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
 
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