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Into the Dark: The Hidden World of Film Noir, 1941-1950
You know film noir when you see the shadowed setting; the cynical detective; the femme fatale; and the twist of fate. Into the Dark captures this alluring genre with a cavalcade of compelling photographs and a guide to 82 of its best films.
Into the Dark is the first book to tell the story of film noir in its own voice. Author Mark A. Vieira quotes the artists who made these movies and the journalists and critics who wrote about them, taking readers on a year-by-year tour of the exciting nights when movies like Double Indemnity , Mildred Pierce , and Sunset Boulevard were sprung on an unsuspecting public. For the first time, we hear the voices of film noir artists speak from the sets and offices of the studios, explaining the dark genre, even before it had a name. Those voices tell how the genre was born and how it thrived in an industry devoted to sweetness and light.
Into the Dark is a ticket to a smoky, glamorous world. You enter a story conference with Raymond Chandler, visit the set of Laura , and watch Detour with a Midwest audience. This volume recreates the environment that spawned film noir. It also displays the wit and warmth of the genre's artists. Hedda Hopper reports on Citizen Kane , calling Orson Welles "Little Orson Annie." Lauren Bacall says she enjoys playing a bad girl in To Have and Have Not . Bosley Crowther calls Joan Crawford in Possessed a "ghost wailing for a demon lover beneath a waning moon." An Indiana exhibitor rates the classic Murder, My Sweet a "passable program picture." Illustrated by hundreds of rare still photographs, Into the Dark conveys the mystery, glamour, and irony that make film noir surpassingly popular.
About
Turner Classic Movies is the definitive resource for the greatest movies of all time. It engages, entertains, and enlightens to show how the entire spectrum of classic movies, movie history, and movie-making touches us all and influences how we think and live today.
Into the Dark is the first book to tell the story of film noir in its own voice. Author Mark A. Vieira quotes the artists who made these movies and the journalists and critics who wrote about them, taking readers on a year-by-year tour of the exciting nights when movies like Double Indemnity , Mildred Pierce , and Sunset Boulevard were sprung on an unsuspecting public. For the first time, we hear the voices of film noir artists speak from the sets and offices of the studios, explaining the dark genre, even before it had a name. Those voices tell how the genre was born and how it thrived in an industry devoted to sweetness and light.
Into the Dark is a ticket to a smoky, glamorous world. You enter a story conference with Raymond Chandler, visit the set of Laura , and watch Detour with a Midwest audience. This volume recreates the environment that spawned film noir. It also displays the wit and warmth of the genre's artists. Hedda Hopper reports on Citizen Kane , calling Orson Welles "Little Orson Annie." Lauren Bacall says she enjoys playing a bad girl in To Have and Have Not . Bosley Crowther calls Joan Crawford in Possessed a "ghost wailing for a demon lover beneath a waning moon." An Indiana exhibitor rates the classic Murder, My Sweet a "passable program picture." Illustrated by hundreds of rare still photographs, Into the Dark conveys the mystery, glamour, and irony that make film noir surpassingly popular.
About
Turner Classic Movies is the definitive resource for the greatest movies of all time. It engages, entertains, and enlightens to show how the entire spectrum of classic movies, movie history, and movie-making touches us all and influences how we think and live today.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2016
73 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Vieira
22 books43 followersMark A. Vieira is a photographer and writer. He makes glamour portraits in the classic Hollywood mode, working in the historic Granada Buildings, where George Hurrell had his first Los Angeles studio. He writes books about the artists, genres, and photographic technique of Hollywood’s Golden Era.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 20, 2025
Being a fan of noir film and the author, Mark Vieira, I was looking forward to this book. But I was a bit disappointed in how the information was presented.
He looks at 332 films from 1941 to 1950 which are categorized as noir and he covers all the classics of that genre. There are excellent photographs but the the text is basically comprised of critics' comments that were written when the film was released. I couldn't care less about what the critics thought with the exception of the late Roger Ebert but this was before his time. It is, however, interesting to see some of the bashing of films that are now considered classics but even that became rather tiresome.
