'Nero Wolfe' Author REX STOUT Chats About Writing | The Dick Cavett Show

[@philipmonihan8222]

Rex Stout shooting the breeze with Eartha Kitt. This is precious!

[@JSB1882]

I always liked the character of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. My favorite TV version was the one with Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton.

[@williampotter2098]

It was a sin that TV show only lasted two years with only 27 episodes. It was just excellent. The casting was excellent, although making Archie have a lower class street accent was unfortunate. In the books, he mixes with the upper class very well. His girlfriend was Lily Rowan, a rich heiress and socialite. The settings of the brownstone and the storylines were true to the books. The wardrobe was fantastic. The characters were played by an ensemble cast that was wonderfully talented. The acting is excellent. There just was nothing wrong with the series (except for Archie's accent). I wish every book could have been made into an episode. There have been very few other shows using the Nero Wolfe stories and most have butchered them badly. This show was spot on. Really, one of the best TV series ever made.

[@oceanbrzzz]

I love that series

[@olegyamleq7796]

i am watching the series now!!! old timey goodness. love the show. Maury Chaykin is greattttttttttttt

[@slodude66]

The writer Florence King said, at the time, that Nero Wolfe was the most adult show ever television. That's why it was cancelled.

[@LazarusRose]

This is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. As a lifelong fan of Nero Wolfe and Rex Stout, and now most definitely a fan of Dick Cavett, I'm officially overjoyed. What an unexpected and historic gem this conversation is.

[@koyore]

Thank you for sharing this. .fascinating man Red Stout. Earth's Kitt such a.delightful bonus!

[@Pantaneira]

I love Rex Stout

[@allysoncheynes1216]

The greatest detective writer who ever lived.

[@dec4807]

Second best. As Harry Reasoner once called him "The American Conan Doyle."

[@Faterson2007]

@@dec4807 Nah, Stout is clearly better in terms of literary skills. But why argue when it makes no sense? (Here comes Agatha Christie...)

[@dec4807]

@@Faterson2007 Especially when I agree, as you have stated the question. AC is not in that league.

[@williampotter2098]

@@Faterson2007 You are a reasonable person. You must be the last one left in the world. Thank you.

[@MothGirl007]

I've just discovered him and am so glad I did. The Nero Wolfe books are super addicting!

[@user-ye2ge4zo5lhennypenny]

Love ❤ Nero Wolfe...miss these old talk shows!

[@morefiction3264]

What a pleasure meeting Rex Stout, and what a witty conversation.

[@charlespehlivanian4799]

Aside from Rex Stout, Eartha Kitt was a delight

[@chadwedul1787]

I always wished Cavett would just stifle his ego and allow his guests to speak. Nobody watched to hear him talk about Groucho. Stout was absolutely brilliant. His first drafts were left unedited. There was nothing to change. His characters never aged, so each book is separate and complete unto itself, no matter what year the events take place. Also, unlike Holmes or other detectives, the reader is given all the clues that are used to solve the mystery. Brilliant!

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Cavett really did a terrible interview with Mr. Stout, who was around 82-83 at the time and still sharp as a tack. He was a Renaissance Man. He created a bookkeeping system that made him rich; captained Teddy Roosevelt's yacht. His first Nero Wolfe novel was Fer-de-Lance at 48 in 1934. "The Doorbell Rang" was anti-FBI and anti-Hoover. I think he just winged it. Mr. Stout was quite charming. I still enjoyed. His last novel was "A Family Affair" in 1975, which some Stout devotees called his Nixon book. Watergate very much troubled him. He would be apoplectic at what's been happening in the 21st century!

[@williampotter2098]

bovnyccc operlover ...... You are very right. Stout deserves a two hour interview. He had lived many lives. Cavett did "wing it". Just another unknown celebrity for him to do 10 minutes with. And now a word from our sponsor.

[@john-paulderosa7217]

I agree. He was unprepared as he often was and tried to get by with phoney charm. Eartha Kitt called him on it!

[@anthonyshaw4083]

I bow to no one in my admiration for Rex Stout, but no he didn't captain Teddy's yacht: he served on it but not as captain.

[@michaelcase8574]

I always saw the resemblance between Nero Wolf and Sherlock Holmes brother Mycroft. Both very large men who can solve problems from the comfort of their own homes or in Mycroft's case the Diogenese club.

[@os5573]

I would have liked to hear what he thought of Sidney Greenstreet's portrayal of his character in The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe radio drama!

[@stephenspence1192]

How lovely to see Mr Stout in this interview . I am a great fan of Nero Wolfe Novels. Mr Stout had a very distinctive voice the timbre of which reminds me a little of Phil Harris. Thank you for the upload.

[@ottolinder3031]

I love how Dick made a reference to Irene Adler, a character in sherlock holmes, and then passed it of as he didnt know just because he realized nobody understood.

[@kamuelalee]

Wow, wish they still had witty, intelligent talk shows around, like Dick Cavett's show.

[@williampotter2098]

But then we wouldn't have people like the Kardashians.

[@user-ye2ge4zo5lhennypenny]

My favourite version is with William Conrad as Nero Wolfe ❤

[@stephenstephen1505]

A very interesting conversation. He was a very interesting guy

[@oceanhedonist265]

Wow, Grover Cleveland was President of the US when this man was born.

[@robertshanks3674]

wow ertha kitt is beauty and elegance and william holden looks like a middle aged ken doll!

[@loralou-djflowerdove]

Rex purses his lips like Nero...lol

[@clonie9963]

Have a cigar

[@philiphalpenny3783]

@Magpie "which one's Pink?"

[@ModMokkaMatti]

@@philiphalpenny3783 It's J. Edgar Fink.

[@Frinxmodi]

It's funny how we think mysteries as classics and these were considered lower form of literature then ( they were basically vampire stories of their time ) 😅

[@CaptainXJ]

He would have loved Disney's lawyer.

[@JamesSimmons-d1t]

Walter Connolly and Lionel Stander were peak version...1937. I seem to remember Shatner as oily sexist version of Archie in an unsold pilot.

[@marksingleton2739]

Must disagree with you. Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton are the best example on film. If you have not seen that series, you truly owe it to yourself as a Nero Wolfe fan. Really.

[@kevinmac1989]

Who is the woman

[@shanegreen1677]

Eartha Kitt

[@williampotter2098]

Probably best remembered for the Christmas song "Santa Baby". An exotic woman of the time. Very intelligent lady too.

[@kevinmac1989]

@@williampotter2098 If she didn’t, bet she was considered for a Bond song at some point.

[@chrishlady]

Not to mention, one of the three Catwomen on the Batman TV series, and s B9nd girl.

[@xo6910]

Shame that Dick Cavett did not better prepare for this interview - embarrassing.

[@jeanieq6153]

The Wolfe Pack is a society devoted to the enjoyment of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. nerowolfeorg

[@williampotter2098]

Thanks for the reminder. Think I'll now go down that rabbit hole online for a couple of hours.

[@UnchartedX]

I've been a member. I greatly enjoyed a dinner with the wolfe pack several years ago in sanfrancisco, with dishes served from nero wolfe's gourmet cookbook - which we own. I have a decent audience here on youtube, one of these days I'm going to do a proper series of video on stout, wolfe, and the excellent 2 season series of tv shows that was produced

[@marksingleton2739]

@@UnchartedX Please do so. The more information about Stout and Wolfe out there, the better. I would dearly love for someone to republish the entirety of Stouts' works in quality hardcovers. Perhaps even leather bound.