LA NOIR : The City as Character - Softcover

Alan Silver; James Ursini

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595800069 ISBN 13: 9781595800060

Publisher: Santa Monica Press, 2006

Synopsis

Los Angeles has always been as much a star in film noir as any actor, be it Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner or Jack Nicholson. In L.A. Noir: The City as Character renowned film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini explore the world of noir cinema in the context of Los Angeles. The book features dozens of noir and neo-noir landmark films from Double Indemnity, Criss Cross, Sunset Boulevard, Gun Crazy, The Big Heat, Kiss Me Deadly, and Touch of Evil in the classic period (1940-1960) to such neo-noir notables as Chinatown, L.A. Confidential, Mulholland Drive, and Pulp Fiction.

L.A. Noir illustrates how these noir films use L.A.'s diverse cityscape and architecture to convey a unique vision of urban corruption and existential fatalism, not only in the ever-changing, chaotic downtown of Bunker Hill, Main Street, and Chinatown, but in its affluent coastal communities (Santa Monica, Malibu) as well as its deceptively sunny suburbs (South Bay, San Fernando Valley). The authors deftly analyze the key films of noir while integrating them into the geography and history of this "dark city" which became such an important icon of noir literature and film.

L.A. Noir is profusely illustrated with approximately 150 photographs-many of them appearing in print for the very first time-including production stills from the movies discussed, archival photos of the locations from the films and new photographs of the locations today, chronicling the ever-changing cityscape of this noir character-Los Angeles.

About this title

Review:

"No one is better qualified to explore the L.A. noir connection than [the authors] who cover [it] with style and savvy." --Leonard Maltin, "Entertainment Tonight"

Synopsis:

This book includes dark films and a dark side for the city of angels. At once a paean to the city's place in cinema history and a unique reference for movie and film noir buffs, "L.A. Noir" is a comprehensive guide to noir movies and their locations. A collection of articles, photographs, reproduction posters, essays and stories examining and surrounding the influence of Los Angeles on the film noir genre. Silver and Ursino illustrate how these films use L.A.'s diverse cityscape and architecture - not to mention it's outlying suburbs - to convey a unique vision of urban corruption and existential fatalism. Dozens of noir and neo-noir films are featured, including "Crimson Kimono"; "Double indemnity"; "Kiss Me Deadly"; "Sunset Boulevard" and "Touch of Evil", as well as more recent additions to the canon like "Mulholland Drive" and "Pulp Fiction". More than 150 photographs - many never before published - further illustrate the rich and constantly-changing backdrop of the films.

About this edition

• Publisher: Santa Monica Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1595800069
• ISBN 13: 9781595800060
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240