Books on Noir

[Steve-O]

What film noir books do you have?

The latest version of one of the best is coming out soon...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4194iqyZdmL.jpg (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/1590201442)

[Martin]

Anything edited by Silver & Ursini is usually worth looking into (their "Readers", not only on Noir but on other genre cinemas too are essentials) and i'll keep an eye out for the above (love the jacket image). Recently rediscovered Foster Hirsch's "The Dark Side Of The Screen" which had me searching for some of the titles mentioned therein (which in turn led me here)

[Ashirg]

I'm currently finishing Blackout: World War II and the Origins of Film Noir (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/0801882184). A very interesting take on noir.
My next book in the pipeline, is not about noir per se, but about blacklist and that era in Hollywood - Tender Comrades: A Backstory of the Hollywood Blacklist (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/0312200315). I finally purchased Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/0786415479) - I was waiting for it to be released on paperback, but Amazon gift card made the purchase easy on my wallet. A good reference guide even if I disagree with some films included.

[David]

I just picked up another 2 - 'Noir ; Now And Then - Originals And Remakes 1944-1999', and 'Noir Is My Beat' ( a great trivia book)..

[JCharles]

I'm looking forward to the new edition of the Film Noir Encyclopedia. I learned so much from the First and Third editions!
Some other Film Noir books in my collection that I would recommend:
Out of the Past; Adventures in Film Noir by Barry Gifford (original title: The Devil Thumbs A Ride and other unforgettable films) A fun book to read.
More Than Night by James Naremore
Death On The Cheap by Arthur Lyons (Great book about B Noirs)
Detours and Lost Highways by Foster Hirsch (Chronicles Noir to Neo-Noir)
The Book of Film Noir edited by Ian Cameron (a hard one to find now)
The Big Book of Noir edited by Gorman, Server, and Greenberg (covers Film, Fiction, TV, Radio, all in the noir vein)
Hard-Boiled by Thompson and Usukawa (Lots of great quotes, stills, and Poster Repros)
All of these books are really enjoyable and have something to teach.

[David]

I'm looking forward to the new edition of the Film Noir Encyclopedia. I learned so much from the First and Third editions!
Some other Film Noir books in my collection that I would recommend:
Out of the Past; Adventures in Film Noir by Barry Gifford (original title: The Devil Thumbs A Ride and other unforgettable films) A fun book to read.
More Than Night by James Naremore
Death On The Cheap by Arthur Lyons (Great book about B Noirs)
Detours and Lost Highways by Foster Hirsch (Chronicles Noir to Neo-Noir)
The Book of Film Noir edited by Ian Cameron (a hard one to find now)
The Big Book of Noir edited by Gorman, Server, and Greenberg (covers Film, Fiction, TV, Radio, all in the noir vein)
Hard-Boiled by Thompson and Usukawa (Lots of great quotes, stills, and Poster Repros)
All of these books are really enjoyable and have something to teach.


Great list, JC - I especially love 'Book Of Film Noir' (and I'm lucky to have 2 of them)..

[Steve-O]

Death on the Cheap
Eddie Muller's Dark City (a book I recommend to anyone just getting into noir)
Selby's Dark City (a good "list of noir" book even though it isn't perfect)
Devil Thumbs a Ride (Out of the Past by Barry Gifford)
A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video by David Meyer

are all books I reference regularly.

[David]

Death on the Cheap
Eddie Muller's Dark City (a book I recommend to anyone just getting into noir)
Selby's Dark City (a good "list of noir" book even though it isn't perfect)
Devil Thumbs a Ride (Out of the Past by Barry Gifford)
A Girl and a Gun: The Complete Guide to Film Noir on Video by David Meyer

are all books I reference regularly.

I'm on my 2nd copy of Selby's DARK CITY, Steve - because I wore the heck outta the first one. I thumbed through it every couple of days from like '94
to '01-'02 - using it as a guide as I checked off the first few hundred noirs I watched. Terrific book (but how is DEVIL THUMBS not in it?!?)

[JCharles]

Thanks for the feedback David.
Three others I forgot to mention in my last post:
Raymond Chandler & Film by William Luhr; An excellent study with many biographic and film history details, Chandler as a key influence and mover in film noir is well-documented. A very enjoyable read.
Somerwhere In The Night by Nicholas Christopher: A poetic study in Film Noir
Film Noir, Reflections In A Dark Mirror by Bruce Crowther; I haven't seen this one in stores or listed in a long time. Crowther's text is a bit snooty, too much discussion on what is and isn't "true" noir, but it's got lots of great stils and profiles of actors, including the characters like Elisha Cook Jr., Laird Cregar, McGraw etc.

[JCharles]

Is Selby's Dark City still in print? I've heard of that one but have never read it. Sounds worthwhile.

[Steve-O]

Is Selby's Dark City still in print? I've heard of that one but have never read it. Sounds worthwhile.
It's worthwhile. http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/0786404787 The books kinda pricy but it's a great reference. The Movie Book of Film Noir is going for like 80 dollars at all online book stores. I should have got it when I had the chance!

of course the big daddy of all film noir books is The Panorama of American Film Noir http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/087286412X

[JCharles]

Thanks for the tip, Steve. I think I'll go for that one. I have the Panorama and enjoyed it, also

[David]

Is Selby's Dark City still in print? I've heard of that one but have never read it. Sounds worthwhile.

I'm pretty sure that I've seen it available at Amazon.com, JC. If not, there's always eBay.

[rainerc]

Is Selby's Dark City still in print? I've heard of that one but have never read it. Sounds worthwhile.

It's a good one and still available from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Dark-City-Film-Spencer-Selby/dp/0786404787/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265320911&sr=8-1

[Bob]

I guess it's just my aversion to mega corporations like Amazon and Ebay, but every book that has been mentioned here can be had through abebooks.com. The used books I have bought there have been in very decent condition and you're going to support small independant booksellars.

[JCharles]

Thanks Steve, David, and Bob for the tips on glomming Selby's tome. Now, I have to get it, no excuses.

[Steve-O]

Thanks Steve, David, and Bob for the tips on glomming Selby's tome. Now, I have to get it, no excuses.

Mr. Selby gave me permission to use one of the articles from his book on Noir of the Week: http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2007/07/woman-in-window.html

He mentioned at the time he was very unhappy with is publisher and the price of his Dark City.

[David]

This morning I ordered;

Blackout; World War II and the Origins of Film Noir

Film Noir and the Cinema of Paranoia

(both from Amazon)

[JCharles]

I read Blackout a couple of years ago and found it well-written and very interesting. It provides a somewhat different take on the origins of Film Noir, relating it very much to wartime conditions in not-so-sunny California. Well worth reading!

[David]

I read Blackout a couple of years ago and found it well-written and very interesting. It provides a somewhat different take on the origins of Film Noir, relating it very much to wartime conditions in not-so-sunny California. Well worth reading!

Oh I've read it, JC, I just didn't own a copy. Thanks though..!

[JCharles]

Another Good book I forgot to mention....Cornell Woolrich from Pulp Noir to Film Noir by Thomas C. Renzi. This tome includes articles on all the significant film noirs made from Woolrich stories. The expected ones are here (Rear Window, Deadline At Dawn, Phantom Lady, Black Angel) and some not so well known ones (The Guilty, Fall Guy, I Wouldn't Be In Your Shoes, Return of the Whistler, Mark of the Whistler). Each chapter has an overview of the Woolrichnovel and/or short stories that form the basis for one or more films and then a description and critique of the films themselves. Good stills also. It made me sorry I missed the Whistler festival they had on TCM a couple of months back.

[Ashirg]

Has anyone read this book? Any opinions about it?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZY8F7F4GL._.jpg

[JCharles]

Another book to add to the list: 100 Film Noirs by Jim Hillier and Alistair Phillips published by the British Film Institute. Many familar noirs are listed along with some lesser known films from various countries outside the U.S.A. (even Finland). Some good stills and enjoyable write-ups (about 2-3 pages per title). The authors have their own take on these titles so I felt this was a book worth having.

[Steve-O]

Thanks for the feedback David.
...
Film Noir, Reflections In A Dark Mirror by Bruce Crowther; I haven't seen this one in stores or listed in a long time. Crowther's text is a bit snooty, too much discussion on what is and isn't "true" noir, but it's got lots of great stils and profiles of actors, including the characters like Elisha Cook Jr., Laird Cregar, McGraw etc.

I picked this one up cheap on Amazon. A good book with some great stills. Thanks for the tip. I want to know if Bruce is related to Bosley Crowther (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosley_Crowther)...

[JCharles]

I picked this one up cheap on Amazon. A good book with some great stills. Thanks for the tip. I want to know if Bruce is related to Bosley Crowther (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosley_Crowther)...
I'm glad you found this one, Steve-O and that you are enjoying it. It's certainly got some unique aspects to it as a book on Film Noir. As for the relationship with Crowther, I believe Bruce is from the UK while Bosley's from Baltimore. A colonial relative?

[Hart]

Just finished this one; it was pretty informative for me and I loved some of the photos:

http://www.noirfilm.com/images/deathonthecheap.jpg

[JCharles]

Just finished this one; it was pretty informative for me and I loved some of the photos:

http://www.noirfilm.com/images/deathonthecheap.jpg
I have this one too and agree, there's a number of films reviewed here that aren't listed in other books and it's helped in my neverending search for film noir. Lyons had a good sense of humour too.

[Ashirg]

This is one of my favorite books as well. I think I read somewhere that Arthur Lyons was writing a second book on film noir at the time of his untimely death...

[BobtheGambler]

The first book on film noir I owned, I purchased it when it came out twelve years ago. I bring it up because of a passage from the synopsis of PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET: "Thelma Ritter plays Widmark's conscience, a classic tough-gal, heart-of-gold waitress. Like Widmark, she fills her pulp role with surprising depth. In a career of tough waitresses, this is Ritter's most moving performance." Excuse me? Correct me if I'm mistaken, but Moe sold ties out of a suitcase, and fingered pickpockets for supplemental income. A glaring mistake in an otherwise handy reference source.

[Haggai]

Yeah, she definitely didn't play a waitress in that movie. In fact, the whole "career of tough waitresses" line about her isn't accurate either. Most of Ritter's best-known roles were maids, nurses, or other domestic workers. I'm not sure she ever played a waitress.

[Steve-O]

The first book on film noir I owned, I purchased it when it came out twelve years ago.

David Meyer's book is excellent. He's a friend of the board and has written a few Noir of the Week articles. He's taking on one of the biggest noirs ever soon...

[BobtheGambler]

Steve-o, you should ask him about that passage re. PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, I'd be curious to know what he has to say.

[Steve-O]

Steve-o, you should ask him about that passage re. PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, I'd be curious to know what he has to say.
Good idea! I'll email him.

[Steve-O]

Does anyone have

100 Film Noirs (BFI Screen Guides) (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/1844572161) (Paperback)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wPze04MHL.jpg

I've been waiting to pick it up... can anyone recommend it?

[BobtheGambler]

There's a pretty good assessment of this book on Amazon, I recommend checking it out. I like the fact that they take a more global approach toward their subject, not just focusing on the American noirs (although I guess it makes sense since the publisher is BFI after all).

[JCharles]

RE: 100 Film Noirs, I picked it up a few weeks ago and read it right away. I enjoyed it, the write-ups are interesting, there's some good stills, and an excellent bibliography. The writers have their own take on some of the more familiar films and they also include some from other countries that I've never heard of. I do have to say there are occassional factual errors (Ex. stating that Murder My Sweet was the original title of Chandler's novel) and that it was changed to Farewell My Lovely in the UK) but they don't take away from the overall value of the book.

[David]

Definitely worth having, even for the veteran noirhead (though a newbie would probably gain more from it)..

[JCharles]

There's another good Silver and Ursini book out there I forgot to mention when this thread first appeared. As edited by Paul Duncan and published by Taschen, it is simply entitled "Film Noir". It is a coffee table type book and the text outlines the various facets of film noir (chapters include, among others, the docu-noir, The Fatalistic Nightmare, The Caper Film, and so on). The text is fine but the great value of the book is the array of high quality stills displayed liberally throughout the entire volume. Many of the stills were not familiar to me and some are even color pictures taken during the production of black and white films. (A particlualry striking one is of Farley Granger in a yellow and orange taxi at the end of Side Street). Even the stills published in other volumes are blown up and expanded in this one.
It's a slick tome with many treasures, well worth looking for.

[mkronenberg]

There's another good Silver and Ursini book out there I forgot to mention when this thread first appeared. As edited by Paul Duncan and published by Taschen, it is simply entitled "Film Noir". It is a coffee table type book and the text outlines the various facets of film noir (chapters include, among others, the docu-noir, The Fatalistic Nightmare, The Caper Film, and so on). The text is fine but the great value of the book is the array of high quality stills displayed liberally throughout the entire volume. Many of the stills were not familiar to me and some are even color pictures taken during the production of black and white films. (A particlualry striking one is of Farley Granger in a yellow and orange taxi at the end of Side Street). Even the stills published in other volumes are blown up and expanded in this one.
It's a slick tome with many treasures, well worth looking for.

That's an excellent book that I also have and refer to often. Great stills and excellently designed. I often use it as a design reference for its bold and beautiful treatment of black and white material.

[bogie]

Film Noir An Encyclopedic Reference
Alan Silver and Elizabeth Ward

[Ovader]

Film Noir An Encyclopedic Reference
Alain Silver and Elizabeth WardI have the 1992 edition and now there is a new edition published this month. My edition has errors in some of the films' descriptions such as Claire Trevor's character's name in BORN TO KILL is printed as Helen Trent instead of the correct Helen Brent. One more example regards TENSION in which it is incorrectly stated Warren Quimby comes across the dead body of Barney Deager at the beach house when in fact Barney was alive when Warren confronted him and that Barney was killed after Warren left the beach house. I wonder if these errors have been corrected in the new edition?

[Steve-O]

A discussion on Nightmare Alley got me thinking about the film. I was chatting next to a few guys at the Film Forum after a screening of While the City Sleeps and we were discussing forgotten leading men like Dana Andrews and Tyrone Power. I mentioned that Power was in a noir too: Nightmare Alley. A woman in front of me chirped in that she thought it was horrible... which surprised me. It's not as edgy as the book (excellent) but certainly a very good noir.

That brings me to my question: I remember reading an article about Nightmare Alley in an out-of-print B-Movie book that I left on the train and lost. Does anyone remember the title? Published in the 70s by a bunch of Chicago film folks (some that would later be big names in film criticism.) They also have chapters on Phil Karlson and William Castle... The book was critical of Nightmare Alley and talked about how difficult is was to make and how Power was a rising star and didn't really want to be in the film...

[Bob]

Steve -

I'd have to check my library, but I believe the book you are referring to is "King of The Bs." I still have a soiled and dog-eared copy of the original paperback. It's a great book. If I recall they also have chapters on 50s teen exploitation and Edgar Ulmer.
It can still be found for about $12-13 on Abebooks.
As for that women who termed Nightmare Alley "horrible, she is in need of a brain transplant:-)

[Steve-O]

Steve -

I'd have to check my library, but I believe the book you are referring to is "King of The Bs." I still have a soiled and dog-eared copy of the original paperback. It's a great book. If I recall they also have chapters on 50s teen exploitation and Edgar Ulmer.
It can still be found for about $12-13 on Abebooks.
As for that women who termed Nightmare Alley "horrible, she is in need of a brain transplant:-)
That's It! Thanks!

[Steve-O]

The Film Noir Encyclopedia (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/1590201442) (by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward, James Ursini, Robert Porfirio) is now shipping... can't wait to get a copy of the latest edition.

[Richard]

I'll have to get this.
I have the first edition of THE FILM NOIR ENCYCLOPEDIA and I still refer to it occasionally. Also the book by Foster Hirsch. I used to buy buy books about films and then I'd never read them, but Ive read those.


Richard

[quebecconfidential]

The Film Noir Encyclopedia (http://astore.amazon.com/noiroftheweek-20/detail/1590201442) (by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward, James Ursini, Robert Porfirio) is now shipping... can't wait to get a copy of the latest edition.

I have the before-last edition of this excellent book. It would be fun to have it compared with the newer one; if someone with both editions can do the comparison and post it here that would be great! I would expect the last edition to have more films (a couple were missing, although I can't remember one at the time of typing). So we all know if it's worth buying even when you have an older edition.
Stephane

[BobtheGambler]

I actually have four copies of the Film Noir Encyclopedia, the first second, and third editions in softcover, and a hardcover with DJ of the first edition (second printing). Sounds kinda nuts I know, but to me this is the Bible of noir, and I'm a bit of a completist.

[Ashirg]

I got the book in the mail on Friday. The book is split into 2 parts - classic noir and neo-noir. There are some nice additions and corrections compared to the previous edition, but I'm missing extensive appendices that were in that book, like the ones on Western and Period noirs, but at least I still have it in my possession. (wow, the 3rd edition was from 1993!). I wonder if they have plans for Film Noir Reader # 5....

[quebecconfidential]

There are some nice additions and corrections compared to the previous edition, but I'm missing extensive appendices that were in that book, like the ones on Western and Period noirs, but at least I still have it in my possession.

Thanks, Ashirg, I guess I'll do as you, buy 4th ed & keep my 3rd ed. Those appendices can be very useful sometimes — no appendix on Baseball noir? ;-)
Thank you again,
Stephane

[Ashirg]

Another nice book came out in April Historical Dictionary of Film Noir by Andrew Spicer. Unfortunately, it's too pricey for me now, so hopefully it will get a paperback release. But I enjoyed browsing its pages on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Dictionary-Film-Dictionaries-Literature/dp/0810859602) and there are quite many of those. Gotta love that chronology of film noir - from 1794 to 2009.

[Davidmk]

A few nights ago i was out at my local "dollar tree" store & they just got in new book shipments , they had a bunch of paperback Noir books $1 each ! from the "Hard case crime" series feat. Lawrence block ,allan guthrie , mickey spillane , david dodge .
I got 5 different titles , figured i'd post in case any of you have a dollar tree store near you & you may be able to pick a few up .

[Night Editor]

I love those Hardcase books. Their kind of pulp fiction is as addictive as crack.

The street price where you live - one way or the other - is a helluva lot less than around parts north where the books retail @ $8.99 and are never to be found for less, if found at all.

Not the end of the world, of course, thanks to online but I still like to walk into a store once in a while and find a hot bargain giving me the eye.

It happened bigtime in the Bay area last month - mostly at Moe's (World Famous) Books in Berkeley and the Book Bay Bookstore at Fort Mason in San Francisco. The back of the vehicle was sagging deep on the way the home - but then with heavyweights like Richard Stark and Edward Bunker along for the ride...

I'm often spending more hours reading than watching these days, just because there's been such an explosion of terrific crime/ noir fiction from all over the world now readily at hand.

Cheers

[Davidmk]

That's cool you got a big score last month , I hope to dig into these later in the week , I have not really read any Noir books yet , Looking forward to them .

[Steve-O]

Andrew Spicer's new book sounds great... but the price is depressing. $104 for the EBOOK (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Historical-Dictionary-of-Film-Noir/Andrew-Spicer/e/9780810873780/?itm=2)! I'd be amazed if anyone bought it. Maybe in 5 years it'll be 30 dollars and still no one would think about buying it.

[Davidmk]

wow ! that is big bucks , does sound cool , but too mcuh for me as well ...

[spress]

$87.75 for the hardcover at Barnes&Noble.com. Still too pricey.

[Steve-O]

Some good news.... the Noir City Annuals #1 and #2 are available on Amazon! Some of us here have actually written for the Sentinel so it's nice to see it out there for easy purchase.

If you don't have a copy it's a must for noir fans.. if you do have a copy leave a review on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Noir-City-Annual-Sentinel-Newsletter/dp/0982297300/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292338331&sr=8-3
http://www.amazon.com/Noir-City-Annual-Best-Sentinel/dp/0982297319/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292338331&sr=8-2

[Steve-O]

Anyone have a copy of Dark Cinema: American Film Noir in Cultural Perspective ?

I just ordered a copy online after a post about it at Noir of the Week. Any good?

[Adam Lounsbery]

Alain Silver's book on noir looks great, and I'm reading "Death on the Cheap" by Arthur Lyons right now.

Both Silver and Lyons, however, are on my shit list for claiming that the 1940 film "Michael Shayne: Private Detective," starring Lloyd Nolan, is based on Brett Halliday's first Shayne novel, "Dividend on Death." (Silver in an interview on the DVD and Lyons in "Death on the Cheap.")

The film is actually based on Halliday's second Shayne novel, "The Private Practice of Michael Shayne."

[SuperDanX]

Currently reading Mr Mullers 'Dark City' excellent, a must read. Also have 'Dark City Dames' on the way to me too (expensive!!) I sure I'll like it though so money well spent.

[Ovader]

More Than Night by James Naremore
The Book of Film Noir edited by Ian Cameron (a hard one to find now)
Going to start reading More Than Night soon and ordered a near fine used copy of The Book of Film Noir for $40.00 since I have read raves of the latter book so I hope I am happy with the investment.

[JCharles]

Going to start reading More Than Night soon and ordered a near fine used copy of The Book of Film Noir for $40.00 since I have read raves of the latter book so I hope I am happy with the investment.
Ovader, I don't think you'll be disappointed by The Book of Film Noir. It contains a plethora of good articles, not too academic and some on individual films. Plus it has a huge collection of superbly printed stills. Enjoy!

[Ashirg]

Has anyone read this book? Is it a recommended read?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vKSZWiM1L..jpg

[Adam Lounsbery]

Wow! Thanks for the heads-up on that Whistler book. This is the first I've heard of it, but I've seen most of the Whistler movies, and they're really good. It's great that there's a book about the series.

Now we just need remastered DVD releases of all of the films...

[Ashirg]

Press release from Turner Classic Moves web site:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i137/filmnoir&potentialcriticism_bk_100x148_060220110529.jpg

The Maltese Touch of Evil: Film Noir and Potential Criticism

Noir is among the most popular, acclaimed, and critically assessed film styles of all time. The unfortunate consequence is an ever-growing divergence between fans and scholars with regard to goals and methods for appreciating and studying noir. The Maltese Touch of Evil (Dartmouth College Press) aims to bridge that gap. Based on a series of popular podcasts, this unique and deeply informed investigation of film noir sets out to examine the case of noir more closely, and in the process reconfigures the critical evidence on noir that has been presented to date.

The Maltese Touch of Evil reproduces and re-sequences nearly 150 noir screen grabs from 31 great films, laying them out with the authors' informed and entertaining insights into the significance of each shot. The result is a de facto meta-film noir, a celebration of the genre that shows how these films are themselves "constrained" texts whose carefully calculated visual forms simultaneously generate narrative and critical commentary on that narrative. You will never look at film noir the same way again.

About the Authors
SHANNON SCOTT CLUTE is an independent scholar who works for Turner Classic Movies in Atlanta. RICHARD L. EDWARDS is an assistant professor of media arts and sciences at Indiana University's School of Informatics in Indianapolis.

The Maltese Touch of Evil will be available in December 2011 from most major booksellers.

[SuperDanX]

Look forwards to that, keep meaning to buy a copy of this book, as a big Maltese Falcon fan, anyone read it?

http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=254&uid=319029768

[Ashirg]

I ordered James Ursini's latest book Directors on the Edge: Outliers in Hollywood based on DVD Savant recommendation a few weeks ago. (The current review at Amazon wasn't yet posted, so I'm not sure what to expect now). It finally shipped on Friday.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nTaSGcDYL.__.jpg

Noted film noir authority James Ursini (The Film Noir Reader series, L.A. Noir, and numerous DVD commentaries) analyzes the work of five underrated independent directors - Hugo Haas, Reginald LeBorg, Ida Lupino, Gerd Oswald, and Edgar G. Ulmer. This lavishly illustrated study examines their films as works of art and their careers as outsiders who directed films on the edge of Hollywood and paved the way for the modern American independent film movement.

[philsunset]

Just discovered this book about Gloria Grahame on Amazon. Kinda pricey.

http://www.amazon.com/Gloria-Grahame-film-noir/dp/078643483X

[cigar joe]

Check out Blackout (WWII and the origins of Film Noir) by Sheri Chinen Biesen, very informative. Everyone should read this one. I'm about halfway through it.

[JCharles]

I read Blackout a couple of years ago. It was very illuminatin'!