Customer Reviews

I Wake Up Screaming

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Steve Fisher's "I Wake Up Screaming" is a noir murder mystery set against the backdrop of Hollywood of the 1940s (though my copy of the book places the novel in the '50s). With Fisher's screenwriting experience, the verisimilitude of the Los Angeles and Hollywood setting is never in doubt. Peg (the male narrator) falls for Vicky Lynn, a bombshell secretary. Before long, he has enlisted the help of some friends to sponsor Vicky as they try to make her into a movie star. Soon after that, she is killed.

Police initially suspect Peg, but they soon clear him--except for one cop, a determined man named Ed Cornell, who assures Peg that he always gets his man and is never wrong. While Peg tries to get about the business of writing movies, Cornell is stalking him, trying to wear down the writer psychologically.

"I Wake Up Screaming" is a moderately gritty noir mystery written in a fast-paced, conversational style. The flavor is distinctly that of an era long past, and the novel should appeal to those who like that sort of atmosphere.

This is a maddening book! Fantastic story, written in 1941 and so right for the time, but the this book seems to have been updated in 1960 when it makes no sense!!!???? Talks about TV but a cab ride is a quarter, Movie studio producers make 250 dollars a week???!!!!

I don't know if it was just a screenplay in 1941 and Fisher than put it in novel form around 1960 or what, but very hard to read. If it doesn't bother you, read it. Great story, though.

Edition being reviewed: Bantam Books, 1960.

A dark psychological thriller that's part murder mystery and part love triangle, I Wake Up Screaming was originally published in 1941. Evidently, author Steve Fisher felt the need to redo the book in order to make it more accessible to readers in 1960. As a result, the narrative frequently refers to things not usually found in pre-WWII novels. Like television, credit cards and astronauts. Moreover, many latter day celebrities are mentioned as well. Marlon Brando, Jack Paar, Tuesday Weld, to name just three.

The narration is provided by the protagonist, a Hollywood screenwriter identified only by the nickname "Peg". His girlfriend, Vicky, a would be starlet is murdered early on and Peg becomes a suspect. As the police investigation proceeds, a love affair developes between Peg and Vicky's sister, Jill.

There's an added bonus for fans of noir fiction. Apparently, the physical description of one of the key characters, sickly LAPD detective Ed Cornell is based on that of the legendary Cornell Woolrich. So, for some readers at least, that alone will make I Wake Up Screaming a worthwhile read.

P.S. If you think you already know this story because you've seen the DVD starring Victor Mature and Betty Grable, you don't. The plot is substantially different.

Fischer wrote this first set in Hollywood and then re-wrote it (after it had been filmed) set in the 50s.

An engaging, quick read -- noir-lite.