years,...

Skydance has acquired rights to Mickey Spillane’s and Max Allan Collins’ Mike Hammer franchise with plans to develop and produce the bestselling book series as a feature film based on the iconic character. No writers, directors or actors are attached at this time.

Entertainment 360 joins as a producer with Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger producing with Guymon Casady producing for Entertainment 360. Benjamin Forkner and Ken F. Levin will also produce. Collins will executive produce, with Jane Spillane serving as co-producer. Carin Sage will oversee the project for Skydance.

Hammer is the protagonist of a series of hardboiled detective novels, starting with I, the Jury published in 1947, becoming one of the most popular figures of the genre.

With more than 250 million copies of Mike Hammer books sold globally, it is often recognized as the most popular American mystery/thriller series of all time. Hammer is...

Many viewers likely missed the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Knives Out cameo that happened early on in the movie. This is because it is impossible to see the actor on the screen during his cameo. Directed by Rian Johnson, the mystery thriller Knives Out included an all-star cast and a murder mystery premise. With names like Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, and more, it was easy to miss that Gordon-Levitt cameo, especially since he wasn't advertised as appearing in the movie. The Joseph Gordon-Levitt Knives Out moment is conceptually hidden in a frame within a frame, but the audio is the primary clue.

Gordon-Levitt understands the beauty of a cameo. After starring in Johnson's feature directorial debut, Brick, he returned for a small role in the director’s second film, The Brothers Bloom (playing a shirt-and-tie bar patron). After taking on one of the starring roles in Johnson's third movie,...

This Mickey Spillane noir tale has its good points: star Anthony Quinn gives a solid ‘tough guy’ performance, sizing up a quartet of thrill-crazy Spillane dames that promise no end of trouble. The surprisingly clever script dares to exploit the gimmicks of both amnesia and plastic surgery — without insulting our intelligence. Peggie Castle is our new favorite in the glamour sweepstakes, and Gene Evans, Charles Coburn, Mary Ellen Kay, Shawn Smith, Barry Kelley, Jay Adler and Bruno VeSota co-star. And remember: ‘Evil to Him who Evil Thinks.’

The Long Wait 4K

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1954 / B&w / 1:75 widescreen / 94 min. / Street Date March 21, 2023 / Available from ClassicFlix / 39.99

Starring: Anthony Quinn, Charles Coburn, Gene Evans, Peggie Castle, Mary Ellen Kay, Shawn Smith, Dolores Donlon, Barry Kelley, James Millican, Bruno VeSota, Jay Adler, John Damler, Frank Marlowe, Paul Dubov.

Cinematography: Franz Planer

Art Director: Boris Leven

Film Editor: Ronald Sinclair

Editorial Supervisor Otto Ludwig...

The Chevrolet Corvette, which turns 70 this week, was unveiled on Jan. 17, 1953, at the General Motors Motorama, held at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The sleek two-seater, named after a small warship, was a concept car, but interest was so high that it went into production later that year, with 300 hand-built models in Polo White. The Corvette would star in CBS’ Route 66 from 1960 to 1964, turning it into an emblem of American freedom. But its first major screen appearance was in 1955’s Kiss Me Deadly, a subversive film noir from director Robert Aldrich, who went on to direct What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and The Dirty Dozen (1967).

Based on the 1952 Mickey Spillane novel Kiss Me, Deadly, the film, adapted by screenwriter A.I. Bezzerides, veered wildly from the book, putting Spillane’s P.I. Mike Hammer at the center of a web of intrigue involving a dead woman (Cloris Leachman, then 29, in...

Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer hit the big screen early in the 3-D craze, in a much tamed-down adaptation. The camera legend John Alton handled the lighting and likely called the shots on the camera setups as well. As a detective noir it’s definitely flat-footed, with a bum script, weak direction and a miscast Biff Elliot as the vengeful tough-guy hero. But compensating are the seductive Dran Hamilton, Margaret Sheridan and especially Peggie Castle — the key ‘dame’ in the pulp fiction finale. The United Artists release has been mostly Mia for decades,and this release presents it three ways: flat in both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, plus a beautiful restored 3-D Blu-ray encoding.

I, the Jury

4K Ultra HD + 3-D Blu-ray + Blu-ray

ClassicFlix

1953 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 88 min. / Special Limited Edition / Street Date November 8, 2022 / Available from ClassicFlix / 34.99

Starring: Biff Elliot, Preston Foster, Peggie Castle, Margaret Sheridan, Alan Reed,...

