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Penzler Pick, September 2000: The past 20 years or so appear to have seen more books on film noir than any other movie genre. When people speak or write about film noir, they invariably invoke Laura, Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Third Man, and a handful of other iconic examples of the popular genre. These are A movies, however, made with substantial budgets by the major studios and featuring the headline actors and actresses of the time. The B films, with a few notable exceptions, have largely been ignored. Arthur Lyons, who really knows his stuff, figured that the world didn't need to read again about Dashiell Hammett and James M. Cain, or Humphrey Bogart and Lizabeth Scott. Instead, he devotes his intelligent pen to helping us rediscover the B films, the second features that helped keep movie theaters full in the 1940s and 1950s. Made for budgets that frequently fell short of $100,000, with cheap sets and costumes, these plot-driven movies had little in the way of special effects and nothing in the way of super-star actors and actresses. Republic was famous for its low-budget films and serials, as was Monogram, but even the major studios had B units.
Hugely fascinating information impossible to find without devoting an inordinate amount of your life to research, which is clearly what Lyons must have done, fills every page of this tome. In addition to an overview and chronological history of B films noir, Death on the Cheap has a comprehensive filmography with title, date, studio, running time, alternate titles, credits, plot outline, and critique for each film. There is also a chronology of every B noir film (Lyons credits 1939's Blind Alley as the first and reckons 1959 as the end of the genre). Although an unapologetic fan of B noir films, Lyons has no problem warning potential viewers from the really bad ones, and he doesn't exactly make his opinions known in a subtle fashion. Take this example, used to describe Hit and Run, a 1957 movie involving twins, produced, directed, written by and starring Hugo Haas: "Yet another smell-o by Haas.... Haas, of course, had to play the parts of both twins, doubling the pain for the audience."
Lyons, a well-known writer of the superb series of private-eye novels about Jacob Asch, demonstrates that his writing skills remain equally high whether he's writing fiction or nonfiction. Death on the Cheap is one of those rare pleasures, like a box of expensive chocolates that you can dip into any time and discover a genuine treat. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
Robert Mitchum once commented to Arthur Lyons about his movies of the 1940s and 1950s: "Hell, we didn't know what film noir was in those days. We were just making movies. Cary Grant and all the big stars at RKO got all the lights. We lit our sets with cigarette butts." Film noir was made to order for the "B," or low-budget, part of the movie double bill. It was cheaper to produce because it made do with less lighting, smaller casts, limited sets, and compact story lines--about con men, killers, cigarette girls, crooked cops, down-and-out boxers, and calculating, scheming, very deadly women. In Death on the Cheap, Arthur Lyons entertainingly looks at the history of the B movie and how it led to the genre that would come to be called noir, a genre that decades later would be transformed in such "neo-noir" films as Pulp Fiction, Fargo, and L.A. Confidential. The book, loaded with movie stills, also features a witty and informative filmography (including video sources) of B films that have largely been ignored or neglected--"lost" to the general public but now restored to their rightful place in movie history thanks to Death on the Cheap.
Customer Reviews:
Cheap Thrills from the "B" Production Units.......2007-04-16
This is an exceedingly brief, but nonetheless entertaining book about the film noir genre. Art Lyons opted to concentrate on the "B" films produced at Hollywood's Poverty Row Studios, so many of the major films in the genre are mentioned only in passing in the text and not at all in the summaries. Neglected film offerings from Allied Artists, Columbia, Eagle-Lion, Monogram, Producers Releasing Corporation, Republic Pictures and other lesser outfits are on full display here. A handful of films from the middle tier studios like RKO and Universal are also covered.
The book contains lists of film noir pictures produced by all of the studios during the classic period and amusing and succinct summaries of a variety of lesser known films. Lyons eschews the graduate school approach to film noir that is the bane of many fans who choose to watch these films for simple pleasure rather than to prepare for the defense of a Ph.D. dissertation.
I have only two minor complaints. First, I wish that this enjoyable book was a little longer. Secondly, where do I obtain a copies of "The Night Editor" and the other obscure low rent flicks that Art Lyons has so eloquently praised? I really like these small gems that deliver some suspenseful thrills in slightly more than an hour.
