In Film Noir: Light and Shadow, Alain Silver and James Ursini, the editors of numerous studies of film noir, present a new anthology of essays that examine the visual style of the filmmakers active during cinema’s silver screen era: a time when many films were marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace, which has become known as film noir.
Some of the essays included focus on individual films or directors; while others discuss elements of style or sub-groups of movies within the movement. All are sharply focused on what makes the noir phenomenon unique in American cinematic history.
In addition to highlighting Silver’s and Ursini’s groundbreaking research and writing, as well as that of their late colleague Robert Porfirio, Film Noir: Light and Shadow also features essays from many other contributors who have written and edited their own books on film noir. These include Sheri Chinen Biesen, Shannon Clute and Richard Edwards, Julie Grossman, Delphine Letort, Robert Miklitsch, R. Barton Palmer, Homer Pettey, Marlisa Santos, Imogen Sara Smith, and Tony Williams. Befitting the title, this anthology is lavishly illustrated with 500 images that capture the richness and breadth of film noir.
FILM NOIR: LIGHT AND SHADOW / EDITORS: ALAIN SILVER, JAMES URSINI / WRITERS: VARIOUS / PUBLISHER: APPLAUSE THEATRE BOOK PUBLISHERS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
