Film Noir – The Pocket Essential Guide
Product Description
The laconic private eye…the corrupt cop…the heist that goes wrong…the Femme Fatale with the rich husband and dim lover – all are trademark characters of the movement known as film noir, that elusive mixture of stark lighting and even starker emotions. Noir explores the dark side of post-war society – gangsters, hoodlums, prostitutes and killers – and showed how it corrupted the good and the beautiful. Many of these films are now touchstones of what we regard as ‘classic’ Hollywood – The Maltese Falcon(1941), The Big Sleep(1946), Double Indemnity(1944) and The Postman Always Rings Twice(1946). This Pocket Essential charts the progression of the noir style as a vehicle for film-makers who wanted to record the darkness at the heart of American society as it emerged from World War into Cold War. As well as an introductory essay on the origins of Film Noir, this Pocket Essential discusses all the classics from the heyday of the movement in detail and includes a handy reference section for readers who want to know more.
Whilst any title in the “Pocket Book Essentials” series is always going to be brief and should only really act as a primer for the uninitiated; the author here struggles to pin-down what “film-noir” actually is/was and proceeds to give half a dozen so-so reviews of films seemingly picked at random (several of which shouldn’t really qualify for inclusion). At least 50% of the book is then taken up with lists of information that is freely available elsewhere.
A rip-off, even at the admittedly low R.R.P.
Rating: 1 / 5
What is Film Noir ? How did it start ? Which films are the best in the genre ? The answer to these questions and many more can be found in Paul Duncan’s “Film Noir.”
The book forms part of the Pocket Essentials series which covers actors, directors and genres in handy size volumes of around 100 pages. Easy to digest and very informative.
“Film Noir” contains in depth plotlines on sven classic Noir movies from “Stranger On The Third Floor”(1940) to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”(1958). The reviews may be opinionated, but are detailed and fascinating. Duncan’s comments are witty and honest, even if you don’t agree with them all.
T book provides an overview of the genre’s history in addition to a list of pre and post Noir titles.
The most useful aspect of this guide for regular Noir watchers, and especially those new to this genre, is the forty page review of Film Noir titles from 1940 to 1960. These are at most a few lines each, but cover essential infomation including directors, cast, writers, plotlines and alternative US and UK release titles.
Next time you’re wondering if it’s worth watching one of those late night black and white movies pick up this guide and let it help you decide.
I may disagree with some of Duncan’s views…I think “Roadblock” is a classic film noir, while “Night Of The Hunter” is an overrated pice of tosh where style suffocates content.
Yet, strangely enough this book is my most thumbed film guide. Why not make it yours too ?
Rating: 4 / 5