James M. Cain – BEGUILING HOLLYWOOD

August 27, 2017 / Vickie Lester

“How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?” Double Idemnity

Definition of film noir plural film noirs \-ˈnwär(z)\ or films noir or films noirs \-ˈnwär\ : a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music; also : a film of this type…

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June 17, 2015 / Vickie Lester

20th century great, Raymond Chandler, author of…

The Big Sleep, Farewell My Lovely, The Long Goodbye

June 17, 2015 / Vickie Lester

20th century greats: James M. Cain, author of…

The Postman Always Rings Twice, Mildred Pierce, Double Indemnity

February 7, 2015 / Vickie Lester

Requiesat in pace: I used to see the queen of film noir, Miss Lizabeth Scott at the library…

Miss Scott is now ninety-one. At the library she first caught my attention because she was talking quietly, distinctively, with the librarian. I didn’t recognize her the first time I saw her, it was only later that I made the connection between this gorgeously poised, very erudite, older woman and…

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August 5, 2014 / Vickie Lester

Double Indemnity | Brick Wahl

I love the blog Beguiling Hollywood. Vickie Lester posts these great pictures of stars of yore–publicity shots, movie shots–and describes them with a quick caption or a little essay and they’re always good. Today’s was a still from the film noir classic Double Indemnity. Barbara Stanwyck in shades Fred McMurray…

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July 9, 2014 / Vickie Lester

Darling, please don’t shoot my agent… film noir, noir fiction, or the facts of Hollywood history?

Heavens, such a lot of hub-bub recently about a flattened affect actress and her middle-aged married lover… Let me tell you a cautionary tale. In 1951 this Producer, whose illustrious career spanned the eras from Valentino’s “The Sheik” to Elizabeth Taylor’s “Cleopatra” had a horrible fit of jealousy. I present…

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Tag: James M. Cain

“How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?” Double Idemnity

20th century great, Raymond Chandler, author of…

20th century greats: James M. Cain, author of…

Requiesat in pace: I used to see the queen of film noir, Miss Lizabeth Scott at the library…

Double Indemnity | Brick Wahl

Darling, please don’t shoot my agent… film noir, noir fiction, or the facts of Hollywood history?