‘Nightmare Town’ (1999) an essential cross-section of Hammett’s work
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This landmark collection gives us more of the Op, all three Spade shorts and fascinating one-offs.
Mystery
‘Nightmare Town’ (1999) an essential cross-section of Hammett’s work
‘Double Indemnity’ (1944) a deliberate classic of film noir
Wilder Wednesday (Movie review): Stiffer than Wilder’s later masterpieces, his adaptation of Cain’s novel helps stamp a genre into public consciousness.
‘Hunter and Other Stories’ (2013) cleans out Hammett’s files
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Unpublished and under-published tales are rounded up from the author’s archives, but this is for serious fans only.
‘Deep Red’ (1975) not deeply profound, but it gets Argento noticed
Frightening Friday (Movie review): One of the most famous “Psycho”-influenced films smooths off the edges of Argento’s earlier work.
‘Dain Curse’ (1978), Hammett’s most emotional novel, gets miniseries treatment
Sleuthing Sunday (TV review): Although he doesn’t resemble Hammett’s description, James Coburn makes an appealing screen version of the Continental Op.
‘Four Flies on Grey Velvet’ (1971) completes ‘animal trilogy’ with buzz
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Argento’s hand becomes steadier on the giallo tiller in his third directorial effort.
Wilder adds to sleuth’s lore in ‘Private Life of Sherlock Holmes’ (1970)
Wilder Wednesday (Movie review): The premise: This unusually personal mystery was kept from the public till 50 years after the sleuth’s passing.
‘Dial ‘M’ for Murder’ (1981) remains gripping in Plummer’s TV movie
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): The remake is inferior in most ways, but it serves to remind us how ingenious Frederick Knott’s story is.
A baffling mystery: Why has there never been a Continental Op TV series?
Sleuthing Sunday (TV commentary): One obscure half-hour episode from 1995 features Hammett’s prolific detective, and teases what we could have over the course of a full series.
‘Cat o’ Nine Tails’ (1971) a few whiskers short of Argento’s debut
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Still, this mystery-slasher is worth watching for strong set pieces and nods to Hitchcock.