Josh Olson and Joe Dante answer fan questions and comments.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Abbott And Costello Meet The Mummy (1955) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Monster A-Go-Go (1965)

Infested (2002)

Straw Dogs (1971) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray review, Joe Dante’s review

Straw Dogs (2011)

Mississippi Burning (1988)

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir (1947) – Axelle Carolyn’s trailer commentary

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Bad Boy Bubby (1993) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

The Mummy (1932) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary, Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Mummy (1999)

The Howling (1981) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Slappy And The Stinkers (1998)

Casper (1995)

Invisible Man (2020)

The Invisible Man (1933) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

Robot Monster (1953) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

The Stewardesses (1969)

The Hole (2012) – Joe Dante’s US, Italian, British trailer commentaries, Dennis Cozzalio’s review

Love (2015)

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

McCabe And Mrs.

According to Warners, author Mickey Spillane's 'misanthrope' 1940's comic strip detective "Mike Hammer", who went on to fame in a series of novels, TV series and motion pictures, continues in development as a new franchise of films.

The character of Hammer was created by Spillane, debuting in the 1947 book "I, the Jury", that was adapted into a feature in 1953 and 1982.

Prior to World War II, Spillane was a writer of comic books for Timely (now Marvel) Publications. After the war, he used what would be the plot of "I, the Jury" for a comic book character called 'Mike Danger' that eventually became 'Mike Hammer' in hard cover.

Hammer was a Marine veteran of the 'Battle of Guadalcanal'. As a private investigator he carries a .45 Colt in a shoulder holster under his left arm. His love for his secretary 'Velda' is only outweighed by his willingness to kill a killer.

According to Warners, author Mickey Spillane's 'misanthrope' 1940's comic strip detective "Mike Hammer", who went on to fame in a series of novels, TV series and motion pictures, continues in development as a new franchise of films.

The character of Hammer was created by Spillane, debuting in the 1947 book "I, the Jury", that was adapted into a feature in 1953 and 1982.

Prior to World War II, Spillane was a writer of comic books for Timely (now Marvel) Publications. After the war,  he used what would be the plot of "I, the Jury" for a comic book character called 'Mike Danger' that eventually became 'Mike Hammer' in hard cover. 

Hammer was a Marine veteran of the 'Battle of Guadalcanal'. As a private investigator he carries a .45 Colt in a shoulder holster under his left arm. His love for his secretary 'Velda' is only outweighed by his willingness to kill a killer.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman takes hosts Joe Dante and Josh Olson on a journey through some of his favorite cinematic tonal shifts.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Thank You For Smoking (2006)

Up In The Air (2009)

Juno (2007)

Young Adult (2011)

Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Seven Samurai (1954) Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Rififi (1955)

Titane (2021)

Cannibal Girls (1973)

Raw (2016)

Hellraiser (1987)

A Serbian Film (2010)

Cast Away (2000)

What Lies Beneath (2000)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Downhill Racer (1968) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Breaking Away (1979)

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)

Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Psycho (1998) – Ti West’s trailer commentary

Last Night In Soho (2021)

Funny Games (1997)

Funny Games (2008)

The Piano Teacher (2001) – Charlie Largent’s Criterion Blu-ray

I, The Jury (1982)

Mother! (2017)

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Tully (2018)

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review, Tfh’s 30th anniversary links...

The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers (Iamtw) recognizes the wide range of authors who work on media tie-ins. Often overlooked, these writers craft exciting tales using beloved characters and settings of franchises including the likes of Mike Hammer, Firefly, Murder She Wrote, James Bond, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek. These stories can be original adventures, or adaptations of movies or television episodes. They include all genres and a wide range of lengths and formats.

To recognize the accomplishments of the unsung authors in this particular field, the Iamtw sponsors the annual Scribe Awards. This year’s awards have six categories to highlight excellence in Novels, Short Stories, Audio Dramas, Young Adult/Middle Grade works, and Graphic Novels.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

Audio Drama:

The Enemy of My Enemy by Tracey Ann Baines

He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not by Carrie Thompson...

Hard Case Crime previously published two of my favorite Stephen King novels—The Colorado Kid and Joyland—so I'm thrilled that they've teamed up with King once again to publish his new book, Later. With the supernatural noir now available in paperback, audio, and digital (ahead of its limited edition hardcover release on March 30th), we've been provided with an excerpt to share with Daily Dead readers!

Click the cover art below to read an excerpt from Later, and to learn more about King's new novel, read the official press release and visit:

https://titanbooks.com/70537-later/

Press Release: Hard Case Crime, the award-winning line of pulp-styled crime novels published by Titan Books, will publish Later, a brand-new novel by Stephen King, on March 2, 2021.

Later tells the story of Jamie Conklin, a boy whose unusual abilities could aid his single mom and her police detective lover – but only at a terrible cost.

Only a few days short of January’s end, 2021 has seen the loss of its first Oscar winner. Here’s how the Associated Press broke the news:

Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in “The Last Picture Show” and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein” and self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died. She was 94.

Leachman died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California, publicist Monique Moss said Wednesday. Her daughter Dinah Englund was at her side, Moss said.

Remarkably those 94 years encompassed nine decades of work on the big and small(er) screen. A truly versatile actress, her knack for comedy wasn’t really showcased until nearly twenty years into her astounding career. As a tribute we offer a fond look back at the work of a true cinema “scene-stealer...

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By John M. Whalen

In “My Gun Is Quick” (1957), Mickey Spillane’s famous private detective Mike Hammer (Robert Bray) meets a sad young hooker named “Red” (Patricia Donahue) in a greasy spoon and rescues her from a goon trying to put the muscle on her. Hammer slaps him around and kicks him out the door and gives her bus fare plus change to go back home and start over. He’s a hardnose but he’s got a tender spot somewhere under that tough exterior. He writes down his name and number on a slip of paper and tell her to call him to let him know she made it okay. Before they part he notices a very ornate ring on the third finger of her right hand. Hammer has been up for 52 hours and just wants to go home and get some sleep,...

Acclaimed stuntman and action director extraordinaire Jesse V. Johnson joins us to discuss the U.S. based action films and filmmakers that have influenced him the most.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

On The Waterfront (1954)

Fultah Fisher’s Boarding House (1922)

Undisputed (2002)

Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)

Boyka: Undisputed (2016)

The Killer Elite (1975)

Convoy (1978)

The Osterman Weekend (1983)

Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974)

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)

Straw Dogs (1971)

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Birdcage (1996)

Cross of Iron (1977)

Electra Glide in Blue (1973)

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974)

Easy Rider (1969)

Fail Safe (1964)

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

Ride The High Country (1962)

Major Dundee (1965)

Jinxed! (1982)

Beowulf (2007)

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

The Girl Hunters (1963)

Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Point Blank (1967)

Falling Down (1993)

M (1951)

M (1931)

The Black Vampire (1953)

The Roaring Twenties (1939)

Scum (1979)

Elephant (1989)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), possibly Joe’s favorite John Ford...

According to Warners, author Mickey Spillane's 'misanthrope' 1940's comic strip detective "Mike Hammer", who went on to fame in a series of novels, TV series and motion pictures, continues in development as a new franchise of films.

The character of Hammer was created by Spillane, debuting in the 1947 book "I, the Jury", that was adapted into a feature in 1953 and 1982.

Prior to World War II, Spillane was a writer of comic books for Timely (now Marvel) Publications. After the war,  he used what would be the plot of "I, the Jury" for a comic book character called 'Mike Danger' that eventually became 'Mike Hammer' in hard cover. 

Hammer was a Marine veteran of the 'Battle of Guadalcanal'. As a private investigator he carries a .45 Colt in a shoulder holster under his left arm. His love for his secretary 'Velda' is only outweighed by his willingness to kill a killer.

Mike Hammer is in action again! Well, not exactly. Producer Victor Saville’s third go-round with Mickey Spillane’s famed character doesn’t do the franchise justice. Hammer-philes will be astounded by this thriller’s decidedly un-thrilling thrills: there’s little to connect the inexpressive nice guy Robert Bray with the super-popular, super-violent avenger of the books. Spillane’s original is abandoned in favor of a tame ‘who’s got the diamonds?’ storyline, with some compensation in a string of exciting ‘Hammer dames.’ I checked twice — Mike doesn’t shoot Any of them in the stomach.

My Gun Is Quick

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1957 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 91 min. / available through Kino Lorber / Street Date March 24, 2020 / 24.95

Starring: Robert Bray, Whitney Blake, Patricia Donahue, Donald Randolph, Pamela Duncan, Booth Coleman, Jan Chaney, Genie Coree, Richard Garland, Charles Boaz, Peter Mamakos, Claire Carleton, Phil Arnold, John Dennis, Terence de Marney, Ray Kellogg.

Stars: Ralph Meeker, Nick Dennis, Maxine Cooper, Cloris Leachman, Gaby Rodgers | Written by A.I. Bezzerides | Directed by Robert Aldritch

Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) is driving down the freeway, minding his own business, when he almost hits a woman. Mike is a private investigator, and he knows trouble when he sees it, but he can’t just leave her in the road. His decision to stop and help triggers a confrontation with a group of thugs. When he comes around, the lady is dead – and Mike wants to know what the hell just happened.

With the help of his assistant and lover, Velda (Maxine Cooper), Mike takes a deep dive into the L.A. underworld. Scouring the backstreets, bars and boxing clubs, he uncovers a web of intrigue and violence, involving all the usual men of power, i.e. gangsters and cops. Countless bodies are left in the wake of his...

Earle Hagen, the Emmy-winning composer who wrote the iconic themes for “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “I Spy” and many others, would have turned 100 years old on July 9.

He was one of the most influential composers in TV history, formally recognized for his landmark work when the Television Academy inducted him, posthumously, into its Hall of Fame in 2011. He was only the second musician to be so honored.

Hagen pioneered the creation of original music for television in the 1950s, when most TV music was cheaply recorded mood music licensed from pre-existing libraries. By the 1960s, he was composing, arranging and conducting for as many as five shows a week — “The Danny Thomas Show,” “That Girl” and “The Mod Squad” among them — and set a high standard that other TV composers would aspire to in years to come.

“Earle was a huge influence on us, and really good with the tunes,...

By Todd Garbarini

If you’re one of the many moviegoers who are unfamiliar with the Jacques Lacerte thriller Love Me Deadly, you’re not alone. A product of early 1970s low-budget motion picture production, this film is the sole title directed by Mr. Lacerte who passed away in 1988. Lensed in 1971 and released in San Francisco right around the same time as Gerard Damiano’s wildly popular and controversial couples-flick Deep Throat in June 1972 just before the Watergate burglary, the film played in roughly ten markets, including rained-out drive-ins, before it nearly disappeared from view. However, there are subsequent movie posters for the film that have the audacity to mention William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) and give the impression that spiritual possession is somehow to blame for the unsavory goings-on. It’s not.

Love Me Deadly was originally titled Kiss Me Deadly, however Mickey Spillane had the rights to that title,...

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Titan Comics

This has been something of a romp, albeit a noir romp, and has been very enjoyable because of that. No high brow entertainment here, Collins has gone for crowd pleasing guns, fights, dames, and sex. Can’t really go wrong with that I guess. I’ve been a little torn between enjoying the delights spread out before me each month, and wishing for that little bit extra to distinguish this from the crowd, to add a little cherry on top of a decent dessert. This series of course was never meant to reinvent the wheel, just showcase Mike Hammer and to an extent Mickey Spillane, and that it does extremely well.

So, where were we? Mike has got caught up with client Helen Venn, on the run from gangster boss Carmen Rich who thinks she has $10 million of his money.

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Titan Comics

Before jumping into the review proper, a quick observation about recap pages or ‘what’s come before’ text in the front of books. As readers, we both like and need them. I reviewed the first issue of Mike Hammer a couple of months ago, but managed to miss issue 2 along the way, real life intruding as it does on your time. So, I sit down to start reading Issue 3, expecting a few brief lines of recap on Page 1. Nothing. Nada. As I read quite a few comics every month, I’m not really able to pick up everything from two issues ago, then fill in the gaps as to what happened last issue, and jump in to this issue. As a consequence, I can review the issue in front of me, but may be missing some ongoing plots.

Written by Max Allan Collins | Art by Marcelo Salaza, Marcio Freire | Published by Hard Case Crime/Titan Comics

I’m guessing pretty much everyone has heard of Mickey Spillane, even those not really fans of the hardboiled detective genre, which he practically invented. When Mickey Spillane’s most famous character, Mike Hammer, first hit the stands it ramped up the levels of sex and violence previously seen and became a huge success. Although mainly a comics guy, I do dabble a little in genre fiction, sci-fi, horror, detective noir etc and have always had a soft spot for Mickey Spillane and Mike Hammer. The soft spot for Mickey Spillane comes from the fact he got his start in comics, where he wrote a ton of stuff for a lot of publishers in the early 1940′s. My soft spot for Mike Hammer? Two reasons.

Firstly, I remember watching, and loving, that...

Titan Comics' imprint 'Hard Case' will release "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" #1, June 27, 2018, written by Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road To Perdition") and illustrated by Marcelo Salaza, with covers by Robert McGinnis, Alex Ronald and Mack Chater:

"...in 1946, Mickey Spillane, an established comic-book writer, worked with illustrator Mike Roy to create the private-eye character 'Mike Danger' for a proposed comic-book or comic-strip publication. Unable to sell the project as a comic, he reworked the story as the novel 'I, the Jury', converting Mike Danger to 'Mike Hammer'.

"While other hardboiled heroes bend and manipulate the law, Hammer often views it as an impediment to justice, the one virtue he holds in absolute esteem. Hammer nevertheless has a strong respect for the majority of police, realizing they have a difficult job and their hands are frequently tied by the law when trying to stop criminals..."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Titan Comics' imprint 'Hard Case' will release "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" #1, June 27, 2018, written by Spillane, Max Allan Collins ("Road To Perdition") and illustrated by Marcelo Salaza, with covers by Robert McGinnis, Alex Ronald and Mack Chater:

"...in 1946, Mickey Spillane, an established comic-book writer, worked with illustrator Mike Roy to create the private-eye character 'Mike Danger' for a proposed comic-book or comic-strip publication. Unable to sell the project as a comic, he reworked the story as the novel 'I, the Jury', converting Mike Danger to 'Mike Hammer'.

"While other hardboiled heroes bend and manipulate the law, Hammer often views it as an impediment to justice, the one virtue he holds in absolute esteem. Hammer nevertheless has a strong respect for the majority of police, realizing they have a difficult job and their hands are frequently tied by the law when trying to stop criminals..."

Click the images to...

By Giacomo Selloni

Published for the first time anywhere, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mickey Spillane's birth, come two short novels in the same book. "The Last Stand" (Spillane's final novel) is preceded by "A Bullet for Satisfaction," an unfinished manuscript that was finalized by Spillane's long-time collaborator Max Allan Collins. Both stories are satisfying reads. The book has been published by the Hard Case Crime imprint from Titan Books.

Mickey Spillane is best known for his character Mike Hammer, the fictional P.I. that redefined the "action hero" and spawned countless imitators. Unlike private investigators before him, Mike Hammer was a merciless executor of villains who slept with countless beautiful, willing women. Sound like anyone we know? The first Mike Hammer novel, "I, The Jury," was published in 1947, six years prior to Ian Fleming's James Bond debut, "Casino Royale." It may be argued that if Fleming...

By Alex DeleonRéka Tenki, a hot new presence on the Hungarian film scene in an authentic Hungarian film noir with a kosher twist.

At the 2017 Berlinale, Tenki was named one of Variety’s “10 Europeans to Watch” and was seen in Ildiko Enyedi’s acclaimed On Body and Soul (Golden Bear winner and Hungary’s entry as Best Foreign Language Film for the Oscars). See interview with Réka Tenki here.

Réka Tenki

Budapest Noir is a murder mystery set in the German influenced Budapest of 1936 with Antisemitism on the rise. Superbly directed, acted, and beautifully lensed by master cinematographer Elemér Ragály. This is by far the best Hungarian film of the year in what has been a very good year for Magyar cinema generally. In terms of genre the very first film of its kind from this country and an eye opener of the first order.

Zsigmond Gordon (Krisztián Kolovratnik) is...

Hard-boiled Hammer

By Raymond Benson

As 2018 is the official centenary of Mickey Spillane, we at Cinema Retro thought it would be a good idea to examine this excellent digest of the author’s works on the silver screen and on television.

Author and filmmaker Max Allan Collins (probably best-known for writing the graphic novel Road to Perdition, the basis of the 2002 film, but also author of 100+ other books) is the literary executor for the estate of Mickey Spillane. Not only has he co-written this excellent “bedside companion” on Spillane’s big-and-small screen adaptations, Collins has co-authored/finished manuscripts originally begun by Spillane before his death in 2006 at the age of 88. Co-author James L. Traylor has also had a long career of writing critical analyses on crime authors and novels. One can be confident, then, that in Mickey Spillane on Screen, the authors know what they’re talking about.

Mickey Spillane...