Here's some nice stuff some very cool people have said about the book.
“Jake Hinkson is the
Roger Ebert of film noir studies. His stylish prose bristles with memorable
insights and the kind of fun only a true movie lover can bring to the table.”
Ed Gorman, co-founder of Mystery Scene and winner of the Anthony
Award for Best Critical Work for The Fine
Art of Murder
"Newcomers
to noir and connoisseurs alike can both revel in Jake Hinkson's riffs on the
subject. He brings to the films a wealth of insight, valuable context, and—most
vitally—real passion and a sense of fun. It was a privilege to publish many of
these pieces the first time around, and it's a pleasure to read them again in
this smart and savvy collection."
Eddie Muller, author of Dark City and president of the Film Noir Foundation
“Even though it is
hard to believe that there are any dark corners left in the study of classic
film noir, Jake Hinkson in The Blind
Alley manages to shine light into a few of its more obscure niches with
perceptive and entertaining studies of character actors like the redoubtable
Art Smith, unrecognized femme fatales like Peggie Castle and Joan Dixon, as
well as taking on neglected social issues in noir such as lesbianism and
unwanted pregnancy.”
James Ursini, author The Noir Style and editor of the Film Noir Reader series
“Jake Hinkson’s concise, highly readable essays
cover the wide waterfront of film noir, offering insightful new perspectives
both on monumental films like Double
Indemnity and Touch of Evil and
overlooked figures such as Peggie Castle and Norman Foster. A must-have collection for every
student of this eternally fascinating genre.”
Dave Kehr,
author of When Movies Mattered: Reviews From a
Transformative Decade
“In
The Blind Alley, Jake Hinkson
ventures down some of the darkest and most unfamiliar back streets of film
noir. A knowledgeable and passionate tour guide, Hinkson illuminates neglected
corners with insightful essays on noir’s treatment of subjects from religion to
childhood, lesbianism to the “crisis pregnancy.” Incisive profiles of
overlooked figures—Norman Foster,
Richard Quine, Tom Neal, Mickey Rooney—rescue their contributions from the
shadows while revealing lives often more noir than their films. The Blind Alley is especially to be
treasured for its loving tributes to women who never quite had the careers they
deserved, but who left their indelible mark on noir, among them Peggie Castle,
Martha Vickers, and Thelma Ritter. For the noir fan, delving into this collection
is like opening a box of extra-dark chocolates.”
Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond The City
“If
you want to learn more about film noir, read The Blind Alley. Jake Hinkson is like a literary Reed Hadley. His
lively, informative essays comprise an essential voiceover tour of the
characters and foibles of film noir.”
Alan K. Rode, author, Charles McGraw: Film Noir Tough Guy and Sit On The Camera, Pant Like a Tiger: The Life and Films of Michael
Curtiz
