Film noir is a particularly American stylistic phenomenon (although named by French film critics) that permeated nearly every major, minor and independent Hollywood studio production from 1940 through the early 1960s. The author examines the best noir film from each studio and includes each studio’s history, a meticulous plot outline and information on the careers of each studio’s star roster. He also comments on producers, directors, screenwriters, camera men, composers, art and set directors and presents stills that represent the noir style. The book also has a discussion of independent productions and the second best film noirs of major and minor studios.

The late Ronald Schwartz was a professor emeritus of Romance languages and film at City University of New York (Kingsborough) and the author of numerous books. He lived in Manhattan.

Ronald Schwartz
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: 31 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2014
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7593-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0460-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction 3
1. Allied Artists and The Gangster (1947) 9
2. Columbia Pictures and Gilda (1946) 22
3. Eagle-Lion Studios and Hollow Triumph aka The Scar (1948) 32
4. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and The Asphalt Jungle (1950) 42
5. Monogram Pictures and I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948) 55
6. Paramount Pictures and Double Indemnity (1944) 64
7. Producers Releasing Corporation and Detour (1945) 80
8. Republic Pictures and House by the River (1950) 90
9. RKO Radio Pictures and Out of the Past (1947) 100
10. 20th Century–Fox and Laura (1944) 116
11. United Artists and Too Late for Tears (1949) 130
12. Universal Pictures and The Killers (1946) 142
13. Warner Bros. and Possessed (1947) 157
14. Independent Production Units 172
15. The Runners-Up 175
Conclusion 185
Selected Bibliography 187
Index 189

“The reader here benefits from the author’s impressive knowledge…a nice and entertaining addition to the bookshelf”—popcultureshelf.com.