General overview of film noir and covering its most important themes chapter by chapter. An analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. When viewers think of film noir, they often picture actors like humphrey bogart playing characters like sam spade in the maltese falcon, the film based on the book by dashiell hammett. A handsome, armstraining book which has massive, ambitious coverage. Enter the world of film noir, a world of darkness, ambiguity, and moral corruption. Unfortunately, the books potential standing as the authoritative film noir encyclopedia is undermined by exceptionally sloppy proofreading and editing. It contains production credits, plot summaries, and brief analyses of hundreds of films noirs. In 1946, french film critics coined the term film noir, meaning black or dark film, to describe a newly emergent quality in wartime hollywood films. The essential reference guide 20, provides some recurring elements to film noir, stating, the noirish worldview is typically nihilistic there may or may not be a femme fatale presentthat male protagonist may find himself trapped irrevocably in the noir quicksand. Even jaded enthusiasts who complain of its flaws, omissions, and inconsistencies will love this magnificent volume. Robert benton, writer of bonnie and clyde this is certainly an important book to have on your shelf. An analysis of subgenres, and the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. I first bought this classic reference book in the early 1980s a battered secondhand copy of the 1979 random house edition, edited by alain silver and elizabeth ward.
The complete guide to film and the film industry the film noir encyclopedia a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir. While i cant say this is book that you read but this is a worth having on your shelf. An analysis of the low funds and assortment film noirs provides information on these cult classics. May 22, 2014 this was the book that started it all, the first study from french critics of what they saw as the darkening of the american film, or film noir. The primary literary influence on film noir was the hardboiled school of american detective and crime fiction, led in its early years by such writers as dashiell hammett whose first novel, red harvest, was published in 1929 and james m. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver, hardcover. Therefore, the composition of this list may be controversial. This encyclopedia is a valuable addition to any film noir library. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver, hardcover barnes. This extensive encyclopedia describes movies from noirs earliest days and even before, looking at some of noirs ancestors in us and european cinema as well as noirs more recent offshoots, from neonoirs to erotic thrillers. Immediately after a man is hanged for killing kendalls aunt, grodman, who was responsible for the mans conviction, learns the man was innocent. Encyclopedia of film noir geoff mayer, brian mcdonnell. Oct 22, 2015 an analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. Film noir simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Leonard maltins movie crazy blog thank heaven for the ecumenical definition of film noir used by the editors the fourth and fattest edition of the film noir encyclopedia. May, 2010 alain silver and james ursini are the authors of film noir. Alain silver and james ursini are the authors of film noir. Encyclopedia of film noir free pdf, epub, fb2, fb3. Encyclopedia of film noir mayer, geoff, mcdonnell, brian on. Buy the film noir encyclopedia by alain silver editor, elizabethm ward editor, james ursini editor online at alibris. This illustrated book provides instant and indepth access to the film noir genre. Alain silver is also the author of the samurai film, and coauthor of. The hardcover of the the film noir encyclopedia by alain silver at.
To minimize dispute the films included here should preferably feature a footnote linking to a reliable, published source which states that the mentioned film is considered to be a film noir by an expert in this field, e. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver and james ursini 2004, paperback at the best online prices at. The genre was prevalent mostly in american crime dramas of the post world war ii era. Grodman is forced to resign from scotland yard and is replaced by buckley. May 27, 2010 film noir distills postwar anxiety into an existential cocktail that can still induce the spins, and this encyclopedic text, updated from previous editions, is a great place to start drinking.
This film noir encyclopedia pulls noir from the shadows popmatters. By the time the term caught on in english more than a decade later, film noir had come to mean a historically superseded film movement. Every film listed in the film noir encyclopedia 4th edition. The essential reference guide encyclopedia of film noir pulp fiction to film noir. May 12, 2010 the film noir encyclopedia is an instructive, analytical, intellectual approach to film noir. One of the first and best books in english about film noir was 1979s film. Every study of noir owes a debt to the foundation that was laid here by borde and chaumeton, who isolated many of the films, filmmakers, and themes that noir geeks are still talking about today.
The compendium is venerable30 years and countingbut the overall. Sun post weekly the publication of an updated film noir. The book is surprisingly uptodate and is a must have for anyone that enjoys movies especially film noir. At that time, the term signified an unexpected strain of maturity in contemporary american film, marking the end of a creatively ossified era and the beginning of a bold new one. The first booklength study of film noir, raymond borde and etienne chaumetons panorama du film noir americain, appeared in 1955. The encyclopedia and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It is a very comprehensive work on the film noir culture. Brian mcdonnell new zealandbased film studies scholars mayer and mcdonnell list and describe approximately films, actors, and directors of the film noir genre in alphabetically arranged entries. The best books on film noir five books expert recommendations. I love lists and encyclopedias that help me pick out good stuff to watch.
