With over 200 entries on films, directors, and actors, the. May 12, 2010 the film noir encyclopedia is a joy for noir enthusiastsa musthave for scholars, students, filmmakers, and fans. Title of a book, article or other published item this will. Signe patrick brion, cet ouvrage sinteresse, dans son premier volume, au cinema americain des annees 1912 a 1960. The parameters of film noir, as well as our knowledge of this most sinister movie genre, are greatly expanded with the recent release of film noir. 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. Lage dor du film criminel americain, dalfred hitchcock a nicholas ray. Film noir is a term coined by french critics in 1946 to describe what they considered an emerging and exciting trend in hollywood filmsone that signaled a new maturity in american cinema. Campus circle about the author john grant hewitt, nj is the scottishborn author of some 60 books, including encyclopedia of walt disneys animated characters, masters of animation, and a.
A comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir contains the most extensive coverage yet of the us output of film noir, with entries on well over 2000 us noirs and. John grantauthor or more than 60 books, many cinemarelatedpulls together more than 3,500 movie entries in a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir. Film noir simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of film noir by geoff mayer, brian mcdonnell 2007 496 pages isbn. 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. Ce genre mythique a produit des chefs doeuvre innombrables. Pages in category film noir the following 37 pages are in this category, out of 37 total. Encyclopedia of film noir geoff mayer, brian mcdonnell.
Thank heaven for the ecumenical definition of film noir used by the editors the fourth and fattest edition of the film noir encyclopedia. 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. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the classic period of american 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. Film noir is a term used to describe crime drama movies from hollywood that are often focused on sex, crime, and corruption. Classic period by alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini and robert porfirio. Encyclopedia of film noir by geoff mayer and brian mcdonnell. Its american origins are in the toughguy and hardboiled novels that became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and which, as hollywood became more liberal in the 1940s and 1950s, could more easily be adapted for the movies than.
Buy the film noir encyclopedia by alain silver editor, elizabethm ward editor, james ursini editor online at alibris. This is also a great point of reference for someone that wants to watch all the great film noir movies out there. Encyclopedia of film noir free pdf, epub, fb2, fb3. Although the hardboiled detective is the stereotypical noir hero, the central male characters in film. An oppressive atmosphere of menace, pessimism, anxiety. The hardcover of the a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir. Characters in many films describe themselves as walking dead men. The essential reference guide applause books grant, john on.
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. Alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini, robert porfirio eds, film noir. The genre was prevalent mostly in american crime dramas of the post world war ii era. May, 2010 enter the world of film noir, a world of darkness, ambiguity, and moral corruption. Cain 18921977, double indemnity is based upon a true story about a weakwilled insurance agent, walter huff, who falls for sultry blond, phyllis nirdlinger. 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. 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 encyclopedia of film noir is designed to provide an accessible yet scholarly, userfriendly but researchinformed, comprehensive account of the phenomenon of. Oct 22, 2015 an analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver, hardcover barnes. Campus circle about the author john grant hewitt, nj is the scottishborn author of some 60 books, including encyclopedia of walt disneys animated characters, masters of animation, and a number of movie pocket references. Every film listed in the film noir encyclopedia 4th edition. Leonard maltins movie crazy blog thank heaven for the ecumenical definition of film noir used by the editors the fourth. 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.
Many films noirs develop virtually no expectation of happy endings. Alain silver and james ursini are the authors of film noir. This adaptation of the novel features lana turner, john garfield, cecil. Even such sentimental comedydramas as frank capra s its a wonderful life 1946 have been cited as noirish by critics who find in its suicidal hero and bleak depiction of smalltown life a tone. A companion to film noir encyclopedia 4th edition neonoir list. The compendium is venerable30 years and countingbut the overall acuity of the opinions expressed are still very much alive. The film noir encyclopedia directors guild of america. 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. This is an az encyclopedia and is probably the most useful in terms of tracking down more obscure items. Robert benton, writer of bonnie and clyde this is certainly an important book to have on your shelf. Film noir is responsible for many classic films from the 1940s and into the 1960s, with many of the noir conventions showing up in filmsthe successful and the less soin the years since. The essential reference guide by john grant 20, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The heroes of noir generally share certain qualities, such as moral ambiguity, a fatalistic outlook, and alienation from society. The term film noir comes from the french term for black film or dark film.
