Yesterday
marked what would have been the 100th birthday of Mickey
Spillane. Spillane was one of – if not THE -- most influential
mystery writers of the twentieth century, certainly the last half.
And surely the top seller. At one point seven of the top ten best
selling mysteries carried the Spilane byline. When one of his many
critics lamented that fact, Spillane famously quipped: “They're
lucky I didn't write three more.”
I
had the distinct honor and privilege of meeting and spending a couple
of days around Mr. Spillane back in the summer of 1996, on the set of
Max Allan Collins' film, Mommy 2: Mommy's Day. In the
accompanying picture, left to right, you see Mr. Spillane, Lynn F.
Myers (a mutual friend), myself, and Max. Spillane had a starring
role as Mommy's lawyer, I had a non-speaking bit part as a prison
guard who wheels Mommy to the lethal injection chamber. (SPOILER
ALERT: Mommy turns the tables so that doesn't quite work out.)
When
Collins first invited me to come be a part of the filming, I
naturally agreed. Then wisecracked: “Do I get to be a prison guard
for the women's shower scene?” To which Max sternly replied there
was no women's shower scene. Still trying to be a smart ass, I
asked why do a women's prison movie without a shower scene? But Max
remained unamused. He took his planned movie very seriously and
rightfully so – it turned out to be an entertaining, much-acclaimed
film. It's available on DVD, if you're interested – and I'm not
encouraging that because of my meager part, but rather because it's a
nifty little thriller that I think you will enjoy. In addition to
Spillane, it stars Patty McCormick, Gary Sandy (from WKRP In
Cincinatti), and Paul Peterson (from The Donna Reed Show).
But
the main gist of this post is to recognize, on what would have been
his 100th birthday, the power and importance of Mickey
Spillane and his work.
Thanks
to the strength of his writing and to the continuing efforts of Max
Allan Collins (at the urging of Mickey before he died) to complete
many of Spillane's partial manuscripts, his work continues to be
enjoyed by millions yet today.
As
for me, I'll always not only have the satisfaction of enjoying said
work, I also will have the memory of meeting Mr. Spillane in person
and finding him to be every bit as cordial and engaging as you would
hope for one of your heroes (and influences) to be.
Happy
birthday, Mickey!
