Nicol Williamson’s Magic Skullcap & other essays

Richard Conte is the male face of film noir, especially for his performance as Mr. Brown, a vicious, impeccably attired gangster in Joseph H. Lewis' The Big Combo (1955).

For example, when Mr. Brown captures Cornel Wilde's police detective Leonard Diamond, he removes the hearing aid from his yes-man and one-time boss McClure (Brian Donlevy), places it in Diamond's ear, and shouts into the receiver. Diamond writes in pain.

Then he gives the receiver to one of his minions, who screams into it. Finally, he places it in front of a radio and turns up the volume. Diamond passes out.

-A Touch of Film Noir

Later in the movie King Arthur, taking a break from feasting with his men, seeks an answer to a question about life, and who better to ask than Merlin, his trusted friend and advisor?

"What is the greatest quality of life? Courage? Passion? Loyalty? Humility? What do you say, Merlin?"

But before Merlin responds, Arthur demands a straight- forward answer from him, that is, "No poetry."

Again, watch and listen to Merlin's reply: "All right then. Truth, that 's it. Yes. It must be truth, above all. When a man lies he murders some part of the world."

-Nicol Williamson's Magic Skullcap