The File on Robert Siodmak in Hollywood: 1941-1951 (Paperback)

~ Joseph Greco (Author) "Robert Siodmak arrived in Hollywood in 1939, having abandoned an established, successful film-making career in Europe..." (more)
Key Phrases: telescope room, compensating moral values, medium close shot, Criss Cross, Thelma Jordon, Uncle Harry (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Robert Siodmak, who is considered the master of film noir thrillers and crime melodramas, has long been seen as a mere "assignment director," never an artist in complete control of his work. J. Greco's study of Siodmak's

Hollywood career dispels this view and presents a unique perspective on the studio system and the director who used cunning to get his own way within it. He incorporates both archival evidence and stylistic analysis to show a distinct correlation between the production histories of Siodmak's studio films and the director's central artistic purpose. Shedding new light on the career of this important film maker, this book is worthwhile reading for the film scholar, the lover of film noir, and the fan of Siodmak's work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Dissertation.com; 1 edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581120818
• ISBN-13: 978-1581120813
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,853,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Master of Film Noir, December 31, 2000

By	Michael Samerdyke (Big Stone Gap, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a dissertation published as a book. It should be of interest to readers interested in film noir, as it has very detailed discussions of "The Killers" (1946) and "Criss Cross" (1949) as well as Siodmak's other Hollywood films noir.

The book only examines Siodmak's films. The title, a play on "The File on Thelma Jordan," the last of Siodmak's American films noir, sets up false expectations that the book will deal with Siodmak's private life, perhaps politics in that era of WWII and HUAC, but this is not the case. Still, the films get wonderful coverage, and this book should fight the tendency in recent years to overlook Siodmak's contribution to film noir.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Other Master of Suspense, March 10, 2006

By	P. Molloy "Film addict" (Chestertown, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

THE FILE ON ROBERT SIODMAK IN HOLLYWOOD: 1941-1951 is a wonderful first-step in the reevaluation of this overlooked director's Hollywood films.

Often compared with Hitchcock, director Robert Siodomak is still underappreciated as a Hollywood craftsman at the top of his powers.

Author J. Greco examines eight of Siodomak's best films from that ten-year period and explains why his films are treasures.

After reading this book you have to see the films.

I would start with THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE and watch him dress up every suspense device there is in its best go-to-meeting clothes.

If you can find it, devour CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY with Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin as noir villains. Unhappily, I've been searching for this unsuccessfully for several years.