Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy

“Rode’s colorful prose is peppered with anecdotes and recollections of friends, colleagues, and family members who help create a three-dimensional portrait of a loner who put great stock in his professionalism, but ultimately lost his grip”

“The writing mirrors the movies in which McGraw appeared. It’s fast moving and employs a direct rat-a-tat style that allows Rode to cover a lot of territory, transforming the hardened actor into a talisman for the larger societal, artistic, and business changes reshaping Tinseltown from the 1940’s through McGraw’s bizarre accidental death in 1980.”

“Alan K. Rode has hit one out of the ballpark with his new book “Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy“. The word “spellbinding” is an appropriate way to describe the style of writing and the way Rode entices the reader to continue chapter after chapter.”

“Tightly and often wittily drawn, this biography shouldn’t be overlooked by film buffs interested in the days before an industry was shaped by summer and holiday blockbusters.”

“A spellbinding account of the great noir heavy . . .  and a must-have addition to all film noir libraries. Deft biography and overall wild tale.”

“It is a terrific book, and the research is amazing . . .  buy it . . . if you’re interested in Hollywood movies of the ’40s-’50s, especially the film noirs, because it’s the history of all THAT stuff too. “

“Very little, if anything, seems to be left out.  . . . an incredible history lesson for movie enthusiasts . . . The only thing that confuses us is how Rode managed to fit such a wealth of information in just under 230 pages. We chalk it up to great writing!”

“Rode is a natural writer with a genuine love of film . . .  almost always original. Absolutely riveting . . . I highly recommend this book.”

“ . . . a colorful and illuminating study of not only an actor’s saga, but Hollywood’s evolution.”

“ . . . not only a detailed, well-researched portrait of Charles McGraw; but, a veritable who’s-who of Hollywood film noir history, including nuanced sketches of such seminal personalities as Mark Hellinger, Robert Siodmok, Bryan Foy, Johnny Rosselli, Reed Hadley, Sidney Boehm, Crane Wilbur, Walter Wanger, Daniel Mainwaring, Earl Felton, Dick Fleischer—the list goes on and on.”

“Rode is unquestionably an admirer of McGraw, and it shows in Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy”