Search donherron.com
About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Author Archives: Don
Hammett: Some Thoughts on M. Spade from Kent Harrington
That prolific writer in the Posse McMillan crew, Kent Harrington, asked if I’d seen Monsieur Spade yet. Not yet, but give me a day or two free and I’ll binge my way through. (Meanwhile, I have binged the two seasons … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: The Oscars
Brian Wallace popped me another tidbit from the historic archives of Noir & Mean Streeting, from which I deduced he must have watched the recent Oscars ceremonies: “Wonderful what Hollywood will do to a nobody. It will make a radiant … Continue reading
Hammett: M. Spade — Episodes 4, 5 & 6
When last seen reviewing Episode 3, Terry Zobeck was getting into Monsieur Spade as a mystery. Sure, he had to ignore the baffling presence of a guy named Spade in France for some reason, but he was making the best … Continue reading
Hammett: M. Spade Episode 3
I believe tonight is the formal drop for the sixth and last episode of Monsieur Spade, which reminds me I have further ongoing commentary on hand by Terry Zobeck to nudge out onto The Mean Streets. I don’t believe there’s … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: The Return of The Woman Chaser
Joe McSpadden dropped a dime to let me know that the Charles Willeford movie The Woman Chaser returns to the Alamo Drafthouse on Monday, February 19 at 7:15pm. Great chance to catch it on a big screen. Joe produced the … Continue reading
Posted in Film, News, Willeford
Tagged Alamo Drafthouse, Jake Isgar, Joe McSpadden, Patrick Warburton, Rob Devor, The Woman Chaser, Warren Oates
Hammett: 94 Years Ago Today
For the official publication date for The Maltese Falcon Valentine’s Day 1930 was selected by the Alfred A. Knopf Company. 94 years ago. Got to be the most hard-boiled romance novel of all time. Something like love in the air, … Continue reading
Rediscovered: A TV Interview with Charles Willeford
Ethan Iverson of The Bad Plus — big fan of Charles Willeford — popped me a note about an interview with Willeford that appeared on YouTube somewhat recently. Don’t think I’d seen that one before. Shows the quiet or professorial … Continue reading
Hammett: Nathan Ward v. M. Spade
Got a note from our pal Nathan Ward — author of the Hammett bio The Lost Detective — that he’s getting sucked into the current Sam Spade experience of watching Monsieur Spade on AMC. “I have only seen one episode,” … Continue reading
Hammett: M. Spade Episode 2
Terry Zobeck chips in a brief notice on episode 2 of Monsieur Spade, currently running on AMC. He did his main layout in his opening installment, and mentions, “There are some gentle spoilers, but I don’t see a way to … Continue reading
Hammett: M. Spade, May We Presume?
Terry Zobeck, our man on These Mean Streets, volunteered (or was he dragooned? — I forget) to review the new AMC show about Sam Spade in France. He’s decided to take it an episode at a time. On the other … Continue reading
