Watch FILM NOIR STYLE: THE POST-WAR YEARS on Vimeo!

Last weekend an enthusiastic audience joined me to celebrate Film Noir Style: The Post-War Years! This was the final event in the four-part series, which mirrors my book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s. This webinar examined the dramatic changes that occurred in both film and fashion after World War II along with the backstories and ongoing influence of six essential film noir from 1947 to 1950:

Dead Reckoning (1947)

Lady in the Lake (1947)

Out of the Past (1947)

The Lady from Shanghai (1948)

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

In case you missed the event live, the recording is now available on demand on Vimeo. You can either watch it through the link or in the embedded player below. 

You can now watch all four events from the Film Noir Style series on demand on my Vimeo channel.

For the Post-War Years event,

I channeled Lizabeth Scott in Dead Reckoning (1947)

with my 2000s Laundry by Shelli Segal gown

Join me next month as I return to the 1930s and Pre-Code film

with The Style of Sin: Barbara Stanwyck!

FILM NOIR STYLE Featured on Seattle's New Day Northwest

 

This past week, host Amity Addrisi interviewed me about my book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s for Seattle's New Day Northwest! It was something of a homecoming since I grew up in Central Washington, and many friends and family live in the Seattle area. We had fun discussing many of the films and actresses we all love from the genre - from Veronica Lake to Rita Hayworth - as well as the influence of film noir on 2021 fashion.  Watch the interview on the New Day Northwest site or through the player below. Enjoy!

There was a chill in the air in LA when I did the interview,

so I wore a red vintage sweater dress

You're Invited! FILM NOIR STYLE Online Series Concludes with POST-WAR YEARS on 2/21

On Sunday, February 21, my online series Film Noir Style concludes with The Post-War Years 1947-1950. This is the fourth and final event in the series that accompanies my book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s. Like the book, the series is divided into four parts:

Before the War 1940-1941

The War Years 1942-1945

The Year of Transition 1946

The Post-War Years 1947-1950

In this webinar, I will present and discuss the historical context of the time, dramatic changes that occurred in both film and fashion after World War II, and the backstories of 6 films noir of the era - Dead Reckoning (1947), Lady in the Lake (1947), Out of the Past (1947), The Lady from Shanghai (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), and Sunset Boulevard (1950).

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Sunday, February 21

Film Noir Style: The Post-War Years 1947-1950

Online via Zoom webinar

4 pm - 5:30 pm PT (7 pm - 8:30 pm ET)

Tickets $10 - register on Zoom

 
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The book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s is now available everywhere! Autographed copies can be purchased through Hollywood's historic Larry Edmunds Bookshop.

About the book...

In 1941, Hollywood turned down a dark alley and began to explore stories of vice, corruption, and murder. Pictures featured tough leading men and mysterious women who were often very good at being bad. While navigating the impact of the Production Code and World War II, studio costume designers defined the style of the decade's crime thrillers and murder dramas, which would collectively become known as film noir. They transformed Hollywood's leading ladies into intrigantes and femme fatales - women who would do anything to get what they want.
 
The actors in film noir, led by Humphrey Bogart, set style standards for America in the way they wore suits, fedoras, and trench coats. And oh, the women - whether good or bad, they captured the imagination of the country and immediately began influencing fashion. Film noir made stars of young actresses like Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Gene Tierney, and Marilyn Monroe and magnified the careers of Rita Hayworth, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Greer, and Gloria Swanson. In all cases, costume design proved vital to their success. Historian Kimberly Truhler explores twenty definitive film noir titles and traces the intersection of film noir and popular fashion through the decade and beyond.

Some of the 20 films that are featured in Film Noir Style -

both the book and accompanying online series

Interviewed by Film Critic Nell Minow for the Motion Picture Association

One of the people who reached out to me about my book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s was the incomparable Nell Minow. Nell is a renowned film critic whose own list of credits is long - writing for countless newspapers from the Chicago Sun-Times to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal as well as reviewing movies each week on radio stations across the United States and Canada. She is also a member of the Online Film Critics Society, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, and the Association of Women Film Journalists. To say that it was honor to speak with Nell about film is an understatement.

Adding to the excitement was that the Motion Picture Association wanted to publish the interview on their website The Credits. They loved our conversation so much that they published it in two parts rather than edit anything down. It was such fun and particularly special because Nell's daughter is a costume designer (who has been to my events at the Egyptian Theatre and online!). Thanks to both the MPA as well as the brilliant Nell Minow. It's definitely the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Read Part I of the interview

Read Part II of the interview

Sold Out at Larry Edmunds - Again - and #1 Movie History New Release on Amazon

 

Even before I went back to sign the second batch of Film Noir Style at the Larry Edmunds Bookshop last week, I learned I had SOLD OUT AGAIN! It was an incredible afternoon on Hollywood Boulevard that followed an incredible morning appearing on Chicago's WGN Morning News to promote the book.

For those who still want to buy an autographed copy through Larry Edmunds, they have just placed a third order for more. However, quantities will be extremely limited, so make sure to jump on it immediately once they announce that Film Noir Style is back in stock at the store.

For the signing, I wore a purple 1970s shirtdress 

with a wing collar favored by 1940s costume designer Orry-Kelly

and white leopard (faux fur) pumps

Then as if things couldn't get better, I learned from my publisher that Film Noir Style had become the #1 New Release for Movie History & Criticism on Amazon. This is so encouraging to me because it means the book is truly reaching a wide audience.

The response online has been absolutely incredible - thank you to everyone who has reached out to me. I love how many have shared their excitement at receiving Film Noir Style as well as all the wonderful compliments after reading the book. One gentlemen recently thanked me for being "seriously erudite on the subject" and then posted, "It's a great read - as informative as it is entertaining." I can't ask for much better than that.

FILM NOIR STYLE Featured on Chicago's WGN Morning News

After being featured in The Hollywood Reporter, the excitement surrounding the launch of Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s continued with this week's appearance on the WGN Morning News! It was such fun to discuss the book with the hosts of Chicago's #1 morning show. Many of you watched it on Thursday, but the interview is now available online in case you missed it live.

For a discussion of Film Noir Style,

I chose a purple vintage shirtdress with a wing collar,

which was beloved by Orry-Kelly in his 1940s designs

FILM NOIR STYLE Featured in THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

 

It's been a wonderful whirlwind since the launch of Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s on January 12. That started with the almost immediate - and surprise - coverage of my book in The Hollywood Reporter! THR is an iconic magazine that has been part of the industry since 1930, so it's an incredible honor to find my work in its pages. And classic film fans will appreciate the fact that I'm featured right next to the talented Cicely Tyson and a book about her life in the print magazine (images of that below). The piece is also available online, so you can read about Film Noir Style on the The Hollywood Reporter website. Thanks to writer Laurie Brookins for a real "pinch me" moment.