E. L. Doctorow, on writing:

 

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.

- E. L. Doctorow.

Recommended reading - The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir

 

The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir

by Foster Hirsch.
 
Published by Da Capo.
2nd edition.
Published 2008.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0306817721
ISBN-13: 978-0306817724
 
Description:
 

Foster Hirsch's Dark Side of the Screen is by far the most thorough and entertaining study of the themes, visual motifs, character types, actors, directors, and films in this genre ever published. From Billy Wilder, Douglas Sirk, Robert Aldrich, and Howard Hawkes to Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, and Paul Schrader, the noir themes of dread, paranoia, steamy sex, double-crossing women, and menacing cityscapes have held a fascination. The features that make Burt Lancaster, Joan Crawford, Robert Mitchum, and Humphrey Bogart into noir heroes and heroines are carefully detailed here, as well as those camera angles, lighting effects, and story lines that characterize Fritz Lang, Samuel Fuller, and Orson Welles as noir directors.For the current rediscovery of film noir, this comprehensive history with its list of credits to 112 outstanding films and its many illustrations will be a valuable reference and a source of inspiration for further research.

 

“Wonderfully readable: Hirsch is clear, knowledgeable, and concise….[The Dark Side of the Screen] is a visual as well as literary pleasure.” – Martin Jackson, Cineaste.

 

“There has been no extended work as good as Foster Hirsch’s The Dark Side of the Screen, a well-written, imaginatively illustrated book that sees the brief, true heyday as between Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) and his Sunset Boulevard (1950), but looks at the prelude and the aftermath, and sets the genre in its larger social and cultural context.” – Philip French, The Observer (London).

 

“An important examination of what film noir is…The 264-page treatise is not a review source; rather, Hirsch’s academic work delves deeply with a scholarly but not dry approach.” – Skyscraper, Spring 2009.

Born on this day – Laurence Trimble:

Photographed with Strongheart, the first dog to be a lead movie star (1930)

Laurence Trimble

Silent film director

Writer

Actor

February 15, 1885 – February 8, 1954

Credits:

A Cure for Pokeritis (1912); A Place in the Sun (1916); A Red Cross Martyr; or, on the Firing Lines of Tripoli (1912); A Tin-Type Romance (1910); A Welsh Singer (1915); A Window on Washington Park (1913); Alone in London (1915); As Ye Repent (1915); Auld Lang Syne (1911); Auld Robin Gray (1910); Bachelor Buttons (1912); Battle Hymn of the Republic (1917); Beyond the Law (1911); Billy the Kid (1911); Brawn of the North (1922); Bunny All at Sea (1912); Bunny and the Dogs (1912); Bunny at the Derby (1912); Bunny Blarneyed; or, the Blarney Stone (1913); Bunny's Suicide (1912); Cardinal Wolsey (1912); Caste (1915); Chased by Bloodhounds (1912); Checkmated (1913); Counsellor Bobby (1913); Creatures of Habit (1914); Cutey Plays Detective (1913); Daisy Doodad's Dial (1914); Daring Danger (1924); Darling Mine (1920); Does Advertising Pay? (1913); Doorsteps (1916); Drumsticks (1910); Everybody's Doing It (1913); Everybody's Sweetheart (1920); Far from the Madding Crowd (1915); Film Favourites (1914); Flapper Wives (1924); Flotilla the Flirt (1914); Fool's Gold (1919); For Her People (1914); Going Some (1920); Grim Justice (1916); Hee! Haw! (1923); Her Crowning Glory (1911); Her Mother's Wedding Gown (1910); Hypnotizing the Hypnotist (1911); In the Arctic Night (1911); Indian Romeo and Juliet (1912); Jean and the Calico Doll (1910); Jean and the Waif (1910); Jean Goes Fishing (1910); Jean Goes Foraging (1910); Jean Rescues (1911); Jean the Match-Maker (1910); Jean's Evidence (1913); Jean's Evidence (1913); Let 'Em Quarrel (1913); Lost and Won (1915); Man to Man (1911); Martha's Rebellion (1912); Michael McShane, Matchmaker (1912); Mine of Missing Men (1917); Mockery (1912); My Old Dutch (1915); My Old Dutch (1926); One Thing After Another (1914); One Touch of Nature (1911); Pandora's Box (1912); Playthings of Destiny (1921); Polly's Progress (1914); Prejudice of Pierre Marie (1911); Pumps (1913); Red Eagle (1911); Rose of Surrey (1913); Sally in Our Alley (1916); Saved by the Flag (1910); Shopgirls: or, The Great Question (1914); Sisters All (1913); Snobs (1914); Spotlight Sadie (1919); Suing Susan (1912); Sundown (1924); The Auction Block (1917); The Awakening of Jones (1912); The Awakening of Nora (1914); The Battle Hymn of the Republic (1911); The Deerslayer (1913); The French Spy (1912); The Great Adventure (1916); The Harper Mystery (1913); The House in Suburbia (1913); The Light Within (1918); The Love Master (1924); The Lucky Stone (1913); The Men Haters' Club (1910); The Murdoch Trial (1914); The Path of True Love (1912); The Pickwick Papers (1913); The Pickwick Papers: Part Three (1913); The Pseudo Sultan (1912); The Shepherd Lassie of Argyle (1914); The Shining Adventure (1925); The Signal of Distress (1912); The Silent Call (1921); The Silver Horde (1920); The Spreading Dawn (1917); The Stumbling Block (1911); The Wings of a Moth (1913); The Woman God Sent (1920); The Younger Sister (1913); There's Music in the Hair (1913); Through the Valley of Shadows (1914); Through the Valley of Shadows (1914); Two Cinders (1912); Under the Make-Up (1913); Up and Down the Ladder (1913); Vengeance - and the Woman (1917); When Bobby Forgot (1913); When the Light Waned (1911); Where the Winds Blow (1910); While She Powdered Her Nose (1912); White Fang (1925); Wig Wag (1911).