The film noir encyclopedia is a joy for noir enthusiastsa musthave for scholars, students, filmmakers, and fans. Alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini, robert porfirio eds, film noir. The cynical and stylish perspective of classic film noir had a formative effect on the cyberpunk genre of science fiction that emerged in the early 1980s. Film noir distills postwar anxiety into an existential cocktail that can still induce the spins, and this encyclopedic text, updated from previous editions, is a great place to start drinking. You may encounter a guntoting gangster, a femme fatale wrapped in fur, a detective with the brim of his hat turned down, or a desperate murderer lurking in the shadows of a doorway. The encyclopedia fills you in on what came before and after, be it back in noirs heyday or in its more recent neonoir incarnations. Edited by scholars alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini, and robert porfirio, this encyclopedia is the first completely new and updated edition of the. Check out the best film noir books on our website now. Just about any information that you will want to know about the film noir classics will be found in this work. One could say those are defining traits of the genre if one is. There are certainly books on film noir that might display more engaging prose, be more accessible to the casual fan, or just outandout be more noirish and sexy. Its fitting that so many films noir revolve around mystery and ambiguity. Presents an overview of the characters, themes, and motifs featured in film noir, including contemporary contributions to the genre.
A companion to film noir encyclopedia 4th edition neonoir list. May, 2010 enter the world of film noir, a world of darkness, ambiguity, and moral corruption. This was the book that started it all, the first study from french critics of what they saw as the darkening of the american film, or film noir. I first bought this classic reference book in the early 1980s a battered secondhand copy of the 1979 random house edition, edited by. With over 200 entries on films, directors, and actors, the encyclopedia of film noir might be probably the most full helpful useful resource for film followers, school college students, and college students. General overview of film noir and covering its most important themes chap. This is an az encyclopedia and is probably the most useful. This is particularly disappointing in a hardcover book with such reputable contributors which is up to its fourth edition.
Film noir is not a clearly defined genre see here for details on the characteristics. Film noir is a term used to describe crime drama movies from hollywood that are often focused on sex, crime, and corruption film noir movies were mostly made from the early 1940s to the late 1950s in the united states, and they were usually filmed in blackandwhite. Covering nearly 100 years of cinema, the books earliest entry is chester m. Classic period by alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini and robert porfirio.
Jul 19, 2014 author john grant has assembled a massive tome cataloging film noir that rightly deserves to be called a comprehensive encyclopedia. These three critical perspectivesthat of the mid1940s, describing a vibrant. Meet the cynical and obsessive heroes of film noir portrayed by actors like. This book is a reference book and not the type of book you just sit down and read for fun. The film noir encyclopedia silver, alain, ward, elizabethm, ursini, james on. Over the books 700plus pages, there are entries for more than 3,250 films, beginning with stephen gaghans abandon 2002 and ending with john penneys zyzzyx rd 2005. It contains production credits, plot summmaries, and brief analyses of hundreds of films noirs, as well as excellent appendices which include summaries of the film noir genre and a chronology. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver and james ursini 2004, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. A list of 412 films compiled on letterboxd, including abandoned 1949, the accused 1949, ace in the hole 1951, act of violence 1949 and affair in havana 1957. The authors first examine the debate surrounding the parameters of the genre and the many different ways it is defined. Jul 20, 2010 unfortunately, the book s potential standing as the authoritative film noir encyclopedia is undermined by exceptionally sloppy proofreading and editing. The great depression and the development of a genre. This is an az encyclopedia and is probably the most useful in terms of tracking down more obscure items.
The encyclopedia of film noir is designed to provide an accessible yet scholarly, userfriendly but researchinformed, comprehensive account of the phenomenon of. You may encounter a guntoting gangster, a femme fatale wrapped in fur, a detective with the brim of his hat turned down, or a desperate murderer lurking. To minimize dispute the films included here should preferably feature a footnote linking to a reliable, published source which states that the mentioned film is considered to be a film noir by an. The film noir encyclopedia, book by alain silver hardcover. When viewers think of film noir, they often picture actors like humphrey bogart playing characters like sam spade in the maltese falcon, the film based on the. The essential reference guide applause books john grant on. Presents an overview of the characters, themes, and motifs featured in film noir, including contemporary contributions to. The essential reference guide by john grant 20, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The encyclopedia by alain silver editor, elizabeth ward editor, james ursini editor online at alibris.
The term film noir comes from the french term for black film or dark film. The film noir encyclopedia directors guild of america. Cain whose the postman always rings twice appeared five years later, and popularized in pulp magazines such as black mask. With over 200 entries on films, directors, and actors, the encyclopedia of film noir is the most complete resource for film fans, students, and scholars. Thank heaven for the ecumenical definition of film noir used by the editors the fourth and fattest edition of the film noir encyclopedia. The essential reference guide john grant limelight editions, 20 though your typical movie fan is going to have a good feel for what makes a flick film noir, the definition can be slippery if you try to pin it down. It has a definite feel, but is at the same time imprecise in its boundaries. The 101 best film noir posters from the 1940s1950s the film encyclopedia 7e. John grant, in his book a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir. Hardcover, 511 pages published january 1st 2010 by overlook duckworth.
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