Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir Book

Film noir was the dark side of the movies' happily-ever-after mythology. Sinister and sexy, it forged a new icon: the tough, independent, take-no-guff dame. Determined, desirable, dangerous when cornered, she could handle trouble—or deal out some of her own.

If you though these women were something special on screen—wait until you meet the genuine articles. In Dark City Dames, Eddie Muller profiles seven women who've made a lasting impression in this cinematic terrain: from veteran "bad girls" Claire Trevor, Audrey Totter, Marie Windsor, and Jane Greer, to unexpected genre stalwarts Evelyn Keyes, Coleen Gray, and Ann Savage. The book tracks the lives of these formidable women during two distinct eras: first in Hollywood circa 1950, as they balanced love and career, struggled against typecasting, and sought fulfillment in a ruthless business; then again today, as they enjoy a renaissance that's made them more popular than ever. And in the book's pages the women reflect on the half-century between, recounting lives with as much passion, pain, loss, and redemption as any movie script.

Dark City Dames conveys the glorious excitement of gifted performers living out their youthful fantasies—and shows how they took charge of their destinies, once Hollywood had discounted their allure. It is a rare film book, offering insights into the changing image and attitudes of American women, both on and off the silver screen.