Born on this day – Howard Higgin:

 

Howard Higgin

Director

Writer

February 15, 1891 – December 16, 1938

Credits:

Battle of Greed (1937); Broken Barriers (1924); Cafe Hostess (1940); Carnival Lady (1933); Changing Husbands (1924); Don't Doubt Your Husband (1924); Fashion Row (1923); Hell's House (1932); Her Man (1930); High Voltage (1929); I Conquer the Sea! (1936); In the Name of Love (1925); King Kelly of the U.S.A. (1934); Marriage on Approval (1933); Power (1928); Rent Free (1922); Revolt of the Zombies (1936); Sal of Singapore (1928); Skyscraper (1928); Smouldering Fires (1925); The Crusades (1935); The Final Edition (1932); The Gold Racket (1937); The Great Deception (1926); The Invisible Ray (1935); The Last Man (1932); The Leatherneck (1929); The Line-Up (1934); The New Commandment (1925); The Painted Desert (1931); The Perfect Sap (1927); The Racketeer (1929); The Reckless Lady (1926); The Trouble with Wives (1925); The Wilderness Woman (1926); Tomorrow's Love (1925).

Born on this day – Kokomo Arnold:

 

Kokomo Arnold

Blues singer

Guitarist

February 15, 1896 or 1901 – November 8, 1968

Credits:

Songs:

Back Door Blues; Back to the Woods; Bad Luck Blues; Biscuit Roller Blues; Black Annie; Busy Bootin'; Chain Gang Blues; Feels So Good; Grandpa Got Drunk; Hobo Blues; How Long How Long Blues; I'm Going Fishing Too; Kokomo Blues; Long and Tall; Mean Old Twister; Milk Cow Blues; Old Black Cat Blues; Old Original Kokomo Blues; Paddlin' Blues; Paddlin' Madeline Blues; Policy Wheel Blues; Rainy Night Blues; Red Beans and Rice; Sagefield Woman Blues; Set Down Gal; Sissy Man Blues; Slop Jar Blues; Stop, Look and Listen; The Big Boat; The Twelves; Things 'Bout Coming My Way; You Shouldn't Do That.

Albums:

A as in ARNOLD, Kokomo (Volume 1) (2012); A as in ARNOLD, Kokomo (Volume 2) (2012); A Summer Sky Shines (2015); ABC Of The Blues Vol 5 (2010); ABC of the Blues Vol. 1 (2010); Bad Luck Blues (2015); Beans And Rice (2013); Best Blues (2016); Beyond Patina Jazz Masters: Kokomo Arnold (2012); Blues Experience Vol. 14 (2010); Blues Legends: Kokomo Arnold (2012); Blues Masters Vol. 14 - Kokomo Arnold (2009); Bootlegger Blues (2015); Bottleneck Guitar Trendsetters of the 1930's (1992); Bottlenecks (2023); Cold Winter Blues - The Best Of (2009); Collection 1930-38 (2020); Colours of Music History (2014); Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Volume 1: 17 May 1930 to 15 March 1935 (1991); Crying Blues (2015); It's All About Blues Music (2014); King of the Bottleneck Guitar (1934-1937) (2003); Kokomo Arnold (2008); Kokomo Arnold UpGraded Masters (All Tracks Remastered) (2019); Kokomo Arnold Vol. 1 (1930 - 1935) (2005); Kokomo Arnold Vol. 3 (1936 - 1937) (2005); Kokomo Arnold Vol. 4 (1933 - 1934) (2005); Kokomo Arnold, Vol. 2 (1935 - 1936) (2012); Laugh And Grin (2013); Mean Old Twister (2011); Midnight Blues (Nothing But the Blues) (1994); Milk Cow Blues (2010); Milk cow blues (2022 Remastered Version) (2022); Policy Wheel Blues (2015); Presenting Kokomo Arnold (1934); Red Beans and Rice (2011); Shake That Thing (2016); That's What I Need (2014); The Twelves (2015); The Ultimate Jazz Archive 12 (4 Of 4) (2007); Tonight in Time (2015); Try Some of That (2024); Your Music Around Me (2015).

Movies and television:

Aerosmith: Live Texxas Jam '78 (1989); Elvis: The Memphis Flash (2005); Hollywood a Go Go (1965); Shindig! (1965); The Beatles: Get Back (2021); Walk the Line (2005).

Born on this day – Sidney Gilliat:

Sidney Gilliat

Director

Writer

Producer

Actor

February 15, 1908 – May 31, 1994

Credits:

A Gentleman of Paris (1931); Afternoon Film Festival (1956); Alias Bulldog Drummond (1935); Ask a Policeman (1939); Au théâtre ce soir (1971); Bed and Breakfast (1930); Big Time Operators (1957); Bikini Baby (1951); Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957); Captain Boycott (1947); Chu Chin Chow (1934); Crook's Tour (1940); Doomed Cargo (1936); Dulcimer Street (1948); Endless Night (1972); Facing the Music (1933); Falling for You (1933); Folly to Be Wise (1952); Friday the Thirteenth (1933); Get Charlie Tully (1972); Gilbert and Sullivan (1953); Green for Danger (1946); I See a Dark Stranger (1946); Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday (1939); Jack Ahoy (1934); Jamaica Inn (1939); Joey Boy (1965); King of the Damned (1935); Kraft Theatre (1955); Left Right and Centre (1959); Lord Babs (1932); Lord Richard in the Pantry (1930); Marriage a la Mode (1955); Millions Like Us (1943); Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light (1941); My Heart Is Calling (1935); Night and Day (1932); Night Train to Munich (1940); Notorious Gentleman (1945); Only Two Can Play (1962); Orders Is Orders (1933); Partners in Crime (1942); Post Haste (1933); Red Pearls (1930); Rome Express (1932); She Played with Fire (1957); Sign Please (1933); Strange Boarders (1938); Strangers on a Honeymoon (1936); Take My Tip (1937); The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954); The Blue Lagoon (1949); The Boys in Blue (1983); The Bridal Path (1959); The Gaunt Stranger (1931); The Ghost Train (1931); The Girl in the News (1940); The Great Manhunt (1950); The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery (1966); The Green Man (1956); The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950); The Happy Ending (1931); The Lady Vanishes (1938); The Lady Vanishes (1979); The Man Who Lived Again (1936); The Moment of Truth (1952); The Open Window (1956); The Phantom Strikes (1938); The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960); The Remarkable Mr. Kipps (1941); The Young Mr. Pitt (1942); They Came by Night (1940); Third Time Lucky (1931); Twelve Good Men (1936); Two Thousand Women (1944); Uncensored (1942); Unpublished Story (1942); Vor Nachbarn wird gewarnt (1965); Waterloo Road (1945); Where There's a Will (1936); You'd Be Surprised! (1930); You're Telling Me! (1941).

Born on this day – Keene Curtis:

Keene Curtis

Actor

February 15, 1923 – October 13, 2002

Credits:

9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2003); Adventures from the Book of Virtues (1996); Ally McBeal (1997); Amanda's (1983); American Heritage - American Revolution I: The Cause of Liberty (1972); American Heritage - The American Revolution II: The Impossible War (1972); American Hot Wax (1978); Baretta (1975); Benson (1982); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1991); Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990); Blade (1973); Bonkers (1993); Boone (1983); Brotherly Love (1996); Cannon (1976); Caroline in the City (1996); Cassie & Co. (1982); Cheers (1990–1993); Cheers: Last Call! (1993); Coach (1995); Cracker: Mind Over Murder (1997); Dark Shadows (1970); Eight Is Enough (1979); Ellery Queen (1975); ER (1995); Full House (1994); Gypsy (1993); Hart to Hart (1981–1982); Hawaii Five-O (1974–1975); Heaven Can Wait (1978); Hope & Gloria (1995); I.Q. (1994); Karen (1975); Knight Rider (1983); Lambada (1990); Legalese (1998); Les Chroniques du Mea (2017); Logan's Run (1977); Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996); Lou Grant (1978–1981); M*A*S*H (1974); Macbeth (1948); Matt Houston (1983); Men Behaving Badly (1997); Michael Hayes (1998); Modesty Blaise (1982); Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982); Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor (1997); Murder, She Wrote (1993); Ned and Stacey (2017); Newhart (1989); Nick & Hillary (1989); Night Court (1988); One in a Million (1980); Pac Preview Party (1982); Partners in Crime (1984); Party of Five (1998); Primus (1971); Private Benjamin (1982); Quincy, M.E. (1977); Rabbit Test (1978); Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998); Sanford and Son (1975); Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979–1983); Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen (1996); Sliver (1993); Space Stars (1981); Star Trek: Voyager (1996); Star Wars: The Original Radio Drama (1981); Stargate SG-1 (1997 / 1999); Stowaway to the Moon (1975); Strange New World (1975); Struck by Lightning (1979); Sunset Beach (1997–1998); Superman (1988); Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron (1993–1994); The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (1990); The Buddy System (1984); The Creative Person (1967); The David Frost Show (1972); The Drew Carey Show (1996–1997); The Dukes (1983); The Easter Story (1989); The Fantastic Funnies (1980); The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (1986); The Hoboken Chicken Emergency (1984); The Jeff Foxworthy Show (1997); The Jeffersons (1976); The Lady's Not for Burning (1974); The Little Mermaid (1992); The Lives of Benjamin Franklin (1974); The Magician (1973–1974); The Magnificent Magical Magnet of Santa Mesa (1977); The Making of La Cage Aux Folles (1985); The Missiles of October (1974); The Pirates of Dark Water (1991); The Pretender (1998); The Royal Family (1977); The San Pedro Beach Bums (1977); The Single Guy (1995); The Smurfs (1982–1989); The Smurfs Springtime Special (1982); The Wide World of Mystery (1974); The Wizard (1987); The Wrong Damn Film (1975); There Goes the Neighborhood (1983); Three (2000); Three's Company (1979–1981); Timeless Tales from Hallmark (1990); Touched by an Angel (1997); Trapper John, M.D. (1982); Unit 4 (1981); Whiz Kids (1984); Wildfire (1986); Wonder Woman (1976).