Cheers to the life of Gene Hackman and the gift he gave us for so many years. He just seemed to be having so much fun in the characters he chose. The French Connection and Unforgiven go without saying. But who will ever forget him in gems like The Birdcage, Get Shorty, The Firm, and Young Frankenstein. He was and always will be one of my favorites.
ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG
02/27/2025
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US & UK readers: there’s an eBook deal on CITY OF STONES. $1.99 to the end of February.
Manhattan Beach, a picturesque town nestled along the coast of Los Angeles County, is renowned for its serene beaches, upscale homes, and laid-back lifestyle. And when a young journalist and his wife and daughter are found brutally murdered in their home, Detective Matt Jones is on the case.
“Riveting. A moody, white-knuckle murder tale.” – Kirkus Reviews
ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG
02/7/2025
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Pitfall (1948)
I’m not sure how I missed this gripping film, and thanks to CM who sent me a heads up. Pitfall is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by AndrĂ© de Toth, starring Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, and Jane Wyatt, and features Raymond Burr. All are wonderful, but Raymond Burr is the villain and he’s driving this spooky thriller all the way. Why is Raymond Burr so frightening as a bad guy? (Rear Window?) Maybe it’s because he’s so trusting as Perry Mason in a TV series that started decades ago and is still so popular it’s streaming on four or five cable channels.
Trivia: According to Madeleine Stowe, guest host on the May 21, 2016 Turner Classic Movies screening of the film, the production was in trouble because the script violated the Hays Code, as the adulterer was insufficiently punished. When director de Toth found out, he met with two senior Hays Code members, whom he had selected with care. De Toth revealed that he knew the two were both married, and both had mistresses. There were no problems after that.
Screen Pitfall for FREE on YouTube and Tubi.
ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG
01/26/2025