What a shame it is that the "B" film industry ground to a halt. The independent film movement has not been able to completely fill the void created by the demise of double features.
Learn bout Unknown Noirs.......2006-01-23
Death on the Cheap provides information about many Film Noirs which are often overlooked by film critics. I enjoyed reading about such B-movies as Blonde Ice. Jigsaw and others which are becoming available on DVD.
Much needed history of the forgotten B movies of film noir!.......2005-11-18
For film noir addicts like me who just can't get enough, this book by Arthur Lyons is a definite must for your film noir reference shelf. It is not only very informative but also humorous and entertaining. This awesome book helped me discover many forgotten film noir titles, and for that I'm very grateful to Mr. Lyons.
Both the introduction and the first chapter "Film Noir: It's All in the Story" provide the reader with the characteristics and typical themes of film noir. Private eyes, femme fatales, brave or crooked cops, psychotic killers, and tough gangsters are what make these classic movies so enjoyable today.
Chapter 2 "Roots: The Boys in the Back Room" focuses on the origins of film noir such as pulp magazines and the many crime novels by authors like James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Cornell Woolrich, Raymond Chandler, and many others, all the way back to the first detective story, "The Purloined Letter," by Edgar Allan Poe. This chapter also explains why films noirs became so popular (and increasingly darker) in post-WW2 America.
Chapter 3 "Attack of the Killer B's" discusses the B units of the big studios that saw crime movies as the perfect choice when working on a tight budget. It also provides an overview of the history of B movies, from the first ones during the 1930's, to their peak in the 1940's, and the steady decline throughout the 1950's.
Chapter 4 "The Emergence of the B Noir" briefly summarizes early years of film noir and why during World War Two the studios turned to low budget crime movies in order to save money. It also mentions several pioneers of film noir techniques, like Orson Welles and Val Lewton, who could create unforgettable classics on very small budgets.
Chapter 5 "Poverty Row: The B Factories" provides an excellent summary of the role played by Poverty Row studios in making films noirs. These studios, Republic, Monogram, Eagle Lion, and PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation), made nothing but B movies, and surprisingly many of these are now respected classics. It was the Eagle Lion studio that released such films as "Hollow Triumph" (aka The Scar), "Raw Deal," "T-Men," "Ruthless," and "The Spiritualist" (aka The Amazing Mr. X). Edgar G. Ulmer's cult classic "Detour" was released by PRC.
Chapter 6 "The Final Decade: The Demise of the B" explains why the amount of films noirs made throughout the 1950's became less and less each year. Chapter 7 is a long filmography which gives the cast/crew info plus detailed plot summaries (including the endings unfortunately) of dozens of obscure B noirs, many that even I had never heard of.
After the filmography there's two long list of B films noirs, first listed by year and then by studio. This section is very helpful when doing any kind of research on this subject. Plus there's a section called "Film Noir Sources" that provides info on where you can find copies of very rare film noir titles. Overall, this is an excellent book on a very neglected subject, and any serious film noir buff should buy it. By the way, that's Leslie Brooks on the cover in a scene from "Blonde Ice."
very entertaining.......2005-08-05
I really liked this book, lots of info on movies that are not usually mentioned. I don't really feel like watching most of the movies reviewed but the reviews are very fun to read.
It was okay . . ........2002-10-30
I am a fan of noir, but it looks like I was focusing on the A Movie Variety. So I picked up this book to see what the B-side had to offer.
Overall, it was an okay read in that it introduced me to some noir titles I was not familiar with. However, it lacked the depth that I am used to in reading film anthologies. The author chose to drop as many titles as possible in the book without more than a generalized plot summary in the filmography section. I would have preferred a good discussion about a few notable titles. To that point, the placement of the summary of films also perplexed me. I did not even realize there was an epilogue until this morning when I decided I had my fill of the book and flipped through the remaining pages.
These criticisms aside, I am glad I read the book since now I have a starting point to explore this side of noir further. In the end, maybe that was the point of the book?
P.S. It was fascinating to discover that Hugh Beaumont (aka Ward Cleaver) played the hard-boiled type in some B movies.
