Andrew Bergman

Andrew Bergman (born 1945 in New York City) is an American screenwriter, director and author. Jack LeVine (originally Jacob Levine), a Jewish private investigator, is the protagonist of his series of “hard-boiled” noir detective novels set in 1940s New York. The novels are known for their blend of period-accurate detective fiction with Bergman’s signature comedic and satirical tone.  The Jewish component is central to both the protagonist’s identity and the books’ subversive take on the hard-boiled detective genre

The Protagonist’s Identity: Unlike the traditional “WASP” private eyes (like Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade), Jack LeVine is explicitly Jewish—described as “stocky, sweaty, and bald”. His Jewishness is a defining trait that influences his worldview and interactions in 1940s America.

Cultural Perspective: LeVine often operates as an “outsider” within the power structures of the era. The series uses his Jewish perspective to provide a satirical and often cynical look at American institutions, including Hollywood and the Cold War political landscape.

Historical Context: The novels explore themes relevant to the mid-20th-century Jewish-American experience, such as the Red Scare in Hollywood and LeVine (where a friend is suspected of being a Communist) and the personal impact of his father’s death, which is a major plot point in Tender is LeVine.

Literary Subversion: Bergman, known for his comedic writing (including Blazing Saddles), uses LeVine’s Jewish identity to inject a “flip, easy style” and wit into the typically grim noir genre, creating a “New Jew” archetype in crime fiction who relies on intellect and street smarts rather than just brawn. [Google/AI]

Bergman, Andrew, (The Big Kiss-Off of 1944 [Jack LeVine Mysteries #1]) [hc, Holt, 1974] B002DGOLJ0 [mass mkt pb, Ballantine, 1975] 978-0345244024 [pb, HarperCollins, 1983] 978-0060806736

Bergman, Andrew, (Hollywood and LeVine [Jack LeVine Mysteries #2] [hc, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1975] 978-0030138164 [pb, Ballantine, 1976] 978-0345250063

Bergman, Andrew, (Tender is LeVine [Jack LeVine Mysteries #3] [hc, Minotaur Books, 2001] 978-0312262051