Back in the 1980s, a small publisher called Black Lizard published noir crime novels, some 90 titles between 1984 and 1990. Founded and edited by writer Barry Gifford in 1984, the focus was on dark crime novels by authors like Charles Willeford, David Goodis, Peter Rabe, Harry Whittington, Dan J. Marlowe, Charles Williams, Jim Thompson, and Lionel White, With pulpish covers drawn by Jim Kirwan, Black Lizard books had appeal to readers who wanted something different.
One of the best Black Lizard titles is Steve Fisher’s I Wake Up Screaming (aka, Hot Spot). Hot Spot was a 1941 noir classic based on the novel of the same name by Steve Fisher, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dwight Taylor. The film stars Betty Grable, Victor Mature and Carole Landis, and features one of Grable’s few dramatic roles.
Set in Hollywood, the novel follows an unlucky sports promoter, Frankie Christopher, who is accused of the murder of a young actress, Vicky Lynn. Christopher is hounded by detective Ed Cornell. Fisher ratchets up the suspense and tension. If you’re looking for a noir fix, I Wake Up Screaming will do the job…and more! GRADE: A
I think I have two or three different editions of this book, each one updated to change the names of movie stars and popular film genres.
Dan, I like I WAKE UP SCREAMING/HOT SPOT in any form!
I read a lot of the Black Lizard books back then. Vintage still puts out trade paperbacks with the Black Lizard logo.
Steve, Black Lizard Books launched the rediscovery of Jim Thompson’s novels in the 1980s.
I loved the look of these books and bought a lot of them, but far from all, and didn’t realize there were as many as 90 of them. This is one of the ones I bought, and my (pretty shaky) memory of it is that it was OK, but didn’t lead me to read anything else by Fisher. The movie certainly isn’t widely seen, although I saw it somewhere, probably TCM. According to the generally reliable JustWatch it’s not currently available for streaming. I really wish I had a complete set of these books, and I’d bet that you do, George.
Michael, sadly you’d lose that bet. I was busy raising Patrick (born in 1983) and Katie (born 1986) with Diane so my buying during the 1980s and early 1990s was spotty. I do buy Black Lizard books when I find them at Library Book Sales and the few used bookstores that still survive. Many of the Black Lizard titles are pricey online.
I liked Black Lizard books too. I remember the movie (though as I WAKE UP SCREAMING, not HOT SPOT). Carole Landis was hot, but she had a messed-up life and committed suicide at 29 after four marriages when Rex Harrison refused to divorce his wife Lili Palmer for her.
Jeff, Black Lizard books also had distribution problems in this area. Some of the books never showed up here so I’m always surprised when I see a paperback with those distinctive covers that I’ve never seen before.
The title is so familiar but not the author nor the film. Despite my daughter’s devotion to noir, it is not my favorite genre.
Patti, I have to be in the right mood to enjoy noir. Clearly, I was when I read I WAKE UP SCREAMING!
The original film version is a terrific piece of noir and, for my money, Mature’s best performance although he is overshadowed by the great Craig Legar (who pretty much steals the show in every film he made). Interestingly, the book was refilmed in 1953. While not nearly as good, it’s worth catching if for no other reason than the pairing of stunning look-alikes Jeanne Crain and Jean Peters. Curiously, they cast another closeted gay actor, Richard Boone, to play the Lt. Cornell role. Keep an eye open for no other than a young and gawky Aaron Spelling in the part originally played by Elisha Cook, Jr.
I’ve never picked up the novel so thanks for the reminder. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye open for it when I next hit the used book stores. Sadly, the Black Lizard imprint was sold to Random House who did nothing with it beyond slapping the logo over new editions of novels by more mainstream crime writers like Chandler, Hammett and Cain.
Byron, you’re right about the demise of noirish focus when Random House bought Black Lizard. Big corporations seldom understand the audiences of niche businesses. Remember the devotion of consumers of SNAPPLE beverages? “Made From the Best Stuff on Earth” was their marketing slogan. SNAPPLE was sold to Quaker Oats in 1994 who had no idea how to appeal to SNAPPLE’s audience. Quaker Oats paid $1.7 billion for SNAPPLE and sold it to Triarc in 1997 for $300 million after completely failing to understand the product line.
Obviously you meant Laird Cregar.
That title scares me, but your review intrigues me.
I have a few Black Lizard books with similar style of cover, two by David Goodis and one by James M. Cain.
Tracy, I own about 50 of the Black Lizard titles including Goodis and Cain. Steve Fisher is an underrated writer.
It is the Black Lizard anthologies I really like, and have several.
Rick, I love those BLACK LIZARD anthologies! First-rate!
Indeed, it was Ed Gorman’s BLACK LIZARD BOOKs OF CRIME FICTION that first caught my eye from them.
Black Lizard sent me one of their T-shirts back in the day! Oddly, it’s black with a white lizard on it!
Graphic designers like their little jokes, too.