2004
40 pages, tabloid-sized
NOIR
It seemed only fitting that the thirteenth issue would devote itself entirely to the dark realm of the enduringly popular category of film noir. Most readers would’ve been content with cover-to-cover reviews of black and white films from the 1940s and 50s. Instead the chronology of noir is explored from its roots in German Expressionism to the classic American period (roughly 1940 to 1959), and then showing its influence beyond with the works of Jean-Pierre Melville, and various independent productions. ESR’s usual columns devoted themselves to noir-related topics.
Simon St. Laurent writes an introductory piece correlating the German Expressionism movement to American film noir.
The mini-budget noirs of Anthony Mann, excerpted here into reviews for Strange Impersonation (1946); Desperate (1947); Railroaded (1947); Raw Deal (1948).
David Faris and Greg Woods co-author a lengthy midsection devoted to the classic period, with reviews of B-noirs, or lesser-remembered A pictures: Stranger on the Third Floor (1940); Phantom Lady (1944); Detour (1945); Black Angel (1946); Born to Kill (1947); Crossfire (1947); Dead Reckoning (1947); Fear in the Night (1947); The Long Night (1947); The Lady from Shanghai (1948); The Naked City (1948); Pitfall (1948); Follow Me Quietly (1949); Gun Crazy (1949); Panic in the Streets (1950); Try and Get Me! (1950); Kansas City Confidential (1952); The Narrow Margin (1952); Pickup on South Street (1953); The Blue Gardenia (1953); Jail Bait (1954); Pushover (1954); The Big Combo (1955); Killer’s Kiss (1955); Kiss Me Deadly (1955); The Crimson Kimono (1959).
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Four French noir pictures by the great Jean-Pierre Melville: Bob le Flambeur (1955); Le Doulos (1963); Le Samourai (1967); Un Flic (1972).
Ray Dennis Steckler and You
Fittingly, this issue coincides with the next film in our continuing study of Steckler’s work; his film noir homage, Body Fever (1969).
49th Parallel
Skot Deeming explores John Paizs’ noir parody, Crimewave (1985).
Notes from the Underground
Jon Jost’s fascinating no-budget postmodern experiment, Angel City (1976).
Print Film
Essential books of film noir, reviewed by David Faris and Greg Woods: Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir (Eddie Muller); Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir (Eddie Muller); Death on the Cheap: The Lost B Movies of Film Noir (Arthur Lyons); and Somewhere In the Night: Film Noir and the American City (Nicholas Christopher)
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