Film Noir has long been a fascinating, complex cinematic period style. For students interested in the problematic conception of noir as a genre, Ian Brookes surveys critical, theoretical, and historiographic scholarly discourse on noir and its multifaceted nature. Brookes traces conceptions of noir from early pre-noir antecedents to wartime and postwar incarnations of the classic noir cycle, and examines the anxieties of returning veterans.

Sheri Chinen Biesen, Author of Blackout: World War II and the Origins of Film Noir

Film Noir: A Critical Introduction is a thorough survey of the noir genre. Brookes covers critical debates over film noir's meaning and history. This text is an exemplary introduction to the subject that also covers new territory, on "veteran problem" noirs in particular. It is suitable for both course adoption and should be of interest to seasoned noir scholars.

Jesse Schlotterbeck, Assistant Professor of Cinema, Denison University, USA