Academy Award winning director Brian De Palma, with the assistance of Susan Lehman, delivers a high-octane political thriller just in time for Super Tuesday. Philandering Senator Lee Rogers opens the door to seduction and political peril when he accepts the offer of a beautiful young videographer to join his campaign. The Senator’s wife suffers from Parkinson’s disease and her medical problems allow Rogers to roam from one sexual experience to another. But Fate has the Senator in its cross-hairs as a shocking incident occurs atop the Eiffel Tower. Fans of De Palma’s movies know what to expect: suspense, thrills, and a surprising conclusion! Don’t miss this Hard Case Crime original! Do you have a favorite Brian De Palma movie? GRADE: B+
Politician, ill wife, beautiful videographer? Where (I wonder) do they get these ideas?
I am so far behind in reading the Hard Case books I am ashamed of myself, but I will scoop this one up as soon as possible.
And, yes, I am a big de Palma fan; I have been since CARRIE.
Jerry, John Edwards might have been the model for the Senator in this book. I drop what I’m doing and start reading a new Hard Case Crime book whenever it arrives! Loved CARRIE!
Although I have no real interest in reading this book, I’m a huge fan of de Palma the director. From “Carrie” in the early 70s through “Femme Fatale” thirty years later his name has been a virtual guarantee of quality. Picking a few favorites from his filmography is tough because there are so many. I’d go with “Carrie”, “Dressed to Kill” and “Body Double”. There have been a few duds like “Bonfire of the Vanities”, but nobody can be expected to make that many movies without an occasional misfire.
Michael, I agree with you on “Dressed to Kill” and “Body Double.” I first saw those two movies in a film course.
De Palma has never been nominated for an Academy Award although The Untouchables won for best picture
My favorite De Palma film would be Blow Out followed by Carrie and Casualties of War. The Untouchables was very well done but plays fast and loose with history. Frank Nitti as a blond hitman?
Steve, De Palma has enjoyed a successful career. I need to watch BLOW OUT again. When THE UNTOUCHABLES first came out, I saw it and was wowed!
Ann and I both had the same impression of THEUNTOUCHABLES when we watched it: it was so unbelievable for a supposedly true story that we didn’t enjoy it at all.
The Untouchables did NOT win for Best Picture, Steve. In fact, it wasn’t even nominated. Sean Connery was the only winner.
Carrie was NOT his earliest, or even close. I liked Greetings and Hi, Mom! (my future brother in law had a small role in these, as well as in such classics as Putney Swope and Where’s Poppa). Then there was the classic Sisters, filmed in Staten Island. I’d go with Sisters and Carrie.
Let me add that unlike many who consider it a classic, I hated Scarface. It was stupid.
Jeff, I’m not a fan of SCARFACE, either. But somehow SCARFACE has become an iconic movie.
My mistake. Sorry. I looked at Wikipedia and misread the info.
Jeff, I must confess I’ve not seen SISTERS. I’ll have to track down a copy.
I did not say that “Carrie” was de Palma’s earliest movie, nor did I intend to diminish his earlier films in any way. I love several of them, especially “Sisters” and the underrated “Obsession”. But he was not well known to a large audience prior to “Carrie”, which was a huge hit and, for better or worse, made him into a brand name. We can disagree on “Scarface”, though. I loved it.
Got you. I know plenty of people who love SCARFACE. I’m just not one of them.
And whatever happened to Nancy Allen?
THE UNTOUCHABLES Also Won Oscars for Original Score (Morricone) and Costumes *Armani).
Ray, thanks for that info!
You say “I drop what I’m doing and start reading a new Hard Case Crime book whenever it arrives! ” It takes more than the publisher to make a “drop everything” book, it takes the author. I’ve seen this everywhere just lately, but I’m not interested. I don’t even like the cover.
Hey George, got snow?
Rick, we have 50 mph winds and blizzard conditions. We’re hunkered down for the next 24 hours! Lake Effect snow is falling in the Snow Belt south of Buffalo. Two feet of snow is expected by the time this snowstorm is over tomorrow.
Rick, I’ve read and enjoyed just about every book HARD CASE CRIME published. They’ve reprinted many books that have been out-of-print for decades.
I’ve got this one in the TBR pile.
Guess I’ll move it to the top now.
Beth, you’ll find ARE SNAKES NECESSARY? almost as cool as a Nordic cruise!
One of my college art teachers was DePalma’s brother, Barton! I don’t follow Brian’s career so I didn’t know he directed a lot of these movies until people mentioned them! Since I’m not a horror fan, I missed some of his output but I did see The Untouchables, Where’s Poppa!, and a few others! None of them were Oscar bait in my book!
Bob, I’m always impressed by all the famous people you know or have had contact with!
He didn’t direct Where”s Poppa.
Someone mentioned it, above! I must have gotten it discapnbobulated!
Cover art by?
Rebecca, the cover artwork is an original painting by Paul Mann.