About this item
Highlights
- Film noir is a uniquely American genre that has stylistic links to the German expressionist cinema of the 1920s and thematic links to the hard-boiled crime fiction that emerged in the 1930s.
- About the Author: Film historian Michael L. Stephens lives in Savannah, Georgia.
- 436 Pages
- Performing Arts, Film
Description
Book Synopsis
Film noir is a uniquely American genre that has stylistic links to the German expressionist cinema of the 1920s and thematic links to the hard-boiled crime fiction that emerged in the 1930s. Generally the milieu is urban and middle class, and the overall feel is one of repression and fatalism. Whether shot in black and white or color, the style reinforces the overall feel.
Films, directors, actors, producers, screenwriters, art directors, themes, plot devices and many other elements are contained in this encyclopedic reference work. Each movie entry includes full filmographic data (studio, running time, production and cast credits, and plot synopsis) along with an analysis of its place in the genre. Biographical entries focus on the person's role in noir and provide a complete filmography of their film noir work. Terms are placed in the context of the genre and relevant examples from films are given.
Review Quotes
"excellent introduction to film noir...highly recommended for public libraries and any library with a film collection"-Library Journal; "unique"-John Kenneth Muir, Reflections on Film/TV; "provides a much-needed service to classic noir scholars"-Analytical & Enumerative Bibliography; "a comprehensive illustrated reference book...can't put it down category...thoroughly recommended"-BBC International; "a good, one volume guide book through one of Hollywood's most creative movements"-Movie Collector's World; "an important source, full of clearly and succinctly written entries that should appeal to both scholars and fans"-ARBA.
About the Author
Film historian Michael L. Stephens lives in Savannah, Georgia. He is also the author of Art Directors in Cinema (1998) and Gangster Films (1996).