Average customer rating:
- Accidents! Fights! Abortions! Yeah!
- THIS "WRITER" WILL NEVER MAKE ANY MONEY
- Elegant and Gritty at the same time
- Road Music
- Very real, humorous, and engaging
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The Hunger Bone: Rock & Roll Stories
Debra Marquart
Manufacturer: New Rivers Press
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Book Description
Short stories and short-short stories about traveling rock musicians that focus on the unseen, less than glamorous side of touring as a struggling rock band-the personal tolls, the grueling poverty, the gnawing hunger for fame, and the small and unlikely moments of redemption. These characters are slowly realizing that their dreams are slipping away, that age and hard living have worn them down, that their funky, rootless, rock & roll lives have not taken on the grandeur they'd envisioned.
Debra Marquart toured with several rock and heavy metal bands during the 1970s and 1980s. She previously published a book of poetry, Everything's a Verb (New Rivers Press, 1995), and currently teaches creative writing at Iowa State University. She is the poetry editor of the Flyway Literary Review.
Customer Reviews:
Accidents! Fights! Abortions! Yeah! .......2006-05-06
This review is a response to Sara Brady's review, titled "This writer will never make any money!". While it's true that the stories in this collection lack life and death climaxes, I completely disagree with her statement that "Something needs to happen in a story--an abortion, a fight, an accident--SOMETHING." Many great stories revolve around the idea that "something" could happen, or that "something" has already happened.
If she is saying that in order to "make money" the author should start including more action into her work, she may be right, but perhaps the reviewer should consider the notion that an author sometimes believes so strongly in his/her style that changing it in order to please just enough morons to get rich is out of the question.
For those of you who enjoy good writing and a peek into a subculture that is rarely exposed, I recommend this book. Anyone who has ever been involved in the small time music scene should pick this up because it gracefully sheds a little light into the dark corners where most of the musicians in this country are piled atop one another, waiting and working their ass off for a break.
THIS "WRITER" WILL NEVER MAKE ANY MONEY.......2002-12-20
Another collection of actionless short stories by yet another tenured academic "writer." When will these academic authors learn that in order to make money as writers they must first tell intelligent, meaningful, gripping, action-packed stories? Don't look for a novel from Miss Marquart--she hasn't got the range. Something needs to happen in a story--an abortion, a fight, an accident--SOMETHING. Nothing happens here; the musicians go from town to town. Even more distressing is the author's obvious complexes and hatreds relating to men. Pass this one by!
Elegant and Gritty at the same time.......2001-12-02
The Hunger Bone is a wonderful collection of short stories strung together with shorter stories, prose poems, to give the collection texture and contribute to the creation of a world -- the world of travelling rock and roll musicians. The characters are beautifully drawn, and the stories reveal the thrills and trials of such a life. There's lots of humor here, and cynical glimpses of the audience's behavior on a dance floor when energy is high and inhibitions are low. We see the economic struggles of the musicians, their loyalties to each other, and points when those loyalties break down. The details are clear and ring true, and the tales are moving. Any lover of rock and roll would love this book. It's great. The elegant prose is so beautiful -- musical, in fact.
Road Music.......2001-02-02
I read the stories of Debra Marquart's THE HUNGER BONE with great pleasure. The music, of course, is in the language, which sings in every story. These stories crackle with energy, with an alive mind that registers the crudities and the nuances of the rock scene. The stories are funny, laughing-out-loud funny, but the humor never obscures the sadness, sometimes the desperation, that always nags at Marquart's road musicians. The best moments, when the music is right or the landscape lights up at dawn after a long night's driving, are ephemeral. And the road spools on out in front of the van.
These stories might not make you want to be a road musician, but they will make you feel like you have been. It's a ride!
Very real, humorous, and engaging.......2001-01-12
I spent more than 5 years slogging it out in a bar band myself, so I can identify with this book. Debra Marquart writes from such a unique perspective that makes this book a very entertaining read indeed.
I think that the average reader is in for a treat with this book. However, it really helps if you have been in a band, have seen This is Spinal Tap more than 5 times, and are on a first-name basis with the employees of your favorite local guitar shop!
