This ttime, not one, but two reviews and an especially interesting interview. Take the time to check out the Christopher Mills interview for some fascinating talk on pulp writers, Matt Helm, Paul Cain, science fiction, and yes, even Godzilla.

First, the interview with Mills: http://www.popthought.com/display_column.asp?DAID=1616

Then, a review of the new Josh Fialkov/Jeremy Haun Top Cow Pilot Season spy book, Alibi:  http://www.popthought.com/display_column.asp?DAID=1610

And, a review of the science fiction graphic novel Vendor written by Kevin Abrams and Adam Moore, illustrated by Nicc Balce:  http://www.popthought.com/display_column.asp?DAID=1608

Why isn’t Sam Fuller’s The Crimson Kimono available in dvd? I caught the last 2/3 of it yesterday on Turner Classic. I had forgotten it was going to be on. It was a lucky break I saw any of it; I got home from work, and there it was.

It’s a lot of what you expect from Fuller. Brash. Loud. Intense close-ups. Barked dialogue. Tough men. Tougher women. The footage of circa 1959 Los Angeles is simply astounding. The chase through the parade in Little Tokyo is masterfully done. Maybe not as chaotic as the chase finale in House of Bamboo, but pretty amazing. I don’t usually notice the music in a Fuller film, but the music in the chase counterpoints the action perfectly. Then, to finish, the pull back over the city.

All the details Fuller puts into the peripheral characters, their throwaway lines, the costuming, the gestures, are there. Wigmakers. The little girl in the resturaunt. Fantastic. Fuller makes every character come alive. James Shigeta and Glenn Corbett are really good. Especially Shigeta, the torture and agony on his face in the latter stages of the film is astounding.

I love Sam Fuller films. I guess that's obvious by now. But this one stands on its merits as a good thriller, a good noir on its own. Watch for it.

This reminds me, I also need to email Criterion and see what happened to the release of White Dog. Maybe I'll recommend The Crimson Kimono at the same time.

This is actually a bone to pick with Criterion. Sacriliege you say? Indeed! But read on.

While tiling the floor today, I've been enjoying the commentary track on Jules Dassin's Night and the City. And I started thinking about how I would love to hear some real meaty Sam Fuller commentary. I had been watching Pickup on South Street last night. Nothing. In fact, there are six (6!) Fuller films available from Criterion, and none of them have commentary. And these aren't lesser films like Hell and High Water or Shark!. No - this is some of his crucial films (Shock Corridor, The Naked Kiss, Pickup on South Street) and his earliest films (I Shot Jesse James, The Baron of Arizona, The Steel Helmet). I mean, even Fox has commentary on its release of House of Bamboo.

Not to take anything away from Dassin, who I like a lot, but four of the five Dassin films from Criterion have commentary: Night and the City, Thieves' Highway, Brute Force, The Naked City. The only one out is Rififi - which in itself is an odd omission.

I had hopes that their release of White Dog would have commentary, but it seems to have disappeared from the Citerion website (http://www.criterion.com/asp/) completely. Have I lost my mind? I thought it was announced at the end of last year.

So, get James Ursini on the phone. Or Eddie Muller. Don't tell me they have nothing to say about Sam Fuller. 'Cause right now, no one is saying anything.