Wed 27 Jul 2011
Reviewed by Dan Stumpf: BORDEN CHASE – Diamonds of Death.
Posted by Steve under Pulp Fiction , Reviews[3] Comments
BORDEN CHASE – Diamonds of Death. Hart, paperback original, 1947. First serialized as “Blue-White and Perfect,” Argosy, 18 Sept-23 Oct, 1937. Filmed as Blue, White and Perfect, 1941.
A while back, I reviewed Borden Chase’s novel Red River and found it surprisingly hammy from a writer known for his laconic screenplays. So I decided to give him another try and fished out Diamonds of Death (Hart, 1947) the first novel edition of Chase’s pulp novel, “Blue-White and Perfect.”
This is that rarity, a dumb mystery that doesn’t insult one’s intelligence. The “surprise” criminal may be obvious early on, but Chase speeds his story through so many curves one hasn’t time to carp, as hero Smooth Kyle (I guess some folks don’t care what they name their kids) chases diamond smugglers from Broadway to Havana and back again.
Chase provides his hero with a wise-cracking girlfriend, buddies in the Customs Office, and enough bad guys to felonize a dozen books like this, ranging from cheap hoods to smooth operators, phony dowagers, fake cops…
I could go on, but readers of this sort of thing have met them before, and those who haven’t probably couldn’t appreciate the pulpy splendor of the piece, as Chase fills his story with glittering diamonds, luxury liners, exploding airplanes and elegant mansions, all of which impart a feel of extravagance without actually costing anything to write about.
I’ll just add that the original pulp novel was bought by Fox for their “Michael Shayne” series back in the 40s, movies notable for pace, casting, and for the fact that the producers used only one Mike Shayne novel in the whole series, apparently preferring to impose their hero into stories by other authors, including Clayton Rawson, Frederick Nebel and even Raymond Chandler!
Anyway, Borden Chase’s story suits the character quite well, and reading this one can almost hear Lloyd Nolan’s snappy banter as he stalks through the studio back lot.
Editorial Comment: I think you can make it out on the cover of the Argosy magazine that contained the first installment of the pulp novel, but in case not, it refers to the fact that this was a return engagement for Smooth and Gilda. Collectors of Argosy, can you help me out? What earlier appearances were there?
July 27th, 2011 at 10:47 am
In addition to this serial in ARGOSY, I know of two earlier serials starring Smooth Kyle and Gilda.
The first one was 7 parts commencing in the October 12, 1935 issue, titled MIDNIGHT TAXI. The second one also was 7 parts commencing in the January 11, 1936 issues, titled ONCE FOR A THOUSAND.
I looked through the other serials by Borden Chase but they appear to be about sandhogs and tunnel building.
July 27th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for the almost instant response, Walker. I didn’t know if you’d be spending much time at the computer today, considering that you’ll be be speeding off for Columbus soon and this year’s PulpFest. Wish I could be going, but not this year, alas. It will be the first one I’ve missed in a while, counting back through the PulpCon years in beautiful downtown Dayton.
Getting back to Borden Chase, though, my first thought was, why weren’t the other two Smooth Kyle books published in book form? My second thought was, maybe it’s lucky that the third one was, given that it came out from such a tiny two-bit publisher such as Hart.
But if the first two are as good as Dan says DIAMONDS OF DEATH is, in a pulpish sort of way, maybe some current reprint publisher ought to be looking at them as possibilities for next year’s catalogue.
I have DIAMONDS OF DEATH, but I’ve never once considered reading it. Don’t know why. Maybe the cover was too ugly.
July 27th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Yes, I’ll be leaving for PulpFest tomorrow, along with 4 other demented pulp collectors. We’ve rented a van because our cars no longer are large enough to transport the pulps that we buy.
Even though I’m packing for the big trip, I always have time to read MYSTERY FILE and talk about pulps.