The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir

A revised and updated edition of the definitive study of film noir-the most original genre of American cinema-with a new afterword by the authorSinceThe Dark Side of the Screenfirst appeared over two decades ago, it has served as the essential take on what has become one of todayrs"s most pervasive screen influences and enduringly popular genres. Covering over one hundred outstanding films and offering more than two hundred carefully chosen stills, it is by far the most thorough and entertaining study available of noir themes, visual motifs, character types, actors, and directors. This landmark work covers noir in full, from the iconic performances of Burt Lancaster, Joan Crawford, and Humphrey Bogart to the camera angles, lighting effects, and story lines that characterize the work of directors Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, and Orson Welles.With a new afterword about the lasting legacy ofnoiras well as recently rediscovered films deserving of their own screenings alongside the classics,The Dark Side of the Screenreestablishes itself as both an unsurpassed resource and a captivating must-read for any fan of noir.

Foster Hirsch is a professor of Film at Brooklyn College.