Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories that Inspired the Great Noir Films [Hardcover]

Max Décharné (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2010

An in-depth look at the inspiration behind the greatest crime films ever made.

Real-life bank robbers, twisted serial killers, and pulp novels have all helped shape the world of crime cinema. From Kiss Me Deadly, Bonnie & Clyde and Psycho, to The Godfather and L.A. Confidential, Max Decharne uncovers the little-known stories behind each of these classic films and more.

Thanks to Hollywood, failed bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are forever fixed in popular imagination. Middle-aged Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein is now forever embodied in Anthony Perkin’s unforgettable portrayal of Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s Psycho. The true-life origins of these films are now revealed in Max Décharné’s revelatory volume—the stories perhaps more fascinating than even their Hollywood representations. 20 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Décharné, a member of the British band the Flaming Stars, tackles some literary noir scenarios and true murder tales as prime inspirations for some of the finest crime films produced in Hollywood. He analyzes the thrill gangsters held for the masses when screenwriters put them into films from the 1930s until the present, producing overnight stars like Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, and Humphrey Bogart. Although sometimes the book seems like a tame clip job, it does provide the rare eye-opening revelation about the featured films and the real-life or literary events behind their creation: the story of Al Capone behind Little Caesar; the experiences leading Raymond Chandler to write his novel turned movie The Big Sleep; the realities and myths behind the protagonists of Bonnie and Clyde; and the 1950s Los Angeles world of crime and scandal behind the novel and movie L.A. Confidential. Rehashing several familiar Tinseltown tidbits and uncovering very little new material about these landmark offerings, Décharné's work is not an essential reference volume for the entertainment book shelf. (Jan.)
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Review

“Decharne renders an intriguing picture of the powerful place this art form has come to occupy in society and why. (The Financial Times)

Full of ‘unauthorized cash withdrawals’ and people dying of ‘lead poisoning,’ this tome thankfully eschews the pompous subtext and strained metaphors of most film books, leaving what any good detective wants: just the facts, ma’am. (The Guardian)

Anyone with an interest in hardboiled fiction needs this book on his shelf. (Time Out London)”

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus (January 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605980765
• ISBN-13: 978-1605980768
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,381,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any fan of noir, March 15, 2010

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories that Inspired the Great Noir Films (Paperback)

Behind every story there is its inspiration. "Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories Behind the Classic Noir Films" investigates the roots of many noir films that captivated the imaginations of many movie goers. Serial killers, the rampage of Bonnie and Clyde, the events within the famous Godfather series, and more, all of these noir films have their ideas founded in reality. Max Decharne tells the these true tales, making "Hardboiled Hollywood" a must for any fan of noir.