Dark City: The Film Noir [Paperback]

Spencer Selby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997 | ISBN-10: 0786404787 | ISBN-13: 978-0786404780

The most complete reference to the dark 40s and 50s stylistic dramas (twice the coverage of competition). The first section has a lengthy analytical essay as well as detailed plot descriptions and credits for 25 classics-such as The Maltese Falcon, Laura, and Detective Story. The second section is an annotated filmography including major credits and short descriptions on nearly 500 films. Also included are appendices listing every film noir by both director and chronological order, off-genre noirs, and other films bearing important relationships to the noir cycle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"a solid first-rate film reference...excellent" -- Booklist/RBB

"an indepth study" -- Video

"both valuable and informative...the most extensive filmography to date...recommended" -- ARBA

"most comprehensive" -- Classic Images

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786404787
• ISBN-13: 978-0786404780
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,142,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the indispensable NOIR references......, May 4, 2001

By 

John David Felter (New York (Ripper)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark City: The Film Noir (Paperback)

Having been a hardcore NOIR fanatic for the past 7 of my 32 years, I've amassed quite an extensive collection of videos,posters, and of course books. This particular reference was one of the first I picked up as I needed one that featured an extensive filmography to help me in my research, and no other NOIR book has a filmography as exhaustive as the one in 'DARK CITY'. Some 500 NOIR films are listed in the second half of the book, alphabetically, with the year of release, the cast, crew, and often a helpful review. The first half is a collection of some 25 essays on many of the biggest and best NOIRs. Not a particularly great place to start one's NOIR studies if you want only to be entertained or exposed to many stills from NOIR films, 'DARK CITY' is more for the student of this elusive sub-genre. It is first and foremost a thoroughly helpful guide to those who are planning to spend some time tracking down lost b-classics and late night hard-boiled entertainment. NOIR rules!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overpriced, but useful, June 29, 2005

By 

P. Calderwood (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark City: The Film Noir (Paperback)

The high point of Selby's Dark City is a filmography of 490 classic film noir titles. Each entry includes a brief synopsis as well as information on the film's year of release, studio, producer, director, main actors, and running time. All told, this filmography provides an excellent supplement to Silver and Ward's Encyclopedia of Film Noir.

Aside from the filmography, however, Dark City has little else to recommend it. The quality of the book's photos, typography, and editing are all poor. Even worse, Selby provides an in-depth discussion of 25 films, but his prose comes off as an amateurish attempt at academic writing.

In light of these flaws, and the fact that the book is less than 200 pages (not counting the appendices and indices), Dark City seems excessively overpriced.

I consider Selby's filmography an excellent resource, but it's not worth the list price of the book. If such a resource appeals to you, I recommend you do what I did: buy a used copy.