Cornell Woolrich: First You Dream, Then You Die

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Biography
Review: Francis Nevins, to put it simply, is a wonderful writer. I don't know of anyone else who can fill 600 pages about an extremely reclusive man who stayed in one hotel room for twenty-five years and still create an excellent read. His wit never fails to criticize some of Cornell's more insane works (see the abominable "Wild Bill Hiccup") and illustrate, in a very few paragraphs, the vortex of a life, as 95% of "First You Dream" is summaries of Woolrich's writing. He selectively quotes Cornell's heavily fictionalized memoir, "Blues Of A Lifetime," with touching and hilarious comments on it. All in all, Nevins has done a revoluntionary thing: Created a biography that is part chronice, part book review, and reads like a well-paced novel. I wish I could send him a list of people I'm interested in and have him bio them. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the comparison of Alfred Hitchcock to Woolrich, or "the Woolrich of film." Hitchcock never understood that good noir movies use extensive and brilliant light/cinematography effects to bring out the claustrophobic and horrifying world of the novels on which they are based. John Huston understood it in "The Asphalt Jungle," Orson Welles understood that in "Touch Of Evil," etc. But Hitchcock uses studio-painted backgrounds, with no attempt at essential background realism essential to great noir film. Indeed, Hitchcock's attempts to film Cornell's work are pitiful, at best. Ida Lupino could have done a far better job, or any number of A-B crime director's of the day. Either way, Nevins deserves huge credit for his great work, research (stunningly exhaustive) and flair. What's so remarkable is his full portrait of Woolrich with so little information on him. May Nevins write many more great biographies and continue to ensure the survival of Woolrich's work.

NOTE: See "Night And Fear," a new collection of Cornell's stories, introduced by Nevins.


Rating:
Summary: Cornell Woolrich - Man of Mystery.
Review: Well researched glimpse into Woolrich's complete works. A fascinating look at the mystery and pulp publishing field from the late 20's to the 70's. Woolrich tended to be reclusive and not always factual in recounting his life, so Nevins Jr. can only speculate on Woolrich's approach in writing, his personal life and family history. It is a very enjoyable read becuase of the way Nevens ties in Woolrich's main obsessions - the fear of annihilation, fear of losing loved ones, the feeling of the utter lonliness of the universe, and the certainty of randomness of fate - with all of his works - and finds worthy moments even in the tawdriest of Woolrich's pulp shorts (e.g. Vampire's Honeymoon).