From
the back cover
“Beginning
in the mid-1940s, the bleak, brooding mood of film noir began seeping into that
most optimistic of film genres, the western. Story lines took on a darker tone
and western films adopted classic noir elements of moral ambiguity, complex
anti-heroes and explicit violence.
“The
noir western helped set the standard for the darker science fiction, action and
superhero films of today, as well as for acclaimed TV series such as HBO Deadwood
and AMC’s Breaking Bad. This book covers the stylistic shift in westerns
in mid-20th century Hollywood, offering close readings of the first
noir westerns, along with revealing portraits of the eccentric and talented
directors who brought the films to life.”
Review
Darkness is an
excellent nonfiction read, the equivalent of a micro-course on noir westerns. A
burn-through, engaging and informative book, it shines a light on lesser known
and well-known directors and selected standout works they created in the
titular period. These directors, writers and film technicians include: William Wellman, Raoul Walsh, André de Toth, Robert Wise, Sam Fuller, Henry King, Anthony Mann, Allan Dwan, Delmer Daves, Budd Boetticher and John Ford. These is a
should-read for anyone interested in western and noir cinema, and a book worth
owning.
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