The stories in here really hit home for me. And I got a really good laugh out of it too. The characterizations are dead-on accurate.
Customer Reviews:
Lancea Sanctum adds too little........2006-09-28
Lancea Sanctum presents the religious Covenant of vampires dedicated to preying on humanity and fulfilling the role God has chosen for them. A lot of detail is presented on the structure of the Lancea Sanctum, from the role a typical ancillae plays to how the Covenant relates to other World of Darkness entities. Factions, Bloodlines, Disciplines, and new Thebean Sorcery rituals are included to add mechanical support to this broad take on one of the oldest vampiric organizations.
Unfortunately, Lancea Sanctum speaks far too much in vague generalities and adds little new and interesting material to this Covenant. The rites, prayers, and roles observed by members are simplistic modifications of existing church roles that any Storyteller could easily invent. The history of the Covenant starts out interesting, but quickly degrades into a historical survey of questionable use. Finally, the new game mechanics (Bloodlines, Disciplines, etc.) are sparse and largely flavorless.
Not bad, Not great either though.......2006-09-01
I am a member of the Camarilla and that is why I only gave it three stars, for none camarilla members I would give it four.
First of all, the book is wonderful for making a character for the sanctum or running a campaign around it. I was a little disappointed with the Theban sorcery section, white wolf behind well white wolf decided against putting the Theban Sorcery rituals from nomads and coteries in it so the chapter really isn't complete. White wolf cares to damn much about money and not enough about gaming, but to be fair that greed is how the new system came about and it is far superior for player versus player style games. The reason I lowered a star is that all the good rituals past two dots are high approval for camarilla games, and that urks me.
The Bloodlines in this book are horrible. The Ventrue bloodline is decent but its extra discipline is no fun. The Meket get a blood line that should be a flaw in and of itself and the other three clans get to piggy back on the Davea line that although the Davea are the parent clan anyone can join.
Skimping on the cheese aside, this books does have an extremely good insight into the inter workings and view points of the Lancea sanctum, and if you would enjoy a view into those working this is a good book for you. If you are the type that wants new bloodlines and extra cheese you may be disappointed by this book.
Also the artwork in this book is awesome in my mind.
Oh and before I forget I would like to send a message to white wolf because I am sure someone from the group looks at these review; PUT A FREAKING INDEX IN YOUR SUPPLEMENT BOOKS, YOU CHARGE ENOUGH FOR THEM YOU CAN AFFORD THE EXTRY THREE OR FOUR SHEETS OF PAPER YOU CHEAP CHILDREN OF UNWED PARENTS!!!!!
First covenant book released, but an incredibly strong book.......2006-02-24
This book details the covenant Lancea Sanctum- its history, the reasons why Kindred join it, the roles of the clans in the covenant, how one joins, its relation to other factions in the World of Darkness, and various in-covenant factions, bloodlines, and heresies.
I actually delayed buying this book because of the heavily Christian flavor to the book, so I was very surprised when I actually went to my local game store and thumbed through the book. It presents a truly diverse and changing (as much as anything Kindred-related can be "changing") covenant with as many iterations as their are Bishophrics (essentially parishes, each city or area with a different one.)
Get this book even if you are turned off by the apparent Christian flavor of the book. You won't be disappointed- there is something in this book for every player or storyteller.
Average customer rating:
- Leadership Techniques by Wes Roberts?
- You Can Learn A Lot From A Hun
- EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP BOOK
- Should be required reading for new managers
- Leadership
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Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
Wess Roberts
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
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Classic insight for modern times.The world's foremost producer of personal development and motivational audio programs now offers a completely unique approach to learning leadership skills.Most programs on leadership present the successes of contemporary men and women as role models for study. While valuable lessons can be learned from their examples, few models or success stories reveal the true essence of their leadership abilities or can anticipate the special circumstances, conditions, or situations that you deal with as a manager.In the runaway bestseller Leadership Secrets Of Attila The Hun, author Wess Roberts draws from the imaginary thoughts of one of history's most effective and least beloved leaders, Attila the Hun, to discover leadership principles you can apply to your own situation. In a uniquely creative and entertaining approach to a most serious task, "Attila" reveals his principles for successful morale building, decision making, delegating and negotiating, and gives advice on overcoming setbacks and achieving goals.
