FNF prez Eddie Muller responds to film noir fan questions fielded by the Foundation's Director of Communications Anne Hockens. In this episode, we discuss LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE, WOMAN ON THE RUN, Darwyn Cooke’s comic book adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker novels, which classic film noirs should be remade, Eddie’s novel THE DISTANCE and more. We wind up the show with a discussion of the notorious psychological thriller WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR. On the cat front, we get a rare visit from Tizzy the traveling cat. Want your question answered in a future episode? We solicit questions from our email subscribers in our monthly newsletters. Sign up for free at www.filmnoirfo...
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This week’s questions:
1. The dialogue of LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE was nuanced, subtle, wicked, I wonder what male author has also sustained that continuous level of repartee? At the amusement park towards the finale of WOMAN ON THE RUN, the life-size Laughing Sally made me think it was San Francisco - am I mistaken?
-Sara
2. Any news of a restoration/screening/Noir Alley showing/home release for CANON CITY (1948)?
-Morse
3. Eddie has expressed his affinity for comic books in the past, have either of you read the Darwyn Cooke adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker books?
-Nathanael from New Braunfels, Texas
4. Would Film Noir have existed if World War II had not?
-John
5. Are there any classical Film Noir movies that might be worth a redo along the lines of NIGHTMARE ALLEY, with the chance of going back to original source material without the production code limitations?
-Carlton, Atlanta, Georgia
6. In WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS Scalise keeps administrating what appears to be a nasal spray, but from my memory of Le Chiffre in James Bond isn’t it likelier that it is Benzedrine he’s inhaling?
-Eric
7. One of my more favorite movies of recent vintage is EMILY THE CRIMINAL. What do both of you think about the film?
-John - Brooklyn, N.Y.
8. I recently watched David Lynch's brilliant LOST HIGHWAY for the first time in several years and for the first time the very noir elements really stuck out for me. Is there another neo-noir with such strong sci-fi elements?
-Joe on Long Island
9. My first question is for Eddie. Do you consider Alfred Hitchcock’s SPELLBOUND and THE PARADINE CASE - both starring your favorite actor, Gregory Peck - to be good representatives of noir films?
Anne, since you are a big fan of the Golden Era of Radio, were you a fan of the Alan Ladd radio series, BOX 13, and do you think it qualifies as a noir?
-Loren, Chicago
10. Re THE DISTANCE. Couldn't find any definition for "Swansy hollow punch". Could you elaborate? Did you make up the fighters' names or are they real names pulled from the past Was this your first book-length effort? If not, what was?
-Jay and Connie, Ann Arbor, MI