Lighting the Pipes

1961's "Call for the Dead" was a striking premiere in spy fiction. Not only was it the careful, opening gambit in John le Carré's long and dominating career, it also marked the first appearance of George Smiley, the author's recurring intelligence officer of unlikely composition. Accented by a polite, unassuming conduct, Smiley is slightly overweight and a bit lovesick, too, all of which stood him in sharp contrast to the "known quantity" literary spy of the day. Drawing on his own experiences of work with Britain's intelligence services, John le Carré sculpts his inaugural text out of post-war mortar and emerging cold-war realism.

In this installment, Josh gets behind the wheel of "Detour" and takes listeners through the hairpin turns of Edgar G. Ulmer's "poverty row" production. When it was released in November 1945, "Detour" exceeded expectations, impressing post-war audiences and critics alike with inspired editing, nihilistic storytelling and a standout performance by Ann Savage as the vicious Vera. From Martin Goldsmith's source material to Leo Erdody's compelling post-production score, this special episode covers all tire-worn avenues of Ulmer's classic noir!

Batman first appeared in the May 1939 edition of "Detective Comics", the creation of Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Since then, the caped crusader and his story have been re-imagined through myriad themes and variations. Arguably the most compelling of these came In 1987, when artist and writer Frank Miller portrayed the first year of Bruce Wayne's activity as Batman. His four-part story runs in parallel to that of Police Lieutenant James Gordon, whose arrival and ascension in Gotham city is of equal importance. In this episode, Josh and Scott discuss Miller's graphic novel, starting with a detailed look at the origins of the character and its artists (6:25) before presenting a full plot summary (36:20) and finally reviewing the work in its entirety (54:00).

It's late in 1941. Honolulu basks in Hawaiian warmth and Battleship Row sparkles with military confidence, just weeks before the day that would live in infamy. Downtown, Police Detective Joe McGrady receives a brutal double murder case that's about to change his life. The first victim is the nephew of an Admiral; the second is a young Japanese woman. What do these killings have to do with the impending attack on Pearl Harbour and Imperial Japan’s grasp for Pacific supremacy? How far will McGrady go to uncover the truth and chase a killer? Find out more as we dive-bomb into extended discussion over James Kestrel’s Edgar Award winning war-time thriller, Five Decembers.

Boileau-Narcejac's novel D'entre les morts (The Living and the Dead) was published in 1954 and served as the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock's classic psychological thriller. Over the decades, however, the source material with its war-time setting has been largely subsumed by the influence of the Hollywood production. Here, Josh and Scott explore Jeffery Sainsbury's enduring translation of the original novel by the esteemed French crime-writing duo.

A brief crank call transforms into a lengthy nightmare for spinster Helen Clarvoe and her anxious orbit around family and friends in Los Angeles. By turns evasive and compelling, Margaret Millar proffers a unique psychological thriller with Beast in View, her Edgar Award winning novel from 1956. Working the case on behalf of Helen (and readers) is unlikely investigator, Paul Blackshear, who sails a sea of choppy emotional waters, characterised by obsession, personal trauma and vindictive love. So, leave your phone off the hook and join us for a look through this enduring narrative gem and its unassuming legacy.

Robert Siodmak's gem from 1949 goes under the microscope in this episode. Motivations for this classic plot involve an armoured car heist, an old flame and axes to grind. Good natured sap, Burt Lancaster, is the inside man on the job whilst making time with his ex, turned gangster’s moll, Yvonne De Carlo. Unfortunately for him, head-heavy Dan Duryea is as violent as he is jealous. Josh takes you through the beats of Criss Cross as LTP Noir continues its investigation into the world of Film Noir.

In this episode we hoist, brail and kedge our way through Erskine Childer's 1903 prophetic spy thriller, The Riddle of the Sands. Published in 1903 and foreshadowing the great conflict of nations only a decade away, "Riddle" has held its place among the pantheon of influential spy mysteries for well over a century now. We start our voyage with Josh navigating the short, tumultuous waters of the author's life, rise and eventual fall at the inception of Irish Civil War (8:00). We then bowse the main sail and get down to cruising through brass tacks in our discussion of the novel itself (48:12).

A staple of the first-person confessional, James M Cain's debut novel has really lasted the test of time. Now knocking on 90 years of age, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" delivers a ruthless plot at an unforgiving pace. Frank Chambers is an unemployed rambler possessed of a loose moral compass and an appetite for opportunity. Once he drifts upon the Twin Oaks Tavern and into the life of the restless Cora Papadakis things will never be the same again. So, flip the sign and lock the door - it's closing time at the diner but happy hour for another LTP literary investigation!

LTP Noir returns, this time to the mean streets of Samuel Fuller’s New York City at the height of the McCarthy era. Richard Widmark, Jean Peters and Thelma Ritter star in "Pickup on South Street", a brutish and caustic yarn where common criminals are considered heroes compared to those stinking Reds! Collect your tickets, friends, and hop aboard as Josh steadies the train through this underrated film's tracks and turns, with stops along the way through Fuller's prolific career in journalism and Hollywood.