Encyclopedia of Film Noir

Geoff Mayer is a Reader and Associate Professor in Cinema Studies at La Trobe University. He is Head of the School of Communications, Arts and Critical Enquiry. His previous books include: Roy Ward Baker, and the Guide to British Cinema (Greenwood, 2003).Brian McDonnell is an experienced film teacher and researcher with a PhD from the University of Auckland. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Film Studies and Program Co-ordinator in Media Studies at the Auckland campus of Massey University in New Zealand. His previous publications include the book Fresh Approaches to Film (1998) and chapters in the Italian Encyclopaedias Storia del Cinema Mondiale and Dizionario del registi del cinema mondiale. He has achieved a high profile as an international television quiz contestant. Brian's ancestry goes back to Ireland and to Maori iwi (tribe) Tuhoe.

• Introduction:The Myths and Parameters of Film NoirThe Hard-Boiled InfluenceFilm Noir and the CityFilm Noir StyleFilms, Actors and DirectorsAct of ViolenceAldrich, RobertAmong the LivingAndrews, DanaAngel FaceApology for MurderAsphalt Jungle, TheBeaumont, HughBennett, JoanBig Clock, TheBig Combo, TheBig Heat, TheBig Sleep, TheBlack AngelBlonde IceBlood SimpleBody HeatBogart, HumphreyBorn to KillBreaking Point, TheBrighton RockBrodie, SteveBrothers, TheBrothers Rico, TheBurr, RaymondCarnivalCash on DemandChase, TheChinatownCollateralConte, RichardCook, Jr., ElishaCorridors of MirrorsCosh BoyCrack-UpCriminal, TheCriss CrossCrooked Way, TheCrossfireCroupierCry of the CityDance With a StrangerDark CityDark Corner, TheDark PassageDaughter of DarknessDead ReckoningDear MurdererDecoyDesperateDetourDevil in a Blue DressDmytryk, EdwardD.O.A.Double IndemnityDuryea, DanFallen AngelFallen Sparrow, TheFarrow, JohnFear in the NightFile on Thelma Jordan, TheForce of EvilFord, GlennFramedFuller, SamGarfield, JohnGet CarterGildaGood Die Young, TheGoring, MariusGrahame, GloriaGreat DayGreat Flamarion, TheGreer, JaneGun CrazyGynt, GretaHatters CastleHayden, SterlingHeflin, VanHell DriversHigh SierraHistory of Violence, AHitchcock, AlfredHollow TriumphHouse Across the Lake, TheHuston, JohnI Wake Up ScreamingI Wouldnt Be In Your ShoesImpulseIn a Lonely PlaceInterrupted JourneyIt Always Rains on SundayJohnny OClockKansas City ConfidentialKarlson, PhilKillers, TheKilling, TheKiss Me DeadlyKiss of DeathKiss the Blood Off My HandsKluteL.A. ConfidentialLadd, AlanLake, VeronicaLancaster, BurtLang, FritzLate Edwina Black, TheLauraLeave Her to HeavenLewis, Joseph H.Long Memory, TheLupino, IdaMacMurray, FredMacomber Affair, TheMacready, GeorgeMadeleineMan From Colorado, TheMann, AnthonyMark of Cain, TheMason, JamesMementoMildred PierceMine Own ExecutionerMitchum, RobertMoney Trap, TheMr. Perrin and Mr. TraillMurder, My SweetMy Brothers KeeperMy Name is Julia RossNaked CityNeal, TomNight and the CityNight Has Eyes, TheNight MovesNightmare Alley99 River StreetNo Orchids For Miss BlandishOBrien, EdmondObsessionOctober Man, TheOdds Against TomorrowOn Dangerous GroundOut of the PastParis By NightPayne, JohnPhantom LadyPickup on South StreetPink String and Sealing WaxPitfallPoint BlankPortman, EricPossessedPostman Always Rings Twice, ThePowell, DickPreminger, OttoProwler, ThePushoverRaw DealRay, NicholasReckless Moment, TheRide the Pink HorseRoadblockRobinson, Edward G..Rocking Horse Winner, TheRyan, RobertSavage, AnnScandal SheetScarlet Street.Scott, LizabethSet-Up, TheSe7en711 Ocean DriveSeventh Veil, TheSeventh Victim, TheShallow GraveSin CitySiodmak, RobertSlightly ScarletSo Dark the NightSo Evil My LoveSomewhere in the NightSorry, Wrong NumberSpider and the Fly, TheStanwyck, BarbaraStranger on the Third FloorStreet of ChanceSunset BoulevardTake My LifeTaxi DriverThey Made Me a FugitiveThey Wont Believe MeThird Man, TheThis Gun For HireTierney, GeneTightropeT-MenTodd, AnnTotter, AudreyTouch of EvilTourneur, JacquesTrevor, ClaireTrue ConfessionsUlmer, EdgarUnder the GunUndercover Man, TheVictimWhere Danger LivesWhere the Sidewalk EndsWidmark, RichardWilde, CornelWilder, BillyWindsor, MarieWings of the Dove, TheWinstone, RayWoman in the Window, TheSelected BibliographyAppendixIndex

Film authorities Mayer and McDonnell deliver a well-researched, comprehensive guide to film noir history. The first part of the encyclopedia provides five excellent essays on the genre, complete with references, and the second part has entries on films, actors, and directors. Covering both the classical film noir cycle (1939-59) and the modern neo-noir period (1959-present), this work assesses many old standards (High Sierra, Treasure of the Sierra Madre) and modern films (Body Heat, Chinatown). In addition, it covers low-budget films, black films, and representative British films. Big name actors and directors (Bogart, Stanwyck, Hitchcock) are profiled, as are some unlikely minor ones like Hugh Beaumont. Most entries vary in length from one to three pages, but the genre essays are much longer…. this one is hard to beat because of its broad focus, scholarly but readable style, and good organization. The essays on the film noir genre will appeal to academic libraries with film studies programs and public libraries with film aficionados. Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.