Film Noir and the Spaces of Modernity

Film noir remains one of the most enduring legacies of 1940s and '50s Hollywood. Populated by double-crossing, unsavory characters, this pioneering film style explored a shadow side of American life during a period of tremendous prosperity and optimism. Edward Dimendberg compellingly demonstrates how film noir is preoccupied with modernity--particularly the urban landscape. The originality of Dimendberg's approach lies in his examining these films in tandem with historical developments in architecture, city planning, and modern communications systems. He confirms that noir is not simply a reflection of modernity but a virtual continuation of the spaces of the metropolis. He convincingly shows that Hollywood's dark thrillers of the postwar decades were determined by the same forces that shaped the city itself. Exploring classic examples of film noir such as __The Asphalt Jungle__, __Double Indemnity__, __Kiss Me Deadly__, and __The Naked City__ alongside many lesser-known works, Dimendberg masterfully interweaves film history and urban history while perceptively analyzing works by Raymond Chandler, Edward Hopper, Siegfried Kracauer, and Henri Lefebvre. A bold intervention in cultural studies and a major contribution to film history, __Film Noir and the Spaces of Modernity__ will provoke debate by cinema scholars, urban historians, and students of modern culture--and will captivate admirers of a vital period in American cinema. Film noir remains one of the most enduring legacies of 1940s and '50s Hollywood. Populated by double-crossing, unsavory characters, this pioneering film style explored a shadow side of American life during a period of tremendous prosperity and optimism. Edward Dimendberg compellingly demonstrates how film noir is preoccupied with modernity--particularly the urban landscape.The originality of Dimendberg's approach lies in his examining these films in tandem with historical developments in architecture, city planning, and modern communications systems. He confirms that noir is not simply a reflection of modernity but a virtual continuation of the spaces of the metropolis. He convincingly shows that Hollywood's dark thrillers of the postwar decades were determined by the same forces that shaped the city itself. Exploring classic examples of film noir such as The Asphalt Jungle, Double Indemnity, Kiss Me Deadly, and The Naked City alongside many lesser-known works, Dimendberg masterfully interweaves film history and urban history while perceptively analyzing works by Raymond Chandler, Edward Hopper, Siegfried Kracauer, and Henri Lefebvre. A bold intervention in cultural studies and a major contribution to film history, Film Noir and the Spaces of Modernity will provoke debate by cinema scholars, urban historians, and students of modern culture--and will captivate admirers of a vital period in American cinema. Film noir remains one of the most enduring legacies of 1940s and'50s Hollywood. Populated by double-crossing, unsavory characters,this pioneering film style explored a shadow side of American lifeduring a period of tremendous prosperity and optimism. EdwardDimendberg compellingly demonstrates how film noir is preoccupiedwith modernity--particularly the urban landscape. The originalityof Dimendberg's approach lies in his examining these films intandem with historical developments in architecture, city planning,and modern communications systems. He confirms that noir is notsimply a reflection of modernity but a virtual continuation of thespaces of the metropolis. He convincingly shows that Hollywood'sdark thrillers of the postwar decades were determined by the sameforces that shaped the city itself. Exploring classic examples offilm noir such as The Asphalt Jungle, DoubleIndemnity, Kiss Me Deadly, and The NakedCity alongside many lesser-known works, Dimendberg masterfullyinterweaves film history and urban history while perceptivelyanalyzing works by Raymond Chandler, Edward Hopper, SiegfriedKracauer, and Henri Lefebvre. A bold intervention in culturalstudies and a major contribution to film history, Film Noir andthe Spaces of Modernity will provoke debate by cinemascholars, urban historians, and students of modern culture--andwill captivate admirers of a vital period in American cinema Exploring Classic Examples Of Film Noir Such As 'the Asphalt Jungle', 'double Indemnity' And 'kiss Me Deadly', Alongside Many Lesser-known Works, Dimendberg Masterfully Interweaves Film History And Urban History While Perceptively Analyzing Works By Raymond Chandler, Edward Hopper And Siegfried Kracauer. Naked Cities -- Centripetal Space -- Walking Cures -- Centrifugal Space -- Simultaneity, The Media Environment, And The End Of Film Noir. Edward Dimendberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-314) And Index.