Just picked up Michael Shayne Mysteries, Volume 1, a DVD
collection that has a few interesting Special Features in
addition to four beautifully restored Shayne B-movies
starring Lloyd Nolan. There's the Art of Robert McGinnis, a
documentary interview with the illustrator who talks about
doing the Shayne book covers and shows the various stages of
his work. Amazingly, he seems to paint those perfectly
detailed ladies on a canvas not too much larger than the book
covers. Close-ups make the brush-work seem almost like magic.
There's also a gallery of covers (that could have been more
extensive).
Other docs include a bio of Brett Halliday that includes
interviews with Helen McCloy, who was his wife for a while,
Otto Penzler, et al.
The movies are well-produced good fun with Nolan doing an
impressive job without the benefit of looking like anybody's
vision of the character. All are mystery novel adaptations,
but only Michael Shayne, Private Detective is based on a
Shayne book. The Man Who Wouldn't Die is from a Clayton
Rawson and that book's protag, The Great Merlini, does a sort
of guest appearance in the film. Sleepers West is taken from
Sleepers East by Black Mask favorite Frederick Nebel. Blue,
White and Perfect is from a story by Borden Chase.
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