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- Blood on the Moon
Of the movies that writers and historians call "Noir Westerns," none is more celebrated than 1948's Blood on the Moon. The comingling of the Western genre and the noir style crystalized in this extraordinary film, in turn influencing Westerns in the 1950s to become darker and more psychological. Produced during the height of the post-World War II film noir movement, Blood on the Moon is a classic Western immersed in the film noir netherworld of double crosses, government corruption, shabby barrooms, gun-toting goons, and romantic betrayals. With this volume, biographer and noir expert Alan K. Rode brings the film to life for a new generation of readers and film lovers.
Alan K. Rode is a charter director and the treasurer of the Film Noir Foundation, spearheading the preservation and restoration of America's noir heritage. A documentarian and producer, he is also the author of Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film and Charles McGraw: Film Noir Tough Guy.
"Alan K. Rode is just about the perfect writer for the Reel West series, with biographies of noir standout Charles McGraw and legendary director Michael Curtiz. Almost every sentence, especially in the beginning of Mr. Rode's book, is packed with the Hollywood history that bears upon Blood on the Moon. In such a short compass, we have it all: the development of Westerns, gangster pictures, and film noir as well as the writers, directors, technicians, and studio heads--in this case the loony Howard Hughes."--Carl Rollyson, the New York Sun
"A first-rate look at an undervalued movie that represents a noted Western author (Luke Short), a talented screenwriter (Lillie Hayward), a director who was just coming into his own (Robert Wise), and a star on the ascendence (Robert Mitchum). Alan K. Rode gives us the story behind the story onscreen."--Leonard Maltin, author of Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide
Preface
Introduction
Synopsis
Chapter One. The Author
Chapter Two. Book to Film
Chapter Three. RKO Pictures
Chapter Four. The Director
Chapter Five. Preproduction
Chapter Six. The Cast
Chapter Seven. Production
Chapter Eight. Postproduction
Chapter Nine. Aftermath
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
Synopsis
Chapter One. The Author
Chapter Two. Book to Film
Chapter Three. RKO Pictures
Chapter Four. The Director
Chapter Five. Preproduction
Chapter Six. The Cast
Chapter Seven. Production
Chapter Eight. Postproduction
Chapter Nine. Aftermath
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index