With that said, I still enjoyed the book to a point but wish the author had included more of his own comments.
He looks at 332 films from 1941 to 1950 which are categorized as noir and he covers all the classics of that genre. There are excellent photographs but the the text is basically comprised of critics' comments that were written when the film was released. I couldn't care less about what the critics thought with the exception of the late Roger Ebert but this was before his time. It is, however, interesting to see some of the bashing of films that are now considered classics but even that became rather tiresome.
With that said, I still enjoyed the book to a point but wish the author had included more of his own comments.
November 14, 2022
INTO THE DARK: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF FILM NOIR begins with "Citizen Kane" and closes with "Sunset Boulevard," which will likely surprise those folks who assume that the term applied exclusively to crime thrillers (usually of the detective variety). The films are also often thought to be filmed in dark locations (preferably at night) with a heavy use of shadows. However, Technicolor was used in film noir, and Technicolor was notoriously adverse to dim tones.
So, the writer explains the term early on. In essence, the dark atmosphere required was primarily one of emotional gloom, with a sense of doom hanging heavily around the shoulders of the main character. As the name would suggest, if was "discovered" by the French who had been denied Hollywood films by the Vichy government, and were suitably surprised that the Americans had taken their movies down such a fascinating path!
The writer also admits that there are possibly too many volumes already written on the subject of "film noir," and some of them have conflicting definitions. So, instead of producing yet another history of the subject, the choice is made to delve into the supplemental resources ... the news stories, reviews, comments from theater owners, and bits of insight from someone close to each film. As such, INTO THE DARK was much more of a "fill-in-the-gaps" book for me rather than an in-depth study.
My biggest surprise was how negatively many of these films now seen as classics or major creative influences on filmmakers were regarded upon their initial release. Who couldn't like "In A Lonely Place?" Well, theater owners in middle America weren't thrilled about it as it drew low numbers (one even commenting on the hope that Columbia will stop sending them movies like this!). Reviews often feature comments from Bosley Crowther whose often snide remarks frequently suggested that he never met a film that he liked. Other sources include Hedda Hopper whose dislike of Orson Welles is obvious.
As is usual with previous books I've read from Mark A. Vieira, there are plenty of wonderful photographs. For the most part, he provides only a tagline as description, so Spoilers are few from his part (although a number of reviewers spill the beans).
What amazed me the most is that I only added two films to my viewing list. Much of that was due to my having already seen many of them. However, of those I haven't seen, very few drew my interest.
INTO THE DARK: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF FILM NOIR is not for someone who is looking for an introduction to the subject. Again, it assumes that the Reader has at least a passing understanding of film noir, and has likely read other sources for the detailed history. If you think of using it to compile a Watchlist, be aware that the overwhelming negative comments from different sources at the time will likely cause you to feel that even some of the "gems" aren't all that good.
So, the writer explains the term early on. In essence, the dark atmosphere required was primarily one of emotional gloom, with a sense of doom hanging heavily around the shoulders of the main character. As the name would suggest, if was "discovered" by the French who had been denied Hollywood films by the Vichy government, and were suitably surprised that the Americans had taken their movies down such a fascinating path!
The writer also admits that there are possibly too many volumes already written on the subject of "film noir," and some of them have conflicting definitions. So, instead of producing yet another history of the subject, the choice is made to delve into the supplemental resources ... the news stories, reviews, comments from theater owners, and bits of insight from someone close to each film. As such, INTO THE DARK was much more of a "fill-in-the-gaps" book for me rather than an in-depth study.
My biggest surprise was how negatively many of these films now seen as classics or major creative influences on filmmakers were regarded upon their initial release. Who couldn't like "In A Lonely Place?" Well, theater owners in middle America weren't thrilled about it as it drew low numbers (one even commenting on the hope that Columbia will stop sending them movies like this!). Reviews often feature comments from Bosley Crowther whose often snide remarks frequently suggested that he never met a film that he liked. Other sources include Hedda Hopper whose dislike of Orson Welles is obvious.
As is usual with previous books I've read from Mark A. Vieira, there are plenty of wonderful photographs. For the most part, he provides only a tagline as description, so Spoilers are few from his part (although a number of reviewers spill the beans).
What amazed me the most is that I only added two films to my viewing list. Much of that was due to my having already seen many of them. However, of those I haven't seen, very few drew my interest.
INTO THE DARK: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF FILM NOIR is not for someone who is looking for an introduction to the subject. Again, it assumes that the Reader has at least a passing understanding of film noir, and has likely read other sources for the detailed history. If you think of using it to compile a Watchlist, be aware that the overwhelming negative comments from different sources at the time will likely cause you to feel that even some of the "gems" aren't all that good.
July 25, 2016
If you’re looking for a book on film noir, your options are endless. Much has been written about this beloved and still impossible to nail down genre of film. When author Mark A. Vieira sought out to create Into the Dark: The Hidden World of Film Noir 1941-1950 he needed a different approach. This book is not a primer on film noir nor is it a scholary work. It isn’t even your standard coffee table book. It’s a pictorial history told through archival documents. The author is renowned as a great researcher with access to materials, documents and photographs that few others have. Into the Dark is your armchair as you dig through the film noir archives alongside Vieira.
Warning: You need to know what you're getting into before you start this book. It's not a coffee table book with recaps and history of each film. It's very different. I layout the structure and details of the book in my full review here: http://www.outofthepastblog.com/2016/...
Warning: You need to know what you're getting into before you start this book. It's not a coffee table book with recaps and history of each film. It's very different. I layout the structure and details of the book in my full review here: http://www.outofthepastblog.com/2016/...
September 10, 2016
A gorgeous book. A balanced mix of information and stunning photos, this book is a great read for any noir fan. I kept a notebook handy and made a list of the must watch films in the book and as a pretty well educated fan of noir, I still found quite a few goodies I had not seen. These kind of books are great fun for film fans--deep enough to keep the interest and teach you something, pretty and visually appealing enough to make for a super easy read. Highly recommend.
July 22, 2020
I love old & classic films so I enjoyed this Kindle Edition of "Into the Dark" which gives some stats for these Noir films, author and story given which I added many to my "to read" list. This book gives comments from theater owners at the time and different film industry commentators, movie stars included. I loved seeing all the photos for each movie.
Below the movies listed in book.
"CHAPTER ONE: SHADOWED (1941–1943) 1941 CITIZEN KANE, THE MALTESE FALCON, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, THE SHANGHAI GESTURE; 1942–1943 THIS GUN FOR HIRE, THE GLASS KEY, THE SEVENTH VICTIM; CHAPTER TWO: CYNICAL (1944–1945) 1944 PHANTOM LADY, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, LAURA, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, MURDER, MY SWEET; 1945 MILDRED PIERCE, DETOUR, THE LOST WEEKEND, FALLEN ANGEL, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, SCARLET STREET"
"CHAPTER THREE: ALIENATED (1946–1947) 1946 THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, GILDA, DEADLINE AT DAWN, THE BLUE DAHLIA, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, THE DARK CORNER, THE STRANGER THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS, BLACK ANGEL, THE BIG SLEEP, THE KILLERS, THE LOCKET HUMORESQUE; 1947 DEAD RECKONING, LADY IN THE LAKE, SMASH-UP—THE STORY OF A WOMAN BORN TO KILL, DESPERATE, THE BRASHER DOUBLOON, THE WOMAN ON THE BEACH, BRUTE FORCE, THEY WON’T BELIEVE ME, CROSSFIRE POSSESSED, DESERT FURY, DARK PASSAGE, THE UNSUSPECTED RIDE, THE PINK HORSE, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, OUT OF THE PAST "
1948- SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR, I WALK ALONE, THE BIG CLOCK, RAW DEAL, THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, KEY LARGO, PITFALL SORRY, WRONG NUMBER, MOONRISE, FORCE OF EVIL 1949 CRISS CROSS ACT OF VIOLENCE CAUGHT IMPACT THE SET-UP CHAMPION, FLAMINGO ROAD, THE WINDOW, WHITE HEAT, THIEVES’ HIGHWAY, BEYOND THE FOREST, BORDER INCIDENT, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, WHIRLPOOL, THE RECKLESS MOMENT"
"CHAPTER FIVE: DOOMED (1950) 1950- GUN CRAZY; THE FILE ON THELMA JORDON, D.O.A., THE DAMNED DON’T CRY, IN A LONELY PLACE, THE ASPHALT JUNGLE,THE UNDERWORLD STORY, SUNSET BOULEVARD"
Below the movies listed in book.
