Neo-Noir by Ronald Schwartz

According to many critics, the era of "Film Noir" ended with the 1958 release of Orson Welles' classic Touch of Evil. The style was not dead, but rather had been transformed, and two years later, Alfred Hitchcock ushered in a new era of "Noir" films with the release of his 1960 masterpiece, Psycho. Film scholar Ronald Schwartz examines the most significant representatives of this cinematic style, beginning with Hitchcock's shocker and concluding with Michael Mann's Collateral (2004). Schwartz provides in-depth analyses of over thirty of the best "Neo-Noir" films and explains the qualities and characteristics of the "new noir" style. He also explains how it differs from "Film Noir" of the forties and fifties. As this study reveals, the new style significantly impacted American film after 1960. In this chronological guide, Schwartz examines such landmark films as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Point Blank (1967), The French Connection (1971), Chinatown (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Body Heat (1981), Blood Simple (1984), Fatal Attraction (1987), The Grifters (1990), Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Usual Suspects (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997), Memento (2000), and Mystic River (2003). The book also includes an alphabetical filmography, listing over 650 films that in plot, style, or subject matter reflect the diversity of the genre. This reference work will be a valuable resource for film scholars and fans alike who wish to further explore the ever-evolving aspects of "Neo-Noir" cinema.

About the Author
Ronald Schwartz is a retired professor of Romance languages and film (City University of New York). He is the author of several books including Nomads, Exiles, & Emigres: The Rebirth of Latin American Narrative, 1960-1980 (Scarecrow, 1980), Spanish Film Directors: 21 Profiles (Scarecrow, 1986), Latin American Films, 1932-1994 (2005) and Great Spanish Films Since 1950 (2008).

Reviews
...the depth and breadth of Neo-Noir makes it required reading for anyone longing to be a serious fan of films made in the modern noir style. * Green Man Review *
Schwartz (emeritus, City U. of New York) introduces this study with an overview of the qualities and characteristics of neo-noir, a cinematic style that emerged in the early 1960s as a direct outgrowth of film noir. He then provides in-depth analyses of more than thirty films exemplifying the best of this style, including The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Taxi Driver (1976), and Memento (2000). The volume also features an A-Z rated filmography listing more than 650 films reflecting the diversity of the genre in plot, style, and subject matter. * Reference and Research Book News *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810856769
Author Ronald Schwartz
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 286g
Dimensions(mm) 227mm * 149mm * 12mm