I agree with Jeff's suggestion of R. Barton Palmer's book; it's both accessible and inexpensive. That, and E. Ann Kaplan's Women in Film Noir would make a great pair of books for an undergrad class. I hope you'll also take a look at my book, Dangerous Dames: Woman and Representation in the Weimar Street Film and Film Noir. I talk specifically about the Maltese Falcon, Gun Crazy, The Big Heat, The Last Seduction, and Devil in a Blue Dress, and generally about issues of gender and spectatorship. Maybe a chapter or two will work for you... Jans B. Wager, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of English and Literature Utah Valley State College 800 W. University Parkway Orem, UT 84058-5999 (801) 222-8340 [log in to unmask] ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html