"CHAPTER ONE: SHADOWED (1941–1943) 1941 CITIZEN KANE, THE MALTESE FALCON, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, THE SHANGHAI GESTURE; 1942–1943 THIS GUN FOR HIRE, THE GLASS KEY, THE SEVENTH VICTIM; CHAPTER TWO: CYNICAL (1944–1945) 1944 PHANTOM LADY, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, LAURA, TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, MURDER, MY SWEET; 1945 MILDRED PIERCE, DETOUR, THE LOST WEEKEND, FALLEN ANGEL, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, SCARLET STREET"
"CHAPTER THREE: ALIENATED (1946–1947) 1946 THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, GILDA, DEADLINE AT DAWN, THE BLUE DAHLIA, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, THE DARK CORNER, THE STRANGER THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS, BLACK ANGEL, THE BIG SLEEP, THE KILLERS, THE LOCKET HUMORESQUE; 1947 DEAD RECKONING, LADY IN THE LAKE, SMASH-UP—THE STORY OF A WOMAN BORN TO KILL, DESPERATE, THE BRASHER DOUBLOON, THE WOMAN ON THE BEACH, BRUTE FORCE, THEY WON’T BELIEVE ME, CROSSFIRE POSSESSED, DESERT FURY, DARK PASSAGE, THE UNSUSPECTED RIDE, THE PINK HORSE, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, OUT OF THE PAST "
1948- SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR, I WALK ALONE, THE BIG CLOCK, RAW DEAL, THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, KEY LARGO, PITFALL SORRY, WRONG NUMBER, MOONRISE, FORCE OF EVIL 1949 CRISS CROSS ACT OF VIOLENCE CAUGHT IMPACT THE SET-UP CHAMPION, FLAMINGO ROAD, THE WINDOW, WHITE HEAT, THIEVES’ HIGHWAY, BEYOND THE FOREST, BORDER INCIDENT, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, WHIRLPOOL, THE RECKLESS MOMENT"
"CHAPTER FIVE: DOOMED (1950) 1950- GUN CRAZY; THE FILE ON THELMA JORDON, D.O.A., THE DAMNED DON’T CRY, IN A LONELY PLACE, THE ASPHALT JUNGLE,THE UNDERWORLD STORY, SUNSET BOULEVARD"
January 17, 2020
Into the Dark: The Hidden World of Film Noir, 1941-1950 is a Turner Classic Movies film guide by Mark A. Vieira. It has a foreword by Eddie Muller.
I can't get enough of film noir. I've been hooked ever since I first caught Noir Alley hosted by Eddie Muller on TCM. I love the dark atmosphere and the not-so-happy endings. I've been introduced to so many favorite actors and actresses because of this genre. I'm pleased to know I've seen a lot of these films already, so I don't have too much catching up to do.
I loved seeing reviews and comments in this book by theater owners back in the day. It was an awesome touch.
