Alain Silver Books

The pictures in this text include production stills which illustrate the style and capture the impact of this atmospheric genre. The accompanying text explores the origins of noir and its history from the early 1940s up to the present day.'

Focusing on firsthand insights, this volume features interviews with iconic film noir directors and a cinematographer, capturing their perspectives on the genre. Notable figures such as Billy Wilder, Otto Preminger, and Fritz Lang share their experiences and thoughts on classic films like Double Indemnity and Laura. This collection provides a rare glimpse into the creative minds behind some of the most influential noir films, making it a valuable resource for enthusiasts and scholars alike.

General overview of film noir and covering its most important themes chapter by chapter. This illustrated book provides instant and in-depth access to the film noir genre.

Roger Corman is considered by many to be the king of the B-movie, having directed such films as Bloody Mama, The Last Woman on Earth, "X": The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, Machine Gun Kelly, and She Gods of Shark Reef. This text profiles 50 of Corman's films, summarizing plots and commenting on themes. Corman's own brief comments on each film also appear. The text also lists films co- directed, produced, or written by Corman, along with those in which he appears as an actor. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Focusing on recurring plot elements in film noir, this volume delves into iconic films that exemplify and challenge traditional cinematic themes. It offers an in-depth analysis of how these memorable movies innovate within the genre, providing fresh thrills and chills while remaining true to the essence of noir. By exploring the nuances of these films, the book highlights the genre's complexity and its ability to evolve, making it a compelling read for enthusiasts and scholars alike.

Exploring the intersection of crime films and cinematic art, this collection features essays on iconic works like The Postman Always Rings Twice and delves into themes such as Hitchcock's influence on noir landscapes and the evolution of female-centered neo-noir. It also examines the distinct styles of directors like Samuel Fuller and the relationship between abstract expressionism and film noir. Accompanied by film stills, this book offers a rich analysis of the genre's impact on cinema and culture.

Noted film noir historians Alain Silver and James Ursini, acting as editors, concentrate in this work on the thirty key directors of the classic noir period. These include well-known luminaries, such as Orson Welles, Billy Wilder, Nicholas Ray, and Joseph Losey as well as lesser-known lights of noir, such as Gerd Oswald, Felix E. Feist, Ida Lupino, and John Brahm. Each article will include a short biography of the director, a list of their major noir films, as well as a deep analysis of the films themselves. The book boasts over two dozen collaborators from the world of film history and criticism. Lavishly illustrated with high-resolution photos illustrating the points made by the authors, this book is a must for any aficionado of the American style of film noir.

THE VAMPIRE FILM: FROM NOSFERATU TO TRUE BLOOD FOURTH EDITION - REVISEDAND UPDATED

These essays offer a broad overview of the horror film genre, from the silent screen to Scream 3 , demonstrating how it remains defiantly, frighteningly alive.

In the 1930s the gangster film in the United States coincided with a very real and very sensational gangsterism at large in American society. Little Caesar (1931), The Public Enemy (1931), and Scarface (1932) borrowed liberally from the newspapers and books of the era. With the release of just these three motion pictures in barely more than a year's time, Hollywood quintessentially defined the genre. The characters, the situations, and the icons – from fast cars and tommy-guns to fancy fedoras and fancier molls – established the audience expectations associated with the gangster film that remain in force to this day. As with their Film Noir Reader series, using both reprints of seminal articles and new pieces, editors Silver and Ursini have assembled a group of essays that presents an exhaustive overview of this still vital genre. Reprints of work by such well-known film historians as Robin Wood, Andrew Sarris, Carlos Clarens, Paul Schrader, and Stuart Kaminsky explore the evolution of the gangster film through the 1970s and The Godfather . Parts 2 and 3 comprise two dozen newer articles, most of them written expressly for this volume by Ursini and Silver. These case studies and thematic analyses, from White Heat to the remake of Scarface to “The Sopranos ” complete the anthology.