The Noir Style - Softcover

"Smart text and great stills from the classic period . . . through the neo-noir films of the nineties. Perfect for a rainy night." --Helen Frangoulis, "Playboy"
"The commentary is wonderfully set off by 172 gorgeous black-and-white stills . . . This is a great look into one of the darkest of American popular genres." --"Elle""

In The Noir Style, experts Alain Silver and James Ursini analyze the look of noir--its elements and their impact on the most American of film movements--revisiting the territory they made their own in their classic Film Noir: The Encyclopedia. Silver and Ursini trace the development of noir to its origins and documents its borrowings from other visual arts, with chapters covering each of the recurring motifs that define the genre. Stills and background are provided for classics like A Touch of Evil, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and In a Lonely Place. Both an indispensable reference guide and an irresistible treat for film buffs, The Noir Style is an engaging and informative addition to the literature of film. A new afterword examines how the tropes of noir continue to be relevant for contemporary filmmakers.