Film Noir Production ─ The Whodunit of the Classic American Mystery Film

Producing Film Noir: The Whodunit of the American Classic Mystery Film reveals the fascinating facts behind how the classic film noir movies were actually made. Beginning with the mystery novel base material, the studio executives and staff writers input through the assigned directors and talented contract cinematographer’s imagery, learn why both the studios and audiences loved them and why they are still popular today. Here you will find discussion of the cultural connections between film noir and its audiences within the time periods it was created, and theories as to why they became so popular, as well as often overlooked details like the talented crews who contributed more than most recognize, the actual production processes with advancements in technology and the need to create mass appeal content, which all combined allowed the filmmakers to create something so new and noteworthy. Readers will find in these pages many behind the scenes stories about the productions of certain classics and the prime players involved in their creation, from Darryl Zanuck and Raymond Chandler to John Seitz and Billy Wilder.

David Landau is an award winning mystery playwright with seven works published by Samuel French including his internationally produced play Murder at Cafe Noir, a comedy tribute to the film noir movies of the 1940s, which would be performed in theaters across the United States and Canada for the following six years. His noir play Deep Six Holiday, inspired by the work of James Cain, has won several theater awards, and his noir short film Joker’s Wild, (written and photographed by David) was featured on A&E Short Subjects, Cinemax, and won several film festival awards. David holds a Masters of Fine Arts in screenwriting from Goddard College, has published a dozen articles on screenwriting in such magazines as Screenwriter’s Monthly and Script Magazine, has won several screenwriting awards and has had several scripts optioned. As a full professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, David teaches film, cinematography, screenwriting and film noir. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Dramatists Guild, the University Film & Video Association and IATSE local 52 as a gaffer.