Dark City

"In a genre where some see mostly fatalism and social critique, Muller also finds humor, eroticism, and the unfettered inventiveness of an extraordinary generation of directors and actors."—Geoffrey O'Brien, author of The Phantom Empire

"[The] ultimate companion to gritty black-and-white postwar classics."—Details

"Muller's plot summaries and insider accounts of moviemaking are fitting companions to the brooding images that accompany them."—The Washington Post

"This book displays a salutary knowledge of the underpinnings of the genre; serves as a fabulous reference book; and most importantly, dishes the real life dirt on the freaks, geeks, commies, nymphos, hopheads, has-beens, red-baiters, and all-purpose fiends who made this genre great."—James Ellroy

"The book is organized around the city motif, with chapters devoted to various thematic neighborhoods, for example, 'The Precinct' (cop flicks) and 'Vixenville' (femme fatales) . . . The illustrations, mostly stills, are first rate, and the mix of biographical, historical, and critical material works well. Background on such vintage noir actors as Robert Ryan, Richard Widmark, and, of course, Robert Mitchum is usually fresh and pertinent, and the insider gossip about life in the studios adds some zip . . . Provides an entertaining all-around introduction to the genre."—Booklist

"Eddie Muller seriously takes film noir not too seriously—just the right mix, and with great stills."—Paul Schrader