I can't get enough of film noir. I've been hooked ever since I first caught Noir Alley hosted by Eddie Muller on TCM. I love the dark atmosphere and the not-so-happy endings. I've been introduced to so many favorite actors and actresses because of this genre. I'm pleased to know I've seen a lot of these films already, so I don't have too much catching up to do.
I loved seeing reviews and comments in this book by theater owners back in the day. It was an awesome touch.
April 1, 2019
"Part of the satisfaction of writing a film history is learning."
March 11, 2024
Starts with a short, informative foreward by Eddie Muller.
Then nice write-ups on the biggest film noir of the classic noir era (the 1940s). Some striking still shots. Each piece includes actual reactions to the movies at the time they were released, so this book is nice because it’s not so heavily weighted toward the retrospective analysis of contemporary commentators as other essays or explanations of noir tend to be.
Since it’s focused on the genuine, original noir, naturally it leaves out the later, albeit iconic noir of the 1950s (The Killing, Sweet Smell of Success, Touch of Evil, etc.).
Overall, a good book to leave on your coffee table for a while, especially to accompany a TCM film noir movie marathon or if doing your own film noir festival from your couch.
Then nice write-ups on the biggest film noir of the classic noir era (the 1940s). Some striking still shots. Each piece includes actual reactions to the movies at the time they were released, so this book is nice because it’s not so heavily weighted toward the retrospective analysis of contemporary commentators as other essays or explanations of noir tend to be.
Since it’s focused on the genuine, original noir, naturally it leaves out the later, albeit iconic noir of the 1950s (The Killing, Sweet Smell of Success, Touch of Evil, etc.).
Overall, a good book to leave on your coffee table for a while, especially to accompany a TCM film noir movie marathon or if doing your own film noir festival from your couch.
July 23, 2021
I enjoyed this unique take of various things people said about each film from good to bad, intriguing, and sometimes hilarious. It's got me going to see the films from the list that I have not yet seen. So far that has been a lot of fun. I was also surprised in seeing quotes from various cinemas that reported on showing the films back to the studios at the time the films were originally released to see one from my near hometown in little old Cornell WI.
February 9, 2020
Disappointing rundown of essential film noir classics and lesser known gems. Excellent foreword by Noir Alley and film noir expert Eddie Muller is the best part of a book which quickly gives way to repetitive quotes from movie critics and statistics as opposed to offering a critical look at films, their creation, and their place in the film noir genre and history.
March 5, 2024
A beautiful photo book with Hollywood beauty shots of the stars from the selected 82 film noir films. But not just the beautiful black and white photography, the author has lifted from industry trade magazines and reviews of the period artist's comments (stars, directors, producers), real time review, production quotes and more to accompany each selected film.
April 8, 2019
The book is only ok as a mere enumeration or, at most, an illustration of the noir movies timeline, and barely so. The narration or analysis is largely absent, the quotes are often unsubstantial and the photos are mostly snapshots from the movies themselves.
May 7, 2019
Beautiful pictures illustrate this but it tells you virtually nothing about the films.
February 6, 2020
If you love film noir as much as I do, you'll love this book. Terrific!
August 15, 2020
The photos are excellent, but there is not a lot of narrative.
August 17, 2020
Decent Overview
Lots of good info about films noir. If, however, noir is your go-to genre you may find little you don't already know. Still, worth putting some time in.
Lots of good info about films noir. If, however, noir is your go-to genre you may find little you don't already know. Still, worth putting some time in.
September 3, 2023
Mark accomplishes his mission in a really enjoyable way. I already have a friend who wants to borrow the book. A good way to dip into the interesting world of film noir.
June 21, 2024
Knock-off of Muller and others who do actually visual analysis without adding much insight.
March 4, 2025
Whoever formatted this for Libby should be fired. I couldn’t read anything because the type is obscured by the photos underlapped behind it .
