In 1959 Chubby Checker, later famed for such dance records as “The Twist”, “Let’s Twist Again”, and “Limbo Rock”, released his first single, “The Class”. Written by Kal Mann, the lyricist of Elvis Pre...

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Forget Paddington, Rupert, Winnie the Pooh, or any other fictional bears – their adventures pale in comparison to the escapades of Private Wojtek, the soldier bear of World War 2.

The first academic review for my latest book, in the January 2026 issue of Historical Journal of Film,Radio, and Television, offers a solid snapshot of the individual chapters and provides an enthusia...

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YouTube video by frank krutnik

I’ve long been an admirer of the remarkable run of songs Evie Sands delivered in the 1960s, but getting hold of them has been a frustrating experience. Sands worked for several record labels in that e...

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As I consider in my recent book Thrillers, Chillers, and Killers: Radio and Film Noir, the notion of creative authorship was crucial to establishing the quality credentials of radio’s much lauded thri...

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An extraordinary scene from this drug-themed French noir, directed by Henri Decoin. Featuring Jean Gabin and Lila Kedrova. For commentary, see the July 7 2025 blogpost on krutnik.com

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Featured at the Page 99 Test: Thrillers, Chillers, and Killers: Radio and Film Noir by Frank Krutnik . About the book, from the publisher:...

Writer, Film Studies Specialist, Occasional Musician

Travis Alexander considers what Billy Wilder’s “Double Indemnity” can teach us about Luigi Mangione and the insurance crisis.

The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (aka. the Hays Code) featured a section entitled “Repellent Subjects”, which identified several topics that “must be treated within the careful limits of goo...

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4/5: I wanted to read this book because I love mysteries, any way that I can get them. I have never heard a mystery on the radio, but I've seen them in movies, and I've always wondered about what life...

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