Comments on: BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> Harry Moseby Investigates

By: Scott Leslie

Scott Leslie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:44:04 +0000

Also on the subject of Archer/MacDonald films THE UNDERGROUND MAN (1973 or 1974) was the pilot movie for the ARCHER tv series but starred Peter Graves (of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE fame) as Lew Archer.

By: Rod

Rod — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:25:58 +0000

NIGHTMARE IN PINK — that’s a gay horror film, right?

By: Nathan Cain

Nathan Cain — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:48:21 +0000

Definitely better quality books than last week’s column featured.

By: Marty McKee

Marty McKee — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:32:48 +0000

Hi, Bruce, there was a shortlived ARCHER TV series in the mid-1970s starring Brian Keith. I don’t know if any episodes were based on Macdonald books, however.

By: Scott Parker

Scott Parker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:55:45 +0000

Okay, that certainly did not come out as I intended it. What I meant was more what you wrote. Take 1988, for example, and the Traveling Wilburys CD was out. I took little notice. Then, Orbison dies and I listen to the CD to get a taste of Roy O’s voice, and love it. Same for Crumley and me, now.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:41:49 +0000

Ross Macdonald can be read in any order just know before The Doomsters is the Hammett & Chandler style, then after and including Doomsters he finds his own style. It was not that I waited for Crumley to die it was just the book sat on my shelf for so long and once he died I remembered I owned the book and having been meaning to read it for awhile. Also Paul The Instant Enemy is my favorite Ross Macdonald it’s just so upbeat and cheerful like a Thomas Hardy story.

By: Scott Parker

Scott Parker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:30:35 +0000

Bruce,

Okay, you may have just made me decide to break a rule: that is, read series books in order. I just checked my library and The Barbary Coast is on audio. That’s the book right before The Doomsters. Guess I can start there and go back to the beginning later on.

The Last Good Kiss is one of the books Pelecanos always recommends. I’m like you: I tend to read an author only after he dies.

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:39:59 +0000

Having just finished writing something hard-boiled and set in the 1950s, I’ve been avoiding too many goodies like these for a couple of months (I get unduly influenced and or discouraged by how good the other guy is if I read the same genre I’m working on), you’ve whetted my appetite for a good dose of classic tough guy writing. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to pick up JOHNNY HAVOC MEETS ZELDA (1962)…”They called him the private eye–with a difference!”…by John Jakes. After that, it’s straight to some Ross MacDonald!

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:30:34 +0000

The only Alan Sharp book I’ve found is his novelization of The Hired Hand one of the most underrated 70′s westerns.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:15:13 +0000

There is a novelization of Night Moves, written by the screenwriter, Alan Sharp, complete with Gene Hackman photo cover–it would make a great book for this column. I agree that the movie is one of the most underrated private detective movies ever and definitely worth seeking out.