Mystery Novelist Mickey Spillane
Detective writer Mickey Spillane is one of the world's most popular writers of the hard-boiled private investigator genre. He says his most famous character, Mike Hammer, is a kind of everyman; Spillane has carefully avoided any physical description of the detective.
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Other segments from the episode on November 7, 1990
Bach and the Art of Transcription
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz discusses the history of musicians adapting Bach's music for their own instruments -- regardless of what the piece was originally composed for. He says Sharon Isbin's new album of Bach's Four Lute Suites is in an excellent example -- it has a depth of emotion he doesn't normally associated with the guitar.
Director and Writer Gordon Parks
Parks directed the early black action film, Shaft. His son, who died in 1979, was also a director. The elder Parks began his career as a photographer for Vogue and Life, and documented difficult aspects of the African American experience. He's just written his memoir, "Voices in the Mirror."
"Psycho IV" Is the Best Sequel Yet
Television critic David Bianculli reviews the latest sequel to Hitchcock's thriller, made for the Showtime network. Anthony Perkins reprises his role as serial killer Norman Bates; this time, we get a glimpse of his childhood. Bianculli says it's surprisingly good, and leaves open the possibility for even more sequels.
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Spillane's Mark on Detective Fiction
How can a nice girl fall for a trench-coated tough guy who treats women like dirt and ridicules book-reading sissies? Our book critic tries to fathom the appeal of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.
Mystery Novelist Mickey Spillane.
Detective writer Mickey Spillane One of the world's most popular writers of the hardboiled private investigator genre. His most famous character is Mike Hammer. Spillane has just written his first Mike Hammer story in 19 years.
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