In Memorium

Mystery writer Joe Gores dies at 79 in California USA

Mystery writer Joe Gores — a former San Francisco private investigator whose books include "Hammett," "Come Morning" and "Spade & Archer" — has died at age 79.
A stepson says Gores died Monday. The San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times say he died of a stomach hemorrhage.
Gores wrote 16 novels and three collections of stories during his more than 40-year writing career. He may be best known for "Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's 'The Maltese Falcon,'" which was published in 2009.
Gores also wrote TV scripts for "Kojak" and "Columbo."
His first novel, "A Time of Predators," about a Stanford professor turned commando, won the Edgar Award for best first novel from the Mystery Writers of America when it was published in 1969.

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/

Bullitt director Peter Yates dies at 81

British film-maker Peter Yates, who directed such movies as Bullitt and Summer Holiday, has died aged 81.
According to his agent, he died in London on Sunday after an illness.
Bullitt, released in 1968, featured a famous chase scene in which Steve McQueen drove a Ford Mustang through San Francisco.
Yates was nominated for the best director Oscar in 1980 for Breaking Away, and again in 1984 for The Dresser.
He is survived by his wife Virginia Pope, a son and a daughter.
The family will hold a private funeral, his agent Judy Daish continued.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Yates started out as an actor before becoming an assistant director on such films as The Guns of Navarone and A Taste of Honey.
He made his directorial debut in 1963 with Cliff Richard vehicle Summer Holiday, going on to make episodes of The Saint and Danger Man.
Bullitt features a famous car chase scene with Steve McQueen, pictured left
In 1967 he wrote and directed Robbery, a heist film inspired by the Great Train Robbery of 1963.
Bullitt, his first US film, followed a year later, casting McQueen as the head of a police unit guarding a man about to testify against his mobster brother.
Following its success, Yates worked with Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman on 1969 romantic drama John and Mary, and with Peter O'Toole on Murphy's War two years later.
His other films included The Friends of Eddie Coyle with Robert Mitchum, Mother, Jugs & Speed with Raquel Welch and The Deep starring Jacqueline Bisset.