Famous Movie Detectives II

by Michael R. Pitts

Pitts looks at the celluloid careers of more than three dozen sleuths, including Arsene Lupin, Hercule Poirot, Mike Hammer, Miss Jane Marple, Perry Mason, Philip Marlowe, The Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, and The Whistler, and a number of screen gumshoes with brief movie careers and TV detectives. Each chapter highlights a different detective, covering the character's films, the performers who played him or her, the character's image in other media (stage, radio, television, recordings, etc.), plus a detailed filmography and a bibliography of the fictional works about each detective. With additions and corrections to the base volume and scores of photographs.

357 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1991

About the author

MICHAEL R. PITTS has written or co-authored numerous books on entertainment, including Kate Smith: A Bio-Bibliography; Western Movies; Hollywood and American History; Famous Movie Detectives; Famous Movie Detectives II; Famous Movie Detectives III; Hollywood on Record; The Bible on Film; Charles Bronson; Poverty Row Studios 1929-1940; The Rise of the Crooners; Radio Soundtracks; Horror Film Stars ; the CD-ROM Television and Film: An Annotated Bibliography of Research Materials; Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films; Allied Artists Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, and RKO Radio Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films.
With Mr. Parish he has written several entries in The Great . . . Pictures series. In addition he has contributed to many other published books and his magazine articles have been published in the U.S. and abroad. He wrote columns on record collecting for Classic Images and The Big Reel. With degrees in history and journalism he also has a certificate in American Genealogy and has compiled more than thirty volumes of local history and genealogy.

Reviews

[Michael P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This typifies the book that was not worth writing. The author skims the dregs of detective films in which a character is featured in at least two movies and occasionally writes about them. One problem is that despite the use of the word "famous" in the title, you will have not heard of most of these characters unless you are an aficionado. Another is that Mr. Pitts does an uneven job. He writes about some characters in a fair amount of detail, but others are barely mentioned, really just listed, presumably because Mr. Pitts did not research these very thoroughly. This happens far too often.

In a Google world, you can often find out more about these characters and films on the internet. Save your money and learn more.

[Rich Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference book. This and the first volume by Michael R. Pitts are essential reference works for anyone who enjoy detective fiction on the big screen.