University Press of Kentucky

And, um, Dan came to mind, and I reached out to him and, um, we had a phone call and, uh, we [laughs] we were off and running after, uh, just about a week, I think.

Wasn't it, Dan? Um, after consulting with the University Press of Kentucky.

So, uh, we started in October of 2024, so about two years ago.

That's awesome.

It does go back to sort of the death penalty thing.

The reason I thought we needed to do the book Final Words with the University Press of Kentucky and CUNY-

Mm

... is that even though those words are online and provided by the state of Texas, what happens if tomorrow Texas decides they no longer wanna make those words public-

Returning to the podcast for his second visit, this is Lawrence, most of us know him as Larry Kardish.

He's got a new book called Shirley Clark, The Passionate Life and Radical Works of an Exceptional Filmmaker, published by the University Press of Kentucky.

I read it, enjoyed it thoroughly.

I was happy to bring Larry back on the podcast today.

And I'm Andrew Patrick Nelson, a film historian and the chief curator at Western Spirit Scottsdale's Museum of the West.

And joining us in just a moment is author Christopher McKittrick, whose latest book, Vera Miles: The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away, was recently published by the University Press of Kentucky.

It's the first full-length biography of Miles' life and her extensive body of acting work.

Packed with new and historical interviews and rich and fascinating archival materials, Christopher's biography is a long overdue look at the prolific actress who earned the deep respect of cinema giants like John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, and Walt Disney.

Dolores Costello was married to John.

Now he returns with the full story of John Barrymore in Barrymore, The Spectacular, Tumultuous Life of America's Prince of Players from University Press of Kentucky.

I spoke with him from California.

cover of your book says barrymore the spectacular tumultuous life of america's prince of players

And the more I dug into his nearly 50 films over a 40-year career as a director, the better he looked.

The son of Max Fleischer, of Betty Boop and Popeye fame, Richard Fleischer went a different direction from his dad in the movies, winning an Oscar for a World War II documentary designed for death, and making his name as a first-rate director of B-crime thrillers at RKO before graduating to big-budget adventures in true crime films in the 50s and 60s.

Film scholar Jason Nye, who teaches film, literature, and creative writing, and has written for publications like Noir City, tells the story of Fleischer's career in Richard Fleischer Journeyman from University Press of Kentucky.

I spoke with Nye from his home in Tennessee.