Constantine (2005) – Francis Lawrence

Keanu Reeves takes on the role of DC’s Vertigo Comics character of John Constantine aka Hellblazer in the next title to be featured in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies as I traverse its visions of hell. Constantine was originally written as a UK character but was changed to American to make it more bankable…

The Devil You Know (2006) – Mike Carey

UK author Mike Carey launched a new series with The Devil You Know, which sees him visiting territory that is very familiar to him considering his past writing credits, including The Girl With The Gifts as well as the comic series Lucifer, and Constantine. He treads the realm of the supernatural noir easily in a…

Magnum, p.i. (1984) – Tran Quoc Jones and Luther Gillis: File #001

  It’s back to Paradise for the Thursday visit with Thomas and company… Up first is Tran Quoc Jones. This episode was penned by Chris Abbott and had an airdate of 29 November, 1984. The titular character, Tran Quoc Jones (Roland Harrah III), is an illegal Amerasian boy, who sells knick knacks on the streets…

The Maltese Falcon (1941) – John Huston

  Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir that is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of The Big Sleep. Dashiel Hammett’s book comes to life under the direction of John Huston, who also penned the adapted screenplay, with gumshoe Sam Spade (Bogart) finding…

Magnum, P.I. (1981) – Don’t Say Goodbye & The Black Orchid

  Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is back at it this week, with this double dose of episodes. First up is Don’t Say Goodbye, which features Ted Danson as a guest star. This one was written by Babs Greyhosky and T.J. Miles, who penned the original story. It aired 26 March, 1981. Thomas is called to…

Laura (1944) – Otto Preminger

  The recommendations in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for the title Pandora’s Box allowed me a chance to see this classic, which I had never sat down to view before. Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is working the homicide of the lovely Laura (Gene Tierney) in this wonderful noir title….

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) – Carl Reiner

  Where Monsieur Hulot’s recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book suggested Blazing Saddles as a western send-up, the hilarious Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid starring Steve Martin skewers the noir genre lovingly by intercutting out hero Rigby Reardon (Martin) with actual footage from classic noir films. Reardon, a cynical gumshoe…