I don’t know about you, but this cover makes me want to hide under the bed.
First Draft
Liberal Politics, Media Criticism & General Mayhem
Category Archives: Pulp Fiction Thursday
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Corpse With The Grimy Glove
I guess they forgot to wash it.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: What’s In It For Me?
This is the perfect paperback cover and title for the Trump era. The only thing that would make it Trumpier is if the buxom chick were a blonde.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: 1984
You’re not seeing double. We’ve just moved from music to books and movies.
George Orwell’s 1984 is one of the most misunderstood great books ever. It was a dystopian novel but not sci-fi. For the title, Orwell flipped the last two digits of the year in which he wrote it, 1948. Orwell was a man of the left, not the right. But his experiences during the Spanish Civil made him loathe Stalinism. Big Brother is “Uncle” Joe Stalin.
Here are three vintage paperback covers, which convey Orwell’s vision in emphatically different ways.
Next up the movie posters:
I prefer the 1956 version; partially because it’s in glorious black and white notwithstanding the poster. But Edmond O’Brien and John Hurt are equally good as protagonist Winston Smith.
In lieu of two movie trailers, here’s the legendary Apple ad that ran during the 1984 Super Bowl:
Split Decision
The Summer Of Sam Fuller continues here at First Draft. The new Fog Of Scandal image is how the murder of Tolly Devlin’s father was shot in today’s PFT film noir, Underworld U.S.A. What’s more noir than shadows? Not a damn thing.
You’re probably wondering what this has to do with the ruling by SCOTUS in the Trump tax cases. Not a damn thing. Don’t jump my shit or I’ll have a Tolly Devlin moment:
The post title is not 100% accurate but it’s what I predicted yesterday so I’ll stick with it:
I’ve never been compared to a Dutch seer before. I kinda like it. Thanks, Paul. Hmm, I wonder if the Dutch Dude wore seersucker…
The following analysis is as instant as it gets.
There was a clear victory for the Manhattan DA’s office in its case, which re-established the obvious principle that any POTUS is NOT ABOVE THE LAW. Trump’s legal team made preposterous arguments that made him either a king or a deity. The Kaiser of Chaos is neither; that nickname notwithstanding.
Both the New York case and the Congressional case have been remanded to the lower courts to address the details of the complaints so as Yogi Berra probably never said, “It ain’t over until it’s over.”
We may not see the records as soon as we might like but President* Pennywise is a loser in the long run. And he hates losing. Neener, neener, neener. I never get tired of Trump losing.
Other than the rule of law, the real winner today was Chief Justice John Roberts who, like any sensible Chief, prefers to stay out of the political thicket, which is as thick as it’s ever been. Thanks to a president* who is truly as thick as brick, which means as smart as a lump of shit. Make that orange shit and it fits…
Even Justice Bro believes that presidents DO NOT HAVE ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY. The Impeached Insult Comedian is already whining like a stuck pig, but he hasn’t attacked Kavanaugh. Yet. The clock is still clicking.
The cases have been remanded to the lower courts to handle the details. Congress may still prevail if they narrow their subpoena. Btw, that’s a word I can never spell without resort to a spell checker. The mere thought gives me a series of Tolly Devlin moments:
Finally, here’s summation of the case written in the style of Mongo of Blazing Saddles fame:
The last word goes to Steve Winwood with Joe Walsh:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Underworld U.S.A.
It’s been the summer of Sam at Adrastos World HQ. Not the Spike Lee flick; Sam as in Samuel Fuller the cult film writer-director. Fuller was underrated in his day, but his quirky and idiosyncratic movies have stood the test of time
TCM Noir Alley host Eddie Muller screened Underworld U.S.A. on Father’s Day this year. It’s the story of a young man whose father is murdered. He spends his life seeking revenge against the gangsters who slew dear old dad.
The vengeful son, Tolly Devlin, was played by Cliff Robertson in a bravura performance that was as quirky and idiosyncratic as Sam Fuller himself. Tolly Devlin has become a catch phrase in our house. It’s usually aimed at Paul Drake when he’s in trouble, which is a frequent occurrence. We all have our Tolly Devlin moments.
I give Underworld U.S.A. 4 stars and an Adrastos Grade of A-.
It’s poster time. The first one is Canadian, eh:
Here’s the trailer:
Are you ready for some lagniappe? It’s Eddie Muller making a cocktail to go along with Underworld U.S.A.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Death Is The Host
This looks like a COVID-19 era dinner party at the White House. I’ll pass.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Irv Docktor
I liked Irv Docktor’s cover art for Art Tatum’s Discoveries so much that I checked out his book covers. Docktor was particularly known for his work with Robert Heinlein so we begin with a pair of those covers followed by two more pairings.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Murder By Contract
I’m a big fan of TCM’s Noir Alley with Eddie Muller. When Eddie speaks, I listen. Last week’s edition featured a tight little movie, Murder By Contract. The script was written in 1958 by blacklisted screenwriter Ben Maddow. I wonder if he’s any relation to Rachel. You never can tell.
Anyway, it’s a nifty noir. I give it 3 1/2 stars and an Adrastos Grade of B+.
Here’s the poster:
The tagline is characteristic of the casual sexism of the period.
Here’s the trailer:
Ready for some lagniappe? Here’s Marty on this movie:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Fourth Postman
I have terrible mail service but even I wouldn’t go postal on a letter carrier:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: First He Died
It’s time for some sci-fi noir:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Hotel Doctor
Today’s entry continues our medical theme. I think he’s a doctor feelgood but who am I to judge?
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Border Lord
I usually avoid posting “bodice ripping” romance novel covers. The one on the left, however, has a ripping good tagline: “A saucy wench defies her king for love.” Red sauce or white?
Pulp Fiction Thursday: A Bullet For Cinderella
Was Prince Charming aware that Cinderella was in trouble? Probably not. The dude was clueless.
I’m a John D. MacDonald fan but I haven’t read this book. I suspect that the British paperback on the right is more accurate in its depiction of the story.
I have a rather disturbing earworm:
I never expected to post a Disney Princess video in this feature but you never can tell.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Rage
Richard Bachman was Steven King’s pseudonym when he was an overly prolific young writer. It was all the rage:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Rodent Mutation
The title of this 1961 sci-fi potboiler speaks for itself: it’s about mutated rodents. Bron Fane, however, is a pseudonym for Lionel Fanthorpe. It’s also an anagram for Boner Fan, which may or may not be an accident.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Ward 20
In addition to writing this lurid potboiler, James Warner Bellah worked on five John Ford films. Bellah represented the dark side of Ford’s vision. Many of the bigoted bits in his Westerns were down to Bellah.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Yellow Room
This is another one of those “I found this while searching for something else” PFT entries. The second cover is intriguing. Is it telling readers that this is a good book to read at the beach? There’s nary a yellow room in sight.
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Nightmare In Manhattan
This book only sounds ripped from the headlines, it was published in 1955.
To lighten things up, the last word goes to Ella Fitzgerald with Manhattan by Rodgers and Hart:
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Dig That Crazy Grave
I’ve been keeping it light this week because we’re all in need of comic relief. This feature is uniquely suited to black humor, which is useful in times like these. If we can laugh at our deepest fears, we have a better chance to survive them; at least I hope so.
On to this week’s book cover. As far as I know, none of the 3-dozen Shell Scott books were ever filmed. It’s a pity: Leslie Nielsen would have been perfect casting.
