Baynard Kendrick
Encyclopedia
Baynard Hardwick Kendrick (1894-1977) wrote whodunit
mystery novels about Duncan Maclain, a blind private investigator who worked with his two German shepherds and his household of assistants to solve murder mysteries. The novels were the basis for two films starring Edward Arnold
, Eyes in the Night (1942) and The Hidden Eye (1945). Kendrick was credited by Stirling Silliphant
for being the source of the Longstreet (TV series)
character about a blind insurance investigator. He also wrote using the pseudonym Richard Hayward.
His book Lights Out was filmed as Bright Victory
.
he met a blind English soldier who had a remarkable ability to tell him things about himself that a person who could see may not have noticed.The Tommy
fingered Kendrick's buttons, uniform and insignia and accurately and rapidly stated Kendrick's war service record.
Following the war Kendrick sold his first story to Field and Stream magazine whilst working at Bin and Big's Hotels in New York. Kendrick was retrenched from the firm a week before Christmas in 1931 and vowed never to work for anyone again by writing. After three books Kendrick wrote for pulp magazine
s, who paid well.
Kendrick's writing reflected two personal interests that he had developed - an interest in blind people and their coping skills and an interest in the history of Florida.
During World War II, Kendrick served as an instructor for blinded veterans giving him the material for his book Lights Out.
The true story behind Kendrick's 1959 Hot Red Money was the basis for John Barron
's Operation SOLO: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin.
Kendrick was one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America
and held its first membership card.
He died in 1977.
Whodunit
A whodunit or whodunnit is a complex, plot-driven variety of the detective story in which the puzzle is the main feature of interest. The reader or viewer is provided with clues from which the identity of the perpetrator of the crime may be deduced before the solution is revealed in the final...
mystery novels about Duncan Maclain, a blind private investigator who worked with his two German shepherds and his household of assistants to solve murder mysteries. The novels were the basis for two films starring Edward Arnold
Edward Arnold (actor)
Edward Arnold was an American actor. He was born on the Lower East Side of New York City as Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider, the son of German immigrants Carl Schneider and Elizabeth Ohse.-Acting career:...
, Eyes in the Night (1942) and The Hidden Eye (1945). Kendrick was credited by Stirling Silliphant
Stirling Silliphant
Stirling Dale Silliphant was an American screenwriter and producer. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, moved to Glendale, California as a child, graduated from Hoover High School, and was educated at the University of Southern California...
for being the source of the Longstreet (TV series)
Longstreet (TV series)
Longstreet is an American crime drama series that was broadcast on the ABC in the 1971-1972 season . A 90-minute pilot movie of the same name aired prior to the debut of the series as an ABC Movie of the Week.-Synopsis:...
character about a blind insurance investigator. He also wrote using the pseudonym Richard Hayward.
His book Lights Out was filmed as Bright Victory
Bright Victory
Bright Victory is a 1951 film, adapted by Robert Buckner from Baynard Kendrick's novel Lights Out. It was directed by Mark Robson, and it stars Arthur Kennedy, Peggy Dow, Julia Adams, James Edwards, Will Geer, Nana Bryant, Jim Backus, and Rock Hudson....
.
Biography
Kendrick was born in Philadelphia and traveled to Canada as the first American citizen to enlist in the Canadian Army during World War I. He served in England, France, and Salonika. During his service, a fellow Philadelphian serving with the Canadians was blinded. When Kendrick visited him at St Dunstan'sSt Dunstan's
St Dunstan's is a large national charity in the United Kingdom, providing support, rehabilitation and respite care to blind ex-service personnel of the British Armed Forces....
he met a blind English soldier who had a remarkable ability to tell him things about himself that a person who could see may not have noticed.The Tommy
Tommy Atkins
Tommy Atkins is a term for a common soldier in the British Army that was already well established in the 19th century, but is particularly associated with World War I. It can be used as a term of reference, or as a form of address. German soldiers would call out to "Tommy" across no man's land if...
fingered Kendrick's buttons, uniform and insignia and accurately and rapidly stated Kendrick's war service record.
Following the war Kendrick sold his first story to Field and Stream magazine whilst working at Bin and Big's Hotels in New York. Kendrick was retrenched from the firm a week before Christmas in 1931 and vowed never to work for anyone again by writing. After three books Kendrick wrote for pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
s, who paid well.
Kendrick's writing reflected two personal interests that he had developed - an interest in blind people and their coping skills and an interest in the history of Florida.
During World War II, Kendrick served as an instructor for blinded veterans giving him the material for his book Lights Out.
The true story behind Kendrick's 1959 Hot Red Money was the basis for John Barron
John Barron
John Barron may refer to:* John Barron , English actor, best known for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin* John Barron , American journalist who exposed Communist activities* John Barron , Irish sportsman...
's Operation SOLO: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin.
Kendrick was one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
and held its first membership card.
He died in 1977.
Duncan Maclain novels
- The Last Express (1937)
- The Whistling Hangman (1937)
- Odor of Violets (1941) (aka Eyes in the Night)
- Blind Man's Bluff (1943)
- Death Knell (1945)
- Out of Control (1945)
- Make Mine Maclain (three novelets) (1947)
- The Murderer Who Wanted More (Dell Ten-Cent edition, 1951, one of the three novelets from Make Mine Maclain, q.v.)
- You Die Today (1952)
- Blind Allies (1954)
- Clear and Present Danger (1958)
- Reservations for Death (1958)
- The Aluminum Turtle (1960) (aka The Spear Gun Murders)
- Frankincense and Murder (1961)
Miles Standish Rice novels
- The Eleven of Diamonds (1936)
- The Iron Spiders (1936) (aka The Iron Spiders Murder)
- Death Beyond the Go-Thru (1938)
Non-series novels
- Blood on Lake Louisa (1934)
- Flames of Time (1948)
- The Tunnel (1949)
- Hot Red Money (1959)
- Flight from a Firing Wall (1966)
Further reading
- John Barron (1996), Operation SOLO: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin, Washington, Regnery.
External links
- Works by or about Baynard Kendrick at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books original editions color illustrated) - Eyes in the Night, public domain film at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
.