New Book: Femme Noir: Bad Girls of Film

Here's another interesting book from McFarland, FEMME NOIR: BAD GIRLS OF FILM by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry.

The McFarland site says the book is due in 2010, but Amazon shows it as already available. According to this interview with the author, FEMME NOIR originally came out in 1998; the new release is a paperback edition.

A description: "Though often thought of as primarily a male vehicle, the film noir offered some of the most complex female roles of any movies of the 1940s and 1950s. Stars such as Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Tierney and Joan Crawford produced some of their finest performances in noir movies, while such lesser known actresses as Peggie Castle, Hope Emerson and Helen Walker made a lasting impression with their roles in the genre. These six women and 43 others who were most frequently featured in films noirs are profiled here, focusing primarily on their work in the genre and its impact on their careers. A filmography of all noir appearances is provided for each actress."

The book isn't inexpensive, but considering that a reputable noir scholar profiles 49 actresses in 643 pages, it sounds like a worthwhile purchase.

Hannsberry, the editor of the noir newsletter The Dark Pages, is also the author of the 797-page BAD BOYS: THE ACTORS OF FILM NOIR. Another book for my wish list!

Last fall Hannsberry was interviewed over the course of several days at Silver Screen Oasis, moderated by Moira Finnie. It's a very interesting and worthwhile thread.