Creatures of Darkness: Raymond Chandler, Detective Fiction, and Film Noir

352 Pages·2003·36.63 MB·English

by  Gene Phillips

()f
Raymond Chandler,
Detective Fiction,
and Film Noir
D.
GENE PHILLIPS
THE
UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTuCKY
Publication of this volume was made possible in part by
a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Copyright © 2000 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
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College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Phillips, Gene D.
Creatures of darkness : Raymond Chandler, detective fiction and film noir /
Gene D. Phillips.
p. cm.
Filmography: p.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-8131-9042-8 (paper : alk. paper)
1. Chandler, Raymond, 1888–1959—Criticism and interpretation. 2. Detective and
mystery stories, American—History and criticism. 3. Chandler, Raymond, 1888–1959—
Film and video adaptations. 4. Chandler, Raymond, 1888–1959—Motion picture
plays. 5. Detective and mystery films—History and criticism. 6. Motion picture plays—
History and criticism. 7. Chandler, Raymond, 1888–1959—Influence. 8. Film noir—
History and criticism. I. Title.
PS3505.H3224 Z836 2000
813’52—dc21 00–028306
ISBN-13: 978-0-8131-9042-6 (paper : alk. paper)
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
For
Bryan Forbes
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Tolerated by the studios rather than welcomed,
screenwriters have never enjoyed the acclaim
so lavishly bestowed on actors and directors.
For required reading on the subject,
I recommend the series of articles that
Raymond Chandler wrote on the studio system.
-Bryan Forbes
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Preface: Billy Wilder Speaking
Xl
Acknowledgments xv
Chronology xvii
Prologue: Trouble in Paradise
XIX
1 Introduction: Dead of Night 1
Val"t ()ne
I\niuht and the Cit,,:
The t=lIm§ ()f t=icti()n
Chandle~§
2 Paint It Black: Chandler as Fiction Writer 13
3 The Lady Is a Tramp: The Falcon Takes Over;
Murder, My Sweet; and Farewell, My Lovely 20
4 Knight Moves: Two Films of The Big Sleep 48
5 Down among the Rotting Palms: Time to Kill
and The Brasher Doubloon 73
6 Dead in the Water: Lady in the Lake 94
7 Decline and Fall: Marlowe 117
8 Modern Times: The Long Goodbye 137
Val"tTW()
Ixlled In l3ab"l()n:
§cl"eenplan
Chandlel"~§
9 Lured: Double Indemnity 165
10 No Way to Treat a Lady:
The Blue Dahlia and Other Screenplays 183
11 Dance with the Devil:
Strangers on a Train and Playback 202
12 The Stag at Eve:
Poodle Springs and Other Telefilms 223
Epilogue: Endless Night 242
Notes 251
Selected Bibliography 275
Filmography 283
Index 297
Photographs follow page 136
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