See Harper look. See Harper investigate. See Harper get into trouble.

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Jack Smight’s Harper (1966), the stylish private-eye mystery starring Paul Newman, Lauren Bacall, Julie Harris, Arthur Hill, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner and Shelley Winters.

Based on Ross Macdonald’s novel The Moving Target, Harper follows private investigator Lew Harper as he is hired to find a wealthy missing man — a case that quickly becomes a tangled web of murder, blackmail, money and deception.

Written by legendary screenwriter William Goldman, Harper arrived during a period when Hollywood was reinventing the hard-boiled detective for a new generation.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate Paul Newman’s take on the private detective, looking at how Harper updates the classic film noir formula with its 1960s setting, dry humour, colourful characters and complicated mystery.

We examine Newman’s performance, the impressive ensemble cast and Jack Smight’s direction, while exploring the film’s relationship with film noir, hard-boiled detective fiction and the emerging neo-noir movement.

We also ask whether Harper deserves to be considered one of the great private-eye movies — and whether Paul Newman could have become the definitive screen version of Ross Macdonald’s detective.

Directed by: Jack Smight

Is Harper an overlooked classic of 1960s detective cinema — and one of Paul Newman’s best performances?

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon (1987), the action-packed neo-noir Christmas classic that helped redefine the buddy-cop movie.

Starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey, Lethal Weapon follows veteran LAPD detective Roger Murtaugh, who is reluctantly partnered with volatile, suicidal cop Martin Riggs. What begins as an uneasy partnership soon becomes a dangerous investigation involving murder, drugs and a powerful criminal organisation.

Written by Shane Black, Lethal Weapon became an instant classic upon release with a surprisingly bleak Christmas setting.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate why Lethal Weapon became such an influential 1980s action movie and buddy-cop film. We examine Mel Gibson’s explosive performance as Martin Riggs, Danny Glover’s grounded Roger Murtaugh and Gary Busey’s memorable villain Joshua.

We explore Shane Black’s distinctive screenwriting, the film’s Christmas setting, neo-noir influences, action sequences, humour and themes of trauma and redemption, while asking why Lethal Weapon continues to be one of the most enduring Christmas action movies.

Directed by: Richard Donner

Is Lethal Weapon the ultimate Christmas action movie — and the film that perfected the modern buddy-cop formula?

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey, the darkly comic crime series starring Vince Vaughn, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Based on the bestselling novel Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen, the series follows former Miami detective Andrew Yancy, who finds himself investigating a bizarre case after tourists discover a severed human arm. What begins as a strange murder mystery soon leads into a much bigger story involving corruption, greed, environmental crime and the eccentric characters of South Florida and the Bahamas.

Developed by Bill Lawrence, Bad Monkey blends crime thriller, detective mystery, comedy and Florida noir, creating a very different kind of television investigation.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths put Bad Monkey under the magnifying glass. We investigate Vince Vaughn’s performance as Andrew Yancy, the show’s ensemble cast, its distinctive humour and its colourful Florida setting.

We also explore how Bill Lawrence and Carl Hiaasen’s styles come together, the show’s neo-noir and crime influences, and whether Bad Monkey deserves its reputation as one of Apple’s standout crime comedies.

Is Bad Monkey a case monkey business?

Developed by: Bill Lawrence

Is Bad Monkey one of the best new crime shows on television — and has Vince Vaughn finally found the perfect role for his comic and dramatic talents?

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week’s case takes Cinema Sleuths to Pool of London (1951).

This week, your cinematic sleuths investigate Basil Dearden’s Pool of London, a landmark British crime film set around London’s docklands in the years following the Second World War.

Starring Bonar Colleano, Earl Cameron, Susan Shaw, Renée Asherson, Moira Lister and Max Adrian, the film combines crime thriller, social drama and romance, following a group of merchant seamen caught up in a smuggling operation while navigating life in post-war London.

In this episode, Cinema Sleuths investigates what makes Pool of London such an important piece of British cinema and British crime film. We explore Basil Dearden’s direction, the film’s authentic London locations and its portrayal of the docklands at a time when the city was undergoing enormous social and cultural change.

We also examine Earl Cameron’s groundbreaking performance, the film’s treatment of race and interracial relationships, and its depiction of Britain’s changing post-war society. Alongside the social themes is a compelling crime story involving diamonds, smuggling and betrayal.

Directed by: Basil Dearden

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates George Marshall’s The Blue Dahlia (1946), the classic film noir starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake and William Bendix.

Written by legendary crime novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler, The Blue Dahlia follows a returning Navy veteran whose life takes a dark turn when his estranged wife is found murdered. Suddenly suspected of the crime, he must uncover the truth before the police close in.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate Alan Ladd’s performance, Veronica Lake’s iconic screen presence and William Bendix’s unforgettable role.

We also examine look at the fascinating story behind Raymond Chandler’s screenplay and the challenges involved in bringing it to the scree, and ask whether The Blue Dahlia deserves to stand alongside the very best classic film noir movies.

Directed by: George Marshall

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

Before Superman became a cinematic icon, he was a TV sensation played by George Reeves — and his death remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring mysteries.

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Allen Coulter’s Hollywoodland (2006), the neo-noir mystery drama starring Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck and Diane Lane.

