Boothe powers through ‘Philip Marlowe, Private Eye’ (1983, 1986)
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): The quality drops between the two seasons of HBO’s first original dramatic series.
Mystery
Boothe powers through ‘Philip Marlowe, Private Eye’ (1983, 1986)
McKenna-Bruce shines as Bundle in ‘Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’
TV review: Soaking up the vibe from 100 years ago is the main hook of this Christie adaptation, though the mystery eventually kicks into gear.
‘Marlowe’ (1969) brings the detective into the Swinging Sixties
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): James Garner starts his private eye career in this adaptation of “The Little Sister.”
Marlowe finds love in ‘Brasher Doubloon’s’ (1947) lighter take on ‘High Window’
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): George Montgomery makes Chandler’s P.I. into more of an ole softie than we’re accustomed to.
Carpenter’s resume recovers in ‘The Ward’ (2010)
Frightening Friday (Movie review): The best thing about this Sixties-set mental-ward horror film is it replaces “Ghosts of Mars” as his last film.
‘Lady in the Lake’s’ (1947) direct-POV experiment is all wet
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): Unfortunately, the mystery of Chandler’s strong fourth novel gets lost in a quest for a new style.
Marlowe properly comes to screen in ‘Murder, My Sweet’ (1944)
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie review): The screenplay reassembles elements of “Farewell, My Lovely” in an intriguing way, and Dick Powell is a pleasing Marlowe.
Carpenter throws a few bones to fans in ‘Masters of Horror’ (2005-06), ‘Suburban Screams’ (2023)
Frightening Friday (TV review): John Carpenter has directed more TV episodes this century than movies. “Cigarette Burns” is definitely worth a look.
Mitchum ably fills Marlowe’s gumshoes in ‘Farewell, My Lovely’ (1975), ‘Big Sleep’ (1978)
Sleuthing Sunday (Movie reviews): The first is a stylish, purist classic. The second makes odd choices and never has a chance of competing with Bogart’s version.
Hannah digs further into weird psychology in ‘Last Death of the Year’ (2025)
Book review: Her sixth Poirot novel – though still stepping toward whimsy — stays on the rails more than the fifth.