Customer Reviews:
Leadership Techniques by Wes Roberts?.......2007-09-22
I've personally met Wes while hosting a student speaker forum at the University of Utah. At the time, Wes was working for American Express and I remember today...over 20 years later how narcisistic and vulgar he presented himself. At the time these values were "popular" and it was a time when huge take-overs and ruthless tactics were the norm. We were treated to works like "Barbarian at the Gates" and "Wallstreet" where greed and making money at the expense of everthing honorable was the montra and the norm. When you read this book you should do so with the thought that these are leadership techniques of the past and do not adapt these techniques into your own life. As a historical piece to look at how greed and self-interest were out of control in America, it's perfect.
You Can Learn A Lot From A Hun.......2007-08-22
While this book is over 20 years old, it is a classic read for business professionals who seek more knowledge and different points of views from business books.
Leadership skills and ways to improve them are always a "hot topic". This book takes lessons from a great warrior and interprets them into stories that relate to the modern day corporate executive.
If you have made it this far in reading my review, take the next step and buy the book!
thom
EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP BOOK.......2007-06-12
This book offers a no frills and unorthodox view on leadership practices. I recommend this book to any one that is tired of the chop shop run of th emill leadership book. Quick read.
Should be required reading for new managers.......2007-05-30
I realize this book has been around for some time, but I still refer to it out every so often to pull out a pearl of wisdom. Sometimmes when we are speaking on a regular basis to leaders of various skill levels from seasoned veterans to green rookies, we need to reach back into one of these 'classics'for a fresh idea.
Leadership.......2007-01-25
Great reading and should not be treated lightly, a virtual handbook for the boss and should be taught in high school!
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining history and leadership skills.......2002-05-13
This great little book is history with a purpose - by far the best sort of history - and it teaches leadership using an original technique. Set in the fifth century AD, in the time of the decline of the mighty Roman empire, the author gives us an apposite slice of life and then has one of history's great leaders comment upon it. Attila, the formidable king of the Hun confederacy, teaches leadership round the campfire to his chieftains. It is certainly an easy way to learn history - I read it twice - light, well written and well-researched. The lessons are entertaining and say a lot in a few lines. Some of it is very insightful, I went through the book with a pencil to note the best points. Occasionally it is a little repetitious and lapses in the logic, but I enjoyed it and learnt a lot.
Create an atmosphere of trust, competency and reward ..........2001-11-30
Most people today think of Attila the Hun as an evil, ruthless barbarian, but this is a shallow and ill-informed take on his life and many successful campaigns.
Attila had a great love for his people, and maintained only modest comforts for himself. He used his war chest to empower his tribe and his people. Attila does not discriminate based on age, sex or race, but forms his judgements based on merit, success and the individual's potential.
Vain and beligerant pseudo-warrior management types will be disappointed to learn that Attila's victories were borne on the back of competence, even-handedness, reasonable reward and mutual respect. Anyone looking for simple parlor tricks and manipulative techniques to fool or bully co-workers and subordinates into submission will be dissapointed here. This book is about improving the self and becoming a better person in order to lead victoriously, not creating a facade to hide the miserable and incompetent soul.
"Victory Secrets of Attila the Hun" helps to reveal the context of the ruler's life and its parallels in the modern world through history, parable, and fantasy. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read for principle-based managers concerned for the health, welfare, growth and prosperity of their company, and the lives of those around them.
Eye-opening and informative........1998-10-13
Gave me insight to my "Atilla" at work and help to understand him. I love the book and hope to get more of Wess' books.
Readable entertaining insight into big biz hierarchies........1998-10-07
Esteemed executive, Wess Roberts, weaves an involving teaching tool of equal parts history, fantasy and illustrative instruction. This unique "how to" on building and leading a big business hierarchy from the middle, and the top, is also a true to history, interpretive extraction of the Hun empire revived and empowered by one man, Attila the Hun. Attila's own success is not only an analogous base for the lessons at hand but also their validation. An easy, concise read for top and middle managers on the go; an overlooked gem in a pile of rubblous hype.
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