Inspired by the mysterious death of George Reeves, the actor who played Superman in the hit television series Adventures of Superman, Hollywoodland blends biopic, detective mystery and film noir to investigate the circumstances surrounding Reeves’s death in 1959.

Was it suicide? Murder? Or something in between?

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate the film’s fictional private investigator and its reconstruction of 1940s and 1950s Hollywood, where fame, studio power, celebrity and scandal collide.

We explore Ben Affleck’s acclaimed performance as George Reeves, Adrien Brody’s Louis Simo and Diane Lane’s Toni Mannix, while looking at how well, or not, the film transforms a real Hollywood mystery into a modern neo-noir.

We also ask how accurately Hollywoodland separates fact from fiction — and whether its murder mystery ultimately provides answers or simply creates more questions.

Directed by: Allen Coulter

Based on: The life and mysterious death of George Reeves, star of Adventures of Superman.

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Carl Franklin’s Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), the acclaimed neo-noir crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, Tom Sizemore and Don Cheadle.

Based on Walter Mosley’s 1990 novel, Devil in a Blue Dress follows Easy Rawlins, a Black World War II veteran who becomes an unlikely private investigator when he is hired to find a mysterious missing woman. What begins as a simple job soon draws him into a dangerous web of murder, corruption, racism and political intrigue in post-war Los Angeles.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate what makes Devil in a Blue Dress such a compelling modern film noir. We examine Denzel Washington’s performance as Easy Rawlins, Jennifer Beals’s mysterious Daphne Monet and Don Cheadle’s unforgettable turn as Mouse.

We explore Carl Franklin’s direction, the film’s 1940s Los Angeles setting, its hard-boiled detective influences and the way it uses the conventions of classic noir to explore race, identity, power and prejudice.

We also ask why Devil in a Blue Dress remains one of the most overlooked detective films of the 1990s — and whether Denzel Washington’s Easy Rawlins deserved to become a much bigger movie franchise.

Directed by: Carl Franklin

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

This week, Cinema Sleuths investigates Lawrence Kasdan’s Body Heat (1981), the steamy neo-noir crime thriller that helped usher classic film noir themes into a new era.

Starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna and Ted Danson, Body Heat follows small-town Florida lawyer Ned Racine, whose affair with the mysterious Matty Walker draws him into a dangerous plot involving lust, deception, murder and money.

Inspired by the conventions of classic noir but given a distinctly modern edge, Body Heat became one of the defining neo-noir movies of the 1980s and launched Kathleen Turner as a major star.

In this episode, your cinematic sleuths investigate what makes Body Heat such an effective modern noir. We examine William Hurt’s performance as Ned Racine, Kathleen Turner’s iconic femme fatale, the film’s steamy atmosphere and Lawrence Kasdan’s direction and screenplay.

We also explore the movie’s relationship with classic noir, its deliberately slow-burning mystery and its themes of greed, manipulation and betrayal.

Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

Yeah, I’m thinkin’ he’s back.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of John Wick, Cinema Sleuths returns to the film that transformed Keanu Reeves into one of the defining action stars of the modern era.

Released in 2014, John Wick seemed like a relatively simple revenge thriller: a retired hitman is dragged back into the criminal underworld after a devastating act of violence. But beneath the stripped-back story was a film that would rock modern action cinema.

Starring Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Willem Dafoe, John Wick introduced audiences to an extraordinary secret world of assassins, elaborate rules and the mysterious High Table — while delivering some of the most influential action choreography of the 21st century.

For our 10th Anniversary Special, Cinema Sleuths investigates why the film became such an unexpected phenomenon.

We explore Keanu Reeves’s commitment to the role, the film’s groundbreaking gun-fu action, practical stunt work, world-building, cinematography and distinctive visual style, as well as the performances that helped turn the Continental and its inhabitants into modern action-movie mythology.

We also look at the careers of directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the screenplay by Derek Kolstad, and the enormous influence John Wick has had on action movies over the past decade.

Ten years, four sequels and an entire cinematic universe later, the question remains:

What made John Wick such a game-changing action movie — and does the original still have what it takes to kill the competition?

Directed by: Chad Stahelski and David Leitch

10th Anniversary Special

Cinema Sleuths (Formerly Mean Streets) is produced by Luke Deckard & Matthew Booth 

Edited by Luke Deckard 

Theme song by Luke Deckard 

Logo by  Phil Dragash 

DISCLAIMER

All content presented in this podcast episode is the property of the podcast creator and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Any copyrighted material used in this episode is used under the principles of fair use for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, and review. No part of this episode may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the copyright holder, except where permitted by law.

*All movie and TV clips used in this episode are the property of their respective copyright holders and are used here for the purpose of review and commentary under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. No copyright infringement is intended.*

Your cinematic sleuths are back at it! This week's case is an episode from the 1990s TV anthology series FALLEN ANGELS. We investigate the 1996 episode RED WIND based on the short story written by Raymond Chandler and starring Danny Glover as Philip Marlowe!

FIND US HERE: ApplePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mean-streets-the-film-noir-podcast/id1733189837 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0mMUeJThoZk6mj0T2-BAEA Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeanStreetsPC Mean Streets is produced by Luke Deckard and Matthew Booth. Edited by Luke Deckard Music by Luke Deckard Logo by Phil Dragash