August 31, 2016
This is a heavy book. And I do mean HEAVY. We cover the genre 'film noir' from what many call the first movie Citizen Kane through Sunset Boulevard. Little quick outlines of the stories/plots, characters and directors/writers/producers are provided. We also have short reviews from leading critics on the proposed pictures and finished works. There are small comments from the little theater owners across America and quotes of the actors and actresses involved. But these are small and not very detailed. The bulk of the appeal of the book is in the pictures. That is why I say a heavy volume since the paper for all of these photos is quality and heavy stock. This quick coverage will either satisfy your curiosity or open more research into a film or star or whatever related to this genre. One of the little tidbits of data throne in occasionally was the cost of a film. An example is that a movie cost $379,000 to produce and was a hit at $800,000 gross. Some of these figures would not even get any filming done today.
October 29, 2016
Excellent for the people who already know everything about Noir (or nearly)
I'm not sure whether this is very helpful for newbies to Noir (do they even exist?), but if you’re like me, have seen most of the well-known films and read a fair bit about the era than this is a very entertaining summing up. And interestingly it’s done chronologically, year by year and month by month. The films are in production, get a gossipy look in by Hedda Hopper, and when they come out some theatre own in Hicksville, Over-the-Stick county complains about how unsuitable the films are for his local audience. Occasionally the author also includes contemporary box office info.
All in all, highly readable, interesting and fun.
I'm not sure whether this is very helpful for newbies to Noir (do they even exist?), but if you’re like me, have seen most of the well-known films and read a fair bit about the era than this is a very entertaining summing up. And interestingly it’s done chronologically, year by year and month by month. The films are in production, get a gossipy look in by Hedda Hopper, and when they come out some theatre own in Hicksville, Over-the-Stick county complains about how unsuitable the films are for his local audience. Occasionally the author also includes contemporary box office info.
All in all, highly readable, interesting and fun.
August 26, 2016
This overview of American film noir takes an interesting approach to the subject. First, it covers only the years 1941 through 1950 (“Citizen Kane” through “Sunset Boulevard”). Second, it includes some unorthodox choices (like “The Spiral Staircase”, “The Locket”, and even “Citizen Kane”). Third, it showcases each film by quoting participants (actors, writers, directors), reviewers (cranky Bosley Crowther mostly dislikes everything), and small town box office reports (most noir did poorly in these venues). As expected, the photos are the real star here with some gorgeous star portraits and especially production stills.
September 20, 2016
This is a reference book but, I read it all anyway. There is very good info on film noir. If you want to see them all, follow the list in this book. I liked the contemporary reviews, theater owner feedback, and artist commentary. Someitmes getting the back story enhances your enjoyment. There were three movies in here, I have never heard of. I'm looking forward to trying to find a copy.
May 27, 2016
The pictures in this are beautiful and at a very high resolution. Makes me wish I could decorate with them.
The book is very factual and has little to no opinion, which is refreshing. Some movies which peaked my interest i have already found and started to watch. More than a 'coffee table" book.
The book is very factual and has little to no opinion, which is refreshing. Some movies which peaked my interest i have already found and started to watch. More than a 'coffee table" book.
July 20, 2016
This is great fun - from the artist comments, theatre owner praise/complaints, and general commentary, as well as (of course!) the gorgeous photos (some in color - seriously, Veronica Lake, IN COLOR) - just fantastic. A must for fans of classic films.
February 10, 2017
Probably read 2/3 of this interesting coffee table book on film noir that chronicles the history of these films using clippings from the era in which these films were made.
June 28, 2016
Great photos, but not much substance. The text is made up almost entirely of period newspaper review quotes.
August 29, 2016
Great photos. Serious film noir buffs won't find much new in the text. I guess the inclusion of review excerpts from the era is mildly interesting, though they start to get repetitive after a while.
January 13, 2017
Beautiful book. Loves the reviews and comments by the stars, critics, and theater owners of the day.
Would make a fabulous reference tome for movies I need to get.
Would make a fabulous reference tome for movies I need to get.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews