What I'm Reading

I've long been fascinated by Oscar Micheaux, a film pioneer whose life is the stuff of legend, but I've just recently caught up to Patrick McGilligan's masterful biography OSCAR MICHEAUX: THE GREAT AND ONLY. I can't recommend it highly enough. Deeply researched and sharply written, it tells the story of Micheuax through his autobiographical novels and films, as well as letters and interviews, government documents and newspaper achieves. Micheaux was the son of former slaves who headed to Chicago, became a Pullman porter, traveled all over North and South America, and then became a homesteader in South Dakota. All that before he became the key African American filmmaker of the first fifty years of film. Part Booker T. Washington, part D.W. Griffith, and part P.T. Barnum--he was, in the end, all himself, an icon of independence and artistic willpower.

10 Of The Best Noir Novels of the 21st Century

The writer Eric Beetner has put together a list of his favorite noir novels since the year 2000 over at Criminal Element. I'm thrilled to see my novel HELL ON CHURCH STREET included on the list, of course, but the rest of this list ain't too shabby, either. Some great stuff on here, including works by some of my personal heroes. 

Go here to check out 10 of the Best Noir Novels of the 21st Century.

Orson Welles at 100: F FOR FAKE

How do we even begin to address the uniqueness of F FOR FAKE? In the final entry in my series on Orson Welles at 100 over at Criminal Element, I give it a try.

Check it out here.

NOIR CITY On Sale!

I've been writing for NOIR CITY for a few years now, and I've been really happy with all the feedback I've gotten from people who love the magazine. The only problem has been that folks could only get the issues on a subscription basis.

Well, I'm happy to say that you can now buy NOIR CITY on an issue by issue basis. My contributions to these issues include an overview of Orson Welles's impact on film noir, my profiles of people like Tom Neal (DETOUR), Peggie Castle (99 RIVER STREET), Beverly Michaels (WICKED WOMAN), all the entries in my series on Poverty Row Professionals, and much more.

You can find out more, and get complete table of content listings for each issue, including great work by regular contributors like Eddie Muller, Imogen Sara Smith, Vince Keenan, Gary Deane, Steve Kronenberg, and Dan Akira Nishimura--and special features by people like Ed Brubaker, Ken Bruen, Michael Connelly, Christa Faust, Barry Gifford, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippmann, Scott Phillips, Duane Swierczynski and many more. Every issue is beautifully designed by the great Michael Kronenberg.

Go check it out at the new Noir City website.

Orson Welles at 100: FALSTAFF (1965)

FALSTAFF (aka CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT) might just be Orson Welles's greatest film. I try to explain why in my latest installment of Orson Welles at 100 over at Criminal Element. Click here to read.

Coming In October

A.I. Bezzerides was a real badass, and it was a pleasure to get to the introduction to this reissue of his first novel, coming from 280 Steps in October.