the Czar of Noir comes here regularly to answer your noir questions...
"Ask Eddie"
the Czar of Noir comes here regularly to answer your noir questions...
OK... I'll break the ice.
Eddie: in your article on Slattery's Hurricane you mention that Buzz Bezzerides was an uncredited writer. I assume that's A.I. Bezzerides? Why would he be uncredited? He did Thieves' Highway the same year for 20th Century Fox and got proper credit (I think)... why wasn't he credited on this one?
EDDIE SEZ:
Andre de Toth hired Bezzerides to punch up the script with some smarter dialogue, to make the characters more human. Widmark's obnoxious drunk scene is pure Buzz. And I'll bet he wrote Slattery's brutal retort when Veronica Lake says "I hate you." ... "Go hate me outside... I want to get some sleep." That drew audible gasps from the Noir City crowd.
Credits were worked out between agents and studios. Only years later, when intrepid writers peruse production files, do you discover that uncredited writers were often snuck into the budget to liven up a script. According to de Toth, he and Bill Bowers wrote virtually all of PITFALL, although Karl Kamb gets solo credit. Likewise, Joe Newman told me that Bowers is "responsible for everything that is good" in ABANDONED, but his credit (I think) is limited to "Additional Dialogue By..."
FE
fantastic... I'm glad you mentioned Bill Bowers too. Prior to Noir City I didn't recognize his contributions to some of my favorite noirs.
OK, I have a question. During the festival, passport holders were given a form in which they were to list their choices for best movie, actor, etc. When are the results going to be posted?
Dear Noir Czar,
At the NoirCity festival in Frisco I noticed two rather obscure Robert Siodmak films were shown (Fly By Night & Deported). Was just wondering why you chose to show those films over some other, better known noirs--but, unfortunately, unavailable on dvd here in the States-- such as Phantom Lady, Christmas Holiday and Cry of the City. Or were you planning to show these other films at another NoirCity event laterthis year?
Soon, I hope. They have been tabulated. Our web master has a day job, unfortunately...
We have shown all three of those films at previous Noir City festivals. I knew FLY-BY-NIGHT would be a crowd-pleaser ... I enjoy it every time I see it. DEPORTED was the only American Siodmak film that had not been screened in decades, so showing it, even once, was a valuable way to determine the quality of the only existing print we know of. Even Hervé Dumont, perhaps the world's leading expert of Siodmak, had not seen it. San Francisco audiences are very appreciative of such exclusive treatment.
FYI, Criterion has licensed both CRY OF THE CITY and THE FILE ON THELMA JORDON for DVD release. No idea when that might happen ... they've had CRY for several years now.
Thanks, I look forward to the results. (In regard to the other question posted, I have to say that Fly-By-Night was one of the best films shown at the festival.)
Keep an eye out for TCM and Fox Movie Channel for The File on Thelma Jordon and Cry of the City-I have taped both of them from those channels in the past year or so.
Fly-By-Night was a lot of fun and it was another Siodmak film I hadn't seen (let alone heard of!). Big props to Eddie for showing it (and Deported, which had its moments and was also entertaining). This being the first NoirCity I've attended I had no idea those films had been shown previously. I'm kicking myself hard for having missed those other festivals. But a kudo to Harry for the TCM & FMC showings; hopefully I can catch an airing one of these days.
Will Cry Danger get a DVD release?
Stay tuned ... this is something we'll be working on in 2010 -- getting our restorations on DVD.
So, Fast, Mr. Eddie, will you be at the Castro Theatre the 21st of April, when as part of the TCM Film Festival Peter Bogdanovich will be hosting The Lady From Shanghai? And will you be taking an active part in the presentation, and festivities?
Last edited by BobtheGambler; 03-02-2010 at 03:56 PM.
One last question, Eddie. Did you listen to today's Fresh Air on NPR? There was an interview with Henry Scott, author of a book on Confidential magazine. Terry Gross was not the interviewer, but they did touch on Lizabeth Scott's connection with "baritone babes" and Frank Sinatra's legendary virility being attributed, at least in part, to Wheaties, Breakfast of Champions. I thought of you when I heard it, and LA CONFIDENTIAL as well.
Nevermind that post; just saw on another thread that the LA Noir City will be between April 2nd and the 18th. I suppose the only thing left to ask is: what's gonna be showing?
Last edited by Hart; 03-02-2010 at 10:58 PM.
Hi Eddie, on an earlier thread it was mentioned that you might be in attendance at The Film Forum in New York City for the March 19th showing of The Prowler. Is that still happening? I stopped by the theater last week and they didn't have any info.
Nope, I was not asked to do that gig. And I'll probably be sound asleep after the endless NOIR CITY: LA festival.Originally Posted by BobtheGambler
It's ALMOST finalized. A schedule will be posted within the week ... I hope. At least a tentative one, for the out-of-towners. Like me.
Yes, I will be there. I hope a lot of NYC area BAN members will come out. I'm hoping the Manhattan media picks up on it, like they did the restored THE RED SHOES.
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