Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir

It's like reading an anniversary issue of a great pulp magazine—double the usual pages and packed with contributors of every kind, each bringing their own unique style to columns or interviews.

Noir is one of my favorite genres, so that alone was reason enough for me to pick up a book about it. I actually had another one lined up, but since this was published first, I figured I'd give it a shot.

I was expecting a straightforward recounting of facts, maybe a basic retelling of Noir film history. But to my surprise, the writing matched the subject—dark, moody, and utterly captivating. Even if I'd gone in with high expectations, I couldn't have imagined it would be this good. Eddie Muller did a fantastic job.

Here's a taste of the writing from the introduction to the chapter “Vixenville”:

Don't bother looking for A Church in this part of town. The air's too hot And heavy for hymns. Not that you can't find houses of worship. Check out the windows, flickering in the night like offertory candles. Within the rooms are supplicatory men, on their knees, praying for a different kind of salvation. They bring to the altar gifts of fragrances and lace, hoping they'll be judged worthy. Most will end up crucified, for believing that holiness comes wrapped in seamed silk, redemption stretched sheer around a shapely calf.