The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival held in Palm Springs each May, features film interpretations of many of the wonderful mystery novels written by Lyons during his lifetime. These works ranged from the obscure to the eclectic and typically were seen through the eyes and the perspective of the criminals about whom he wrote. His works were heavily weighted with crime and the sexuality of the period.
Lyons, a former Palm Springs city councilman co-founded the festival with his friend Craig Prater in 2001. The Festival, which lasts for three days features many b-movies from the forties and fifties and includes interviews with Hollywood stars some of whom acted in them. Later, Lyons added more current films such as "Pulp Fiction" in 1994 which he liked to call "Neo Noir".
Born in Los Angeles in 1946, he moved to Palm Springs when he was eleven and graduated college in 1967. He worked in the family business for a time and then began to write mystery novels. In his first novel "The Dead are Discreet", he began his career-long interest in the seedy side of criminal activity. The New York Times lauded his "pungency of his style, the neat planning and the avoidance of hokum".
Lyons hosted the annual festival dressed for the part. He often wore so called "gangster" outfits and the audience dressed in "mob" attire as well. He often invited other mystery writers such as Mickey Spillane and Hollywood actors such as Rhonda Flemming and George Montgomery who stared in the film "The Brasher Doubloon" to attend and speak to groups of his aficionados.
This year we plan to attend again as we usually do, being ardent fans of the black and white "noir" films of the 50's era. We're especially anxious to see the screening of "Experiment in Terror" the Blake Edwards directed film starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remmick.
A recent event was hosted by Stephanie Powers, star of the hit television series "Hart to Hart" which co-starred Robert Wagner. Miss Powers will be present for the showing which was released in 1962 and will also stay for a question and answer session as do all of the Festival hosts.
A myriad of Hollywood stars have previously attended the festival including June Lockhart, Don Murray, who appeared in a Hatful of Rain" in 1952, Julie Garfield, daughter of John Garfield who appeared in the 1952 production of "He Ran All the Way" and Tommy Cook, actor and producer of "Cry of the City" released 1948.
All screenings will take place at Camelot Theaters located at 2300 E. Barristo Road in Palm Springs.
Lyons, a former Palm Springs city councilman co-founded the festival with his friend Craig Prater in 2001. The Festival, which lasts for three days features many b-movies from the forties and fifties and includes interviews with Hollywood stars some of whom acted in them. Later, Lyons added more current films such as "Pulp Fiction" in 1994 which he liked to call "Neo Noir".
Born in Los Angeles in 1946, he moved to Palm Springs when he was eleven and graduated college in 1967. He worked in the family business for a time and then began to write mystery novels. In his first novel "The Dead are Discreet", he began his career-long interest in the seedy side of criminal activity. The New York Times lauded his "pungency of his style, the neat planning and the avoidance of hokum".
Lyons hosted the annual festival dressed for the part. He often wore so called "gangster" outfits and the audience dressed in "mob" attire as well. He often invited other mystery writers such as Mickey Spillane and Hollywood actors such as Rhonda Flemming and George Montgomery who stared in the film "The Brasher Doubloon" to attend and speak to groups of his aficionados.
This year we plan to attend again as we usually do, being ardent fans of the black and white "noir" films of the 50's era. We're especially anxious to see the screening of "Experiment in Terror" the Blake Edwards directed film starring Glenn Ford and Lee Remmick.
A recent event was hosted by Stephanie Powers, star of the hit television series "Hart to Hart" which co-starred Robert Wagner. Miss Powers will be present for the showing which was released in 1962 and will also stay for a question and answer session as do all of the Festival hosts.
A myriad of Hollywood stars have previously attended the festival including June Lockhart, Don Murray, who appeared in a Hatful of Rain" in 1952, Julie Garfield, daughter of John Garfield who appeared in the 1952 production of "He Ran All the Way" and Tommy Cook, actor and producer of "Cry of the City" released 1948.
All screenings will take place at Camelot Theaters located at 2300 E. Barristo Road in Palm Springs.
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