Driven to Darkness
Jewish Emigre Directors and the Rise of Film Noir
Will be published approx. on 18. September 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
285 pages
978-0-8135-4630-8 (ISBN)
Description
From its earliest days, the American film industry has attracted European artists. With the rise of Hitler, filmmakers of conscience in Germany and other countries, particularly those of Jewish origin, found it difficult to survive and fledufor their work and their livesuto the United States. Some had trouble adapting to Hollywood, but many were celebrated for their cinematic contributions, especially to the dark shadows of film noir.Driven to Darkness explores the influence of Jewish TmigrT directors and the development of this genre. While filmmakers such as Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Otto Preminger, and Edward G. Ulmer have been acknowledged as crucial to the noir canon, the impact of their Jewishness on their work has remained largely unexamined until now. Through lively and original analyses of key films, Vincent Brook penetrates the darkness, shedding new light on this popular film form and the artists who helped create it.
Reviews / Votes
"The strength of his book lies in the careful analyses of the narratives and visual styles of their film noir works and in placing these within the biographical contexts of their creators. Their shared experience of exile explains the sinister vision of the world they captured on screen."(Shofar) Driven to Darkness is an erudite, engaging and ultimately enlightening volume that shines a spotlight on a neglected corner of American cinema history. - Lester Friedman (Hobart and William Smith Colleges) "The strength of his book lies in the careful analyses of the narratives and visual styles of their film noir works and in placing these within the biographical contexts of their creators. Their shared experience of exile explains the sinister vision of the world they captured on screen."
(Shofar)
More details
Edition
None edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New Brunswick NJ
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
42 illustrations. 42 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
557 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8135-4630-8 (9780813546308)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Vincent Brook teaches media studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and theUniversity of Southern California. He is the author of Something Ain't Kosher Here: The Rise of the "Jewish" Sitcom and the editor of "You Should See Yourself ": Jewish Identity in Postmodern American Culture (both Rutgers University Press).
Content
1 Introduction
2 Jews in Germany
3 Jews and Expressionism
4 The Father of Film Noir
5 Fritz Lang in Hollywood
6 The French Connection
7 Viennese Twins
8 The ABZs of Film Noir
9 Woman's Directors
10 Pathological Noir, Populist Noir, and an Act of Violence
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index
2 Jews in Germany
3 Jews and Expressionism
4 The Father of Film Noir
5 Fritz Lang in Hollywood
6 The French Connection
7 Viennese Twins
8 The ABZs of Film Noir
9 Woman's Directors
10 Pathological Noir, Populist Noir, and an Act of Violence
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index