American classic films noir, beginning with 1941's The Maltese Falcon
and ending with 1950's Sunset Boulevard, and the neo-noir films made
from the 1970s onward, share certain thematic aspects, stylistic
qualities, and cultural contexts. Their concern with politics, their
depiction of con artists, and the way their characters are shaped by
America's puritanical religious roots show that these films are examples
of a unique American genre, even when the films' directors are German
emigres with artistic roots in European Expressionism. The films'
psychological depth is revealed stylistically through complex
narratives, with select directors generating visual poetry as they deal
with sex, violence and betrayal. Some films are based on popular novels
inspired by true crime cases. A unique approach to film noir
scholarship, this book discusses the genre's thematic aspects, cultural
contexts and stylistic qualities. For those films based upon novels,
in-depth analysis of the fiction is provided alongside the film version,
resulting in a fuller, more thorough understanding of the genre.