A panorama of American film noir, 1941-1953

"Beginning with the first film noir, The Maltese Falcon, and continuing through the postwar "glory days," which included such films as Gilda, The Big Sleep, Dark Passage, and The Lady from Shanghai, Borde and Chaumeton examine the dark sides of American society, film, and literature that made film noir possible, even necessary.".

"A Panorama of American Film Noir includes a film noir chronology, a voluminous filmography, a comprehensive index, and a selection of black-and-white production stills."--BOOK JACKET.