Neo noir by alain silver, elizabeth ward, james ursini and robert porfirio a companion to the film noir encyclopedia 4th edition. 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. John grants a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir will please newcomers and obsessives with the attention to detail and gorgeous photographs. The term translates into english as black film, and the darkness to which it refers applies both to the grim themes and events in many of these. Even jaded enthusiasts who complain of its flaws, omissions, and inconsistencies will love this magnificent volume. The best books on film noir five books expert recommendations. They also exhibit an existential acceptance of random, arbitrary occurrences as being the determining factors in life. The film noir encyclopedia by alain silver, hardcover. Meet the cynical and obsessive heroes of film noir portrayed by actors like humphrey bogart, peter lorre, james cageny, joan crawford, and bette davis. Complete film noir 1940 thru 1965 page 2 of 15 consensus film noir 1940 thru 1959 19601965 iinternet movie database 23march2011 efilm noir encyclopedia.
The genre known as film noir emerged from economic, political, and moral crises in european and american cultures in the years leading up to world war ii. The encyclopedia the overlook press, 2010 lee horsley, lancaster university. Film noir of this era is associated with a lowkey, blackandwhite visual style that has roots in german. 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. Therefore, the composition of this list may be controversial. Double indemnity 1935 is one of the classic, toughtalking murder stories of the late 1930s. Film noir films mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites thematically showed the dark and inhumane side of human nature with cynicism and doomed love, and they emphasized the brutal, unhealthy, nihilistic, seamy, shadowy, dark and sadistic sides of the human experience. Film noir uncyclopedia, the contentfree encyclopedia. A companion to film noir encyclopedia 4th edition neo noir list. Encyclopedia of film noir mayer, geoff, mcdonnell, brian on. The encyclopaedia will walk through the history of these great films and offer little tidbits. His articles have appeared in numerous film journals, newspapers, and online magazines. Film noir is not a clearly defined genre see here for details on the characteristics.
Limelight editions, new york 2002, isbn 0879109610. Retrouvez a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir. Oh, wikipedia said it was a style of film with a narrative that is centered on a lone figure in a quest to achieve redemption, righting previous wrongs and throwing financial reward away for a more personal one. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that youve provided to them or that theyve collected from your use of their services. The postman always rings twice is a 1946 drama film noir based on the 1934 novel of the same name by james m. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. The encyclopedia a revised and redesigned fourth edition of the classic pioneering text that movie lovers consider the final word on the cinematic world of fog and shadows. Oct 01, 20 john grants a comprehensive encyclopedia of film noir will please newcomers and obsessives with the attention to detail and gorgeous photographs. The film noir encyclopedia, overlook hardcover, 2010, isbn 9781590201442. 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. Especially if you are a fan of all things film noir. Cain whose the postman always rings twice appeared five years later, and popularized in pulp magazines such as black mask. Film noir 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. An analysis of the low budget and series film noirs provides information on those cult classics.
Complete film noir 1940 thru 1965 page 1 of 15 consensus. 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. Genre mythique dune exceptionnelle richesse, le film noir americain a donne naissance, depuis plus dun siecle, a des figures legendaires et. Often bathed in gloomy shadows, the ominous mood of the films. This narrative can often be in the form of a protagonist voiceover, a flawed, but. Film noir oxford research encyclopedia of criminology. Limelight editions, new york 2004, isbn 0879103051. A handsome, armstraining book which has massive, ambitious coverage. The compendium is venerable30 years and countingbut the overall.
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