Includes bibliographical references (pages [204]-225) and indexes.

Filmography: pages [226]-238.

"Film Noir is an overview of an often celebrated, but also contested, body of films. It discusses film noir as a cultural phenomenon whose history is more extensive and diverse than American black and white crime thrillers of the forties." "Films discussed include both little known examples and seminal works such as Double Indemnity, Scarlet Street, Kiss Me Deadly and Touch of Evil. A final section provides a guide to further reading, an extensive bibliography and a list of over 500 films referred to in the text. Lucidly written, Film Noir is an introduction that will have a broad appeal to undergraduates, cineastes, film teachers and researchers."--BOOK JACKET.