In Man Of A Thousand Fails, award-winning writer on film noir, Bernie Dowling reviews the movies of legendary character actor Elisha Cook Jr. from his 1930s films to Stranger on the Third Floor 1940, The Maltese Falcon 1941, The Big Sleep 1946, and Cook's last film, the sometimes forgotten The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains 1987.

Dowling brings his signature blend of cultural analysis, humor, and more than 250 photos to his latest work on film noir, the genre that never dies, it just fades to black.

Generations of film goers watched in awe as Cook dazzled the screen in performances as perennial failure, desperately seeking respect and good loving.