The Detective in Hollywood

by Jon Tuska

Here is a complete, in-depth study of detective movies in America. Through extensive research and personal interviews, Tuska traces the growth of the detective film from the earliest Sherlock Holmes one-reeler to oe of the more recent and important entries, The Late Show. This is a lively account of the orgiinal authors who created the detectives, teh directors and scenarists who brought them to the screen, and the actors and actresses who portrayed them. Included are Hamett and Chandler, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, Perry Mason, Ellery Queen, Nero Wolfe, Lew Archer and all the rest.

Genres: Film, Media Tie In

436 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[RetroHound · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tuska is a good writer and even though the publishing date is 1978, don't let that put you off. He had the amazing opportunities to interview many, many of the people who made these movies, directors, stars, producers, and writers. These interviews are incorporated very well into the book.

Most of the book cover the early serials, The Falcon, Mr. Moto, Charlie Chan, The Saint, Philo Vance, The Thin Man, etc. Not all are detectives, but all do detecting. There is some good analysis and evaluations of the films and pretty thorough coverage. Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler each get a chapter, and that should let you know that there is quite a bit of discussion of the source materials as well as the films. I certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in the films of the 1930s to the 1940s. He does cover some films up to the late 1970s, but the strength of the book is in the early years.