Mystery Movie Series of 1940s Hollywood

Ellery Queen, Boston Blackie, Michael Shayne, Dick Tracy, the Falcon; these are but a few of the celebrated fictional sleuths who appeared in popular Hollywood movie mystery series. This volume focuses on 19 series (146 films) that were primarily released during the 1940s. The properties range from such enduring favorites as Sherlock Holmes and The Saint to such lesser-known efforts as the Whistling comedies with Red Skelton and the Monogram Shadow features. For each series, there is an overview of the source material, the individual films, and the performers who acted in them. Included is a review for each film and a discussion of quality and cohesiveness of the mystery plot. For movies based on specific written works, a comparison between the film and its literary original is offered.