Hi! I enjoyed the commentary on Erle Stanley Gardner. His first novel, "The Case of the Velvet Claws" (1933; not 1932 - and I can find no magazine serialization preceding the book), is an effective rendering of story and character, a habitually lying female particularly well-rendered, the narrative fast-moving without the padding Gardner would subsequently resort to. His "The Case of the Buried Clock" (1943) comes to mind, this with the usual filler, but - rather than the title being a metaphor - a genuine clock, actually buried by the killer, turns out to be a pivotal plot element. In the Thirties, Warner Bros. purchased the screen rights to seven "Perry Mason" novels. Five were produced with their original titles, but one - "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat" (1935) - was released in 1936 as "The Case of the Black Cat" (the animal in the film, however, was gray!). The seventh, "The Case of the Dangerous Dowager" (1937), resulted in something quite apart from its initial source. Completed in late 1939, it was released early in 1940 as "Granny Get Your Gun", the story credited to Erle Stanley Gardner but actually based on an original screenplay by a different writer - and Mason taken completely out of it! Small wonder Gardner swore off licensing additional motion-picture adaptations of P.M. mysteries! I'm not aware of this having been noted in print before, but despite the millions of words devoted to the Perry Mason character, and his enormous popularity, I do believe that Erle Stanley Gardner never, ever described him! It seems his entertaining writing style somehow eliminated the need for any such detailing - quite a literary accomplishment in itself! Cordially, Ray Cabana, Jr.
I am curious, are the DETECTIVE FICTION WEEKLYS for sale? I have a collection of that title and looking for certain dates. By the way, ESG had a long running character in BLACK MASK MAGAZINE first appearing in the 1920s named Ed Jenkins, the "Phantom Crook". This character would show up later on in the pages of ARGOSY, last story being in the 1960s.
What a joy to hear Mr Penzler share his hard-won knowledge with us. Thank you.
I'm so excited to listen to you again. Please keep sharing your wonderful stories and all the knowledge you have!
Hi!
I enjoyed the commentary on Erle Stanley Gardner. His first novel, "The Case of the Velvet Claws" (1933; not 1932 - and I can find no magazine serialization preceding the book), is an effective rendering of story and character, a habitually lying female particularly well-rendered, the narrative fast-moving without the padding Gardner would subsequently resort to. His "The Case of the Buried Clock" (1943) comes to mind, this with the usual filler, but - rather than the title being a metaphor - a genuine clock, actually buried by the killer, turns out to be a pivotal plot element.
In the Thirties, Warner Bros. purchased the screen rights to seven "Perry Mason" novels. Five were produced with their original titles, but one - "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat" (1935) - was released in 1936 as "The Case of the Black Cat" (the animal in the film, however, was gray!). The seventh, "The Case of the Dangerous Dowager" (1937), resulted in something quite apart from its initial source. Completed in late 1939, it was released early in 1940 as "Granny Get Your Gun", the story credited to Erle Stanley Gardner but actually based on an original screenplay by a different writer - and Mason taken completely out of it! Small wonder Gardner swore off licensing additional motion-picture adaptations of P.M. mysteries!
I'm not aware of this having been noted in print before, but despite the millions of words devoted to the Perry Mason character, and his enormous popularity, I do believe that Erle Stanley Gardner never, ever described him! It seems his entertaining writing style somehow eliminated the need for any such detailing - quite a literary accomplishment in itself!
Cordially,
Ray Cabana, Jr.
Great One ...can you do a review on John Gunther and his Inside Books ...HG Welles too and Edgar Guest Americas poet ...and also Walt Mason ...poet
wow!
I am curious, are the DETECTIVE FICTION WEEKLYS for sale? I have a collection of that title and looking for certain dates. By the way, ESG had a long running character in BLACK MASK MAGAZINE first appearing in the 1920s named Ed Jenkins, the "Phantom Crook". This character would show up later on in the pages of ARGOSY, last story being in the 1960s.
Yes-- everything in these videos is for sale. Write to info@mysteriousbookshop.com to inquire. Thanks!
Edgar Wallace, who was also very prolific, also dictated his works.