Autopsy: An Element of Realism in Film Noir - Hardcover

Richardson, Carl

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810824965 ISBN 13: 9780810824966

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 1992

Synopsis

Richardson deals chiefly with three films noirs: The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Naked City (1948), and Touch of Evil (1958). Treated in chronological order, these case studies show how essential location became to the grim assessment of reality for which noir's repertoire is noted. As the appropriately bleak title suggests, the main thrust of the inquiry is to find out what happened to arguably the most intriguing group of films ever produced by the American Film industry. Richardson makes abundant use of primary material, situates films in historical context, and examines them intertextually. This is the first study of its kind to delve into the use, misuse, and abuse of locations. Although it centers exclusively on film noir, the results suggest larger implications.

About this title

About the Author:

Carl Richardson (BA, literature & writing, Ph.D., film Columbia University) is a novelist.

Review:

...a good, solid study of three classic examples of the genre...Autopsy's detailed examination of its selected films is excellent, as is the comparison with similar films of the genre... (Classic Images)

...well documented and contains a number of photographs. (Communication Booknotes Quarterly)

These detailed discussions make this a valuable book for undergraduates who are beginning their study of film noir. (CHOICE)

About this edition

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0810824965
• ISBN 13: 9780810824966
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 257