For a course I am designing I am seeking information on the European roots of American film noir. I'm familiar with the usual approaches, I think: German directors Siodmak, Lang, Preminger, Wilder inter alia come to US in 20s and 30s, and put their visual stamp on Hollywood productions. More detailed explanations tend to get broader rather than deeper: they mention more East Europeans (Curtiz, Ingster, Mate', Ophuls, Negulesco) or other mid-or north Europeans (Austrians von Sternberg, Ulmer; Danish Sirk, French Tourneur), and occasionally mention cinematographers (Hungarian-born John Alton, or Rudolph Mate's work). So what am I looking for? I'm looking for more than a superficial list of names or supposed expressionist devices using low-light etc. Can anyone suggest a book, chapter, or article which gives a closer analysis of historical-technical links? The development of depth focus from Renoir to Toland in Citizen Kane is a pretty good example of what I mean, and Marsha Kinder's explanation in _Close-Up_ is good for a 3rd year class. At this point I plan to use excerpts from some late 30s & early 40s French films (Renoir, Carne'), and Visconti's _Ossessione_ in comparison with the 1946 _Postman Always Rings Twice_. I might use early examples of Italian neo-realism (Rossellini) too. Anyone interested in my tentative syllabus is welcome to request it. Suggestions appreciated. Absolute latest film date will be 1952, maybe even earlier. I want to focus almost exclusively on American 40s, with European stuff used to understand origins, and similarities in different cultural contexts. Rick Francis, Dept of Comparative Literature Box 1077; Washington University One Brookings Drive; St. Louis, MO 63130 Internet: [log in to unmask]