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Raising Cain: The work of James M. Cain

Hammett, Chandler, Cain: the modern mystery thriller starts with them. They are the godfathers of that sensibility that would come to be called noir which would, in time, overflow the printed page and onto the stage, the big screen, and eventually even to television. Identified primarily with mysteries, the concept of flawed human beings ethically …

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The Case Of The Disappearing Private Eye

I looked for him, but he was gone.  I checked the boozy dives and the greasy spoons and the street corners where the not-nice girls hang out. Nothing. He was gone. Tall guy, fedora, trench coat.  You must’ve seen him.  Usually smoking.  He was always hanging around, poking his nose where it didn’t belong and …

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‘The Maltese Falcon’ is indeed the treasure people make it out to be

The Maltese Falcon Directed by John Huston Written by John Huston U.S.A, 1941 It has often been written and said that John Huston’s 1941 classic, The Maltese Falcon, brought it in the era of film noir, or that it is the definitive entry within the genre. The origins of the genre and where Huston’s picture …

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A Brief History of Title Design

Put together to compete in the SXSW Title Design Competition, Ian Albinson has edited a large mix of some of the greatest film and television titles ever made. Slashfilm reports that the websites mission is: A compendium and leading web resource of film and television title design from around the world. We honor the artists …

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A Glimpse into the Origins of Film Noir

A term that translates to ‘Black Film’ already sounds interesting. Add to that dramatic, highly stylized cinematography and hard-hitting, gritty writing, and the appeal of film noir is clear. The term is mostly attributed to works such as Double Indemnity, Scarlet Street, and The Maltese Falcon, all major works which helped popularize the genre after …

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