A Guide to American Crime Films of the Forties and Fifties by Daniel Finn

The only comprehensive guide to the crime films of the forties and fifties, this volume focuses on the major events that shaped and molded the genre: war, alienation, drugs, and organized crime. The body of the work offers over 1,200 entries that feature concise summaries, analyses, and credits. The volume is a continuation of the author's earlier work, A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties (Greenwood, 1995). The book includes those stars that the public had already embraced as gangsters in the thirties such as James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, and Edward G. Robinson and brings them into a new era in which they are transformed into enforcers of the law. This work will be of interest to scholars, students, and film buffs alike. The work demonstrates the shift from the simpler gangster modes of the 1930s as it takes the reader forward to the more sophisticated films of the late fifties. Although the book is organized alphabetically, the introduction alerts the reader to the major social phenomena that influenced the genre of these decades. Also offered are credits that cover titles, release dates, distributors, directors, screenwriters, and major players. The 1,200 entries include detailed plot summaries and thematic analyses as well as relevant information on sources, remakes, and sequels.

The only comprehensive guide to the crime films of these decades. The focus is on the major events that shaped and molded the genre.

About the Author
LARRY LANGMAN is a freelance writer who has taught the art and history of film for many years. Among his books are A Guide to Silent Westerns (Greenwood, 1992), A Guide to American Silent Crime Films (with Daniel Finn, Greenwood, 1994), and A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties (with Daniel Finn, Greenwood, 1995). DANIEL FINN is a freelance writer who taught English in New York State for over 25 years. He specialized in creative writing and article publishing and was an instructor of composition at Syracuse University. He coauthored with Larry Langman A Guide to American Silent Crime Films (Greenwood, 1994) and A Guide to American Crime Films of the Thirties (Greenwood, 1995).


Book Information
ISBN 9780313292651
Author Daniel Finn
Format Hardback
Page Count 408
Imprint Greenwood Press
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Series Bibliographies and Indexes in the Performing Arts
